Multi reasons to support Cecil
The five-year-old has never been the easiest to handle as he has had problems, but the decision to keep him in training by the Niarchos family speaks volumes and has in the main been rewarded this season.
A cracking front-running effort over a mile and half in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot just saw him touched off by Macarthur, while he was a bit free in front dropped back in trip in the Coral-Eclipse, in which the ground was also too fast.
Better was to come in the Rose of Lancaster at Haydock on testing ground and it is the underfoot conditions on the Knavesmire which could prove key to this big prize.
The son of Danehill relishes loads of dig and it will be interesting to see how he is ridden as he can take a good hold.
Multidimensional has a proper turn of foot when the mud is flying so expect a huge run if he can be settled and played late.
Patkai ought to take the beating in the Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt currently heads the St Leger ante-post market and can cement his Classic claims.
Winner of the Queen’s Vase over two miles at the Royal meeting, the Indian Ridge colt is clearly not lacking in stamina, which is handy as this mile and half is going to take some getting.
He has won on good to soft, which is another factor in his favour, and it is very hard to pick holes in his chance.
The Cheka made quite an impression when romping home by 10 lengths on his racecourse bow at Ascot and he can take another step up the ladder in the Tattersalls Millions Acomb Stakes.
Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, the Xaar colt could be a fair price given that he hails from one of the smaller yards.
York may be the headline event but there is plenty of action away from the Knavesmire, with Limelight the Brighton pick.
Sir Mark Prescott’s filly disappointed at Yarmouth last week but appeals as one of the most unexposed runners in the Heads-Up @ williamhillpoker.com Handicap.
Histoire De Moeurs has been in rare form this summer and is taken to bring home the hat-trick in the South West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot.
Contact Dancer has run creditably on his most recent couple of starts and he is a likely candidate in the southwell-racecourse.co.uk Novices’ Chase at the Nottinghamshire track.
