German runner at York

Of all the idiotic race planning in the U.K., today (and tomorrow too) must take the biscuit, with strong fields at 3 of the country´s leading tracks. Newmarket, York and Ascot. To be sure, the Ascot Card is below par for this racecourse, with 6 of the 7 races very tricky handicaps, but York´s meeting is one of their best of the year. Rather ironically, there has been no rain at York and Ascot, where the going is good to firm.

York´s main event today is the Group Three Summer Stakes for fillies and mares over 6 furlongs at 15.20 CET. Gracia Directa won this for Germany in 2012 and was runner-up last year, and we think that Emerald Star (Peter Schiergen/ Daniele Porcu) also has a good chance of being placed. Snhe has already scored in England, having taken a Group Three over 7 furlongs at Lingfield in May, and the opposition today is hardly any stronger, while the drop back in distance should be no problem. The main opposition should come from last year´s winner Ladies Are Forever (Geoff Oldroyd/ Danny Tudhope), and Frankel´s half-sister Joyeuse (Lady Cecil/ James Doyle), although we suspect that the latter might prefer softer ground. French challenger Ice Love (Tony Castanheira/ Raphael Marchelli) and Indignant (Richard Hannon/ Pat Dobbs) are next best.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Maljaa - Eye Glass - Tohfa
2. Race: Joyeuse - Ladies Are Forever - Emerald Star
3. Race: Pres Rapide - Dominic Cork - Indescribable
4. Race: Kings Fete - Mighty Yar - Pearl Castle
5. Race: Line Of Reason - Another Wise Kid - Soul Brother
6. Race: Red Warrior - Bishop`s Castle - Las Verglas Star
7. Race: Shot In The Sun - Naggers - Ticking Katie