Listed race at York

surprisingly for a Saturday, there are no group races at all in the U.K.today - actually it is not such a surprise considering that there are 18 of them next week at Royal Ascot- and the two best races are listed events at York and Sandown, the two courses which also feature the best racing today. Otherwise the day is dominated by handicaps, some quite valuable and all very competitive with some big fields.

At York, the main feature is over a mile at 16.15 CET and looks wide open. Stipulate (Lady Cecil/ Tom Queally) would obviously be a popular winner and is likely to start favourite. He has some good form at this level, but faces tough opposition from Questioning (John Gosden/ William Buick) - a Group winner last year- and Baltic Knight (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes); the latter is one of two 3yo´s in the field and the other, Sir Patrick Moore (Harry Dunlop/ Richard Kingscote) would also come into the reckoning if any more rain falls.

The big betting race here is the 6 furlongs handicap for 3yo´s at 16.50, with 20 runners and the bookies going 8-1 the field at present. This looks very difficult, with top-weight Hasopop (Marco Botti/ Adam Kirby) clearly having the best form, but he may struggle to give the weight away to some useful young sprinters. Our 3 against the field are Odooj (William Haggas( Paul Hanagan), Lewisham (Ralph Beckett/ Neil Callan) and Rivellino (Elaine Burke/ Robert Winston), but almost anything is possible here. The following 9 furlongs handoicap also has 20 runners and Mick Easterby, always a danger here, saddles two of them- Kalk Bay (Graham Gibbons) and 2011 winner Barren Brook (Ted Durcan); either could win, although early betting suggests the former is more fancied. Mick´s nephew Tim Easterby saddles Crackentorp in the opening Queen Mothers Cup over 1 1/2 miles; this is one of the best races of the years for lady jockeys and Jacqui Coward has won it for the past 2 years on the 8yo , who could well complete a hat-trick. Cosmic Sun (Richard Fahey/ Alison Deniel) is just one of many dangers.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: War Singer - Crackentorp - Cosmic Sun
2. Race: Westwiththenight - Sam Sharp - Suits Me
3. Race: Baltic Knight - Stipulate - Sir Patrick Moore
4. Race: Heaven`s Guest - Cosmic Chatter - Moviesta
5. Race: Kalk Bay - Christmas Light - Act Your Shoe Size
6. Race: Edge - Rufford - In Focus
7. Race: Polar Venture - Mon Brav - Al Khan