York´s big charity meeting

With Royal Ascot starting next Tuesday, there is no point in looking for group races today, but there are some very competitive and valuable handicaps, particularly at York, which is staging its traditional charity day in support of various good causes. Top race here is the 6 furlongs handicap for 3yo´s at 16.00 CET and with 20 runners this looks very tough to figure out. Master of Disguise (Clive Cox/ Adam Kirby) is the likely favourite; he won his last race very easily, and the placed horses have all come out and won since, but he has gone up significantly in the weights, and that race was over 5 furlongs - which was also the case with Sloop Johnb (Richard Fahey/ Paul Hanagan), who has won his last 2. Proclaim (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning) is the class act here, having won 3 of his last 4 races, but faces a stiff task under top-weight. Our fancy is Stuart Kittow´s lightly-raced Macdillon, who has Frankie Dettori in the saddle and was beaten a neck at Newmarket last time.

Of the supporting features, the most difficult is the race for lady riders over 1 1/2 miles which kicks off the card at 15.05. The ability of the riders is equally important to the form of the runners in such races, and the two Irish stars Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh, riding Kevin Ryan´s Shady Gloom and Dr. Newland´s War Party respectively, must therefore both be on the short list; they have far more experience than most of the British girls riding. Front-runner Dunaskin (Brian Ellison/ Jodie Kidd) and last- time-out winner Gifted Leader (Ian Williams/ Serena Brotherton) must also be considered.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Gifted Leader - Shady Gloom - Riguez Dancer
2. Race: Acrostic - Kavachi - Angel Rock
3. Race: Master Of Disguise - Proclaim - Parisian Pyramid
4. Race: Marching Time - Antinori - Sovereign Remedy
5. Race: Summerinthecity - William Morgan - Capacity
6. Race: Seaway - Mutawarath - French Applause
7. Race: Castles In The Air - River Kirov - Bravely