York

Saturday, August 22, 2026FlatClass 21m2f

Verdict

Lots with chances in a cracking finale but ERZINDJAN is fancied to build on a promising sixth in the Royal Hunt Cup now back up in trip and capitalise on a handy-looking mark. John Smith's Cup hero Raammee rates a big threat with few miles still on the clock, while several others also can play a prominent role, notably Al Aali, Thunder Run, Diego El Queso and last year's winner Dain Ma Nut In.

Erzindjan
Raammee
Al Aali

Win or Each Way

Each Way terms: 1/4 odds for first 4 places

1. Raammee
J: Ray DawsonT: Roger Varian
F: 11-421
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
9-12
Gear:
hood
Official Rating:
103
Days Since Last Run:
42
Verdict
Just the fifth start of his career when landing the 22-runner John Smith's Cup over C&D last month, getting a clearer run than many but still well on top. Up 8 lb and almost certainly more to come from him.
12. Accredit
J: C. T. KeaneT: John & Thady Gosden
F: 311-
Price History:
-
Age:
3
Weight:
9-1
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
99
Days Since Last Run:
309
Verdict
Dubawi colt out of a half-sister to Enable who won over 1m at Sandown (heavy) and Haydock (good to soft) last autumn. This is no easy task on his handicap debut after 10 months off but there's surely more to come from him in 2026.
3. Erzindjan
J: Ryan MooreT: T. J. Kent
F: 0/47458-16
Price History:
8.00
Age:
8
Weight:
9-10
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
101
Days Since Last Run:
66
Verdict
Clear winner of his group when fourth in Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last autumn. Back on the up this season, scoring at Newmarket (9f) in May and shaping well with sixth of 28 in Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) following month. Big shout back up in trip off an unchanged mark.
4. Diego El Queso
J: G. F. CarrollT: G. M. Lyons
F: 1283-2126
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
9-9
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
100
Days Since Last Run:
25
Verdict
Has returned in excellent form, winning 1¼m handicap at Leopardstown (soft) in April and even better form when sixth of 17 to Al Aali in handicap at Goodwood (1¼m, good to firm) 25 days ago, suffering a poor run and finishing strongly. This Irish raider can go well again.
17. Shafdar
J: David EganT: Ian Williams
F: 31201064
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
8-12
Gear:
tongue strap
Official Rating:
89
Days Since Last Run:
21
Verdict
Relatively lightly-raced 4-y-o who won (around 1m) at Chelmsford and Epsom in early 2026 for current yard. Got back on the up in a first-time tongue tie when fourth of 15 in handicap at Goodwood (9f, good to firm) 21 days ago. Considered.
6. Al Aali
J: William BuickT: George Scott
F: 00875511
Price History:
9.00
Age:
4
Weight:
9-7
Gear:
blinkers
Official Rating:
98
Days Since Last Run:
25
Verdict
Back to form with a bang since fitted with blinkers (retained) when landing 1¼m handicaps at Newmarket and Goodwood last month. 5 lb higher here but not taken lightly in his hat-trick bid.
9. Bourbon Blues
J: Oisin MurphyT: Brian Meehan
F: 312-30602
Price History:
-
Age:
3
Weight:
9-2
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
100
Days Since Last Run:
23
Verdict
Useful performer who ran well when sixth of 18 in Golden Gates at Royal Ascot (1¼m) in June and when second of 14 in handicap at Goodwood (1¼m, good to firm) 23 days ago. Merits consideration with Oisin Murphy now up.
11. Parole Doro
J: Rossa RyanT: Michael Bell
F: 2052-8247
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
9-1
Gear:
cheekpieces and tongue strap
Official Rating:
92
Days Since Last Run:
25
Verdict
Just 1 win to his name but arrives in good nick, cheekpieces on for first time (retained) when a slow-starting seventh of 17 to Al Aali in handicap at Goodwood (1¼m, good to firm) 25 days ago. Edgy sort but not out of things.
18. Dark Moon Rising
J: Shane GrayT: Kevin Ryan
F: 2-8524501
Price History:
-
Age:
7
Weight:
8-10
Gear:
cheekpieces
Official Rating:
87
Days Since Last Run:
43
Verdict
Readily ended a losing sequence in 9-runner handicap over C&D (good to firm) last month. This is tougher from 6 lb higher although he was a big eye-catcher when meeting trouble in this race last year.
13. Mr Swivell
J: Cieren FallonT: Kevin Philippart de Foy
F: 820-70428
Price History:
-
Age:
5
Weight:
9-1
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
92
Days Since Last Run:
21
Verdict
Won 3 times around 1m in 2025. Looked as good as ever when runner-up over 1m here in July and not disgraced given he went freely with eighth of 11 in handicap at Thirsk (1m, good) 3 weeks ago. No forlorn hope.
14. Castle Stuart
J: Barry McHughT: Richard & Peter Fahey
F: 47-660239
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
8-13
Gear:
hood
Official Rating:
90
Days Since Last Run:
14
Verdict
Useful 9f victor for Karl Burke in 2025 and some good efforts in hot C&D handicaps for current stable since, including in this race last year and the John Smith's Cup last month. Not so good minus the hood (refitted now) at Ascot a fortnight ago and can bounce back.
22. Double Parked
J: Saffie OsborneT: Tim Easterby
F: 83-730315
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
8-7
Gear:
tongue strap
Official Rating:
84
Days Since Last Run:
11
Verdict
Resumed winning ways over C&D in June and backed it up with a solid fifth of 13 in handicap at Hamilton (9f, good to firm) 11 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. This is a lot harder but he's not totally dismissed.
16. Sujet
J: Zak WheatleyT: Declan Carroll
F: 10-720002
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
8-12
Gear:
blinkers
Official Rating:
89
Days Since Last Run:
42
Verdict
Won twice at up to 9f for Dermot Weld in Ireland last year. Bounced back to best for current handler in first-time blinkers with a clear second of 9 in handicap at Chester last month. Needs to back it up now in retained headgear.
2. Thunder Run
J: Clifford LeeT: K. R. Burke
F: 1640-7207
Price History:
21.00
Age:
5
Weight:
9-10
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
101
Days Since Last Run:
42
Verdict
Scored over C&D last May and back in good nick this year, second in the same race here, not beaten far in the Royal Hunt Cup, then hampered 2f out (not knocked about) when seventh of 22 to Raammee in John Smith's Cup over C&D last month. Well in the mix down 2 lb.
10. Have Secret
J: Jamie SpencerT: Richard & Peter Fahey
F: 214-51500
Price History:
-
Age:
6
Weight:
9-2
Gear:
visor
Official Rating:
93
Days Since Last Run:
42
Verdict
Resumed winning ways at Pontefract in April. Badly hampered under 2f out when fourteenth of 22 to Raammee in John Smith's Cup over C&D (good to firm) last time. Possibilities.
7. Quai De Bethune
J: James DoyleT: Hamad Al Jehani
F: 14631-600
Price History:
26.00
Age:
4
Weight:
9-3
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
94
Days Since Last Run:
25
Verdict
Signed off for Andrew Balding with Golden Gates win at Royal Ascot last June. Changed hands for 775,000 gns and shaped encouragingly with sixth at Epsom (1¼m) on return in June. Below that form in John Smith's Cup over C&D and when thirteenth of 17 to Al Aali at Goodwood (1¼m) since though.
19. Salam Dubawi
J: Lauren YoungT: Jim Goldie
F: 1-01033d40
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
8-9
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
86
Days Since Last Run:
28
Verdict
Fair German 1m winner in 2025. Has improved for new yard this season, scoring at Hamilton (9f) in May and an excellent fifth in John Smith's Cup here (demoted from third for hanging left). Needs to leave behind a couple of tame runs now, though.
5. Dain Ma Nut In
J: Lexie ClarksonT: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
F: 1180-1702
Price History:
-
Age:
5
Weight:
9-7
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
98
Days Since Last Run:
21
Verdict
Took this in 2025 and this front runner teed himself up well for a repeat with a very good second of 11 in handicap at Thirsk (1m, good) 3 weeks ago. Must be considered.
20. Nepal
J: Joanna MasonT: Ivan Furtado
F: 1635-8104
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
8-8
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
85
Days Since Last Run:
34
Verdict
Doubled his tally in Bahrain in January. Well held in listed race there in February (final start for George Scott) and had a breathing operation before last of 4 for new yard in handicap at Redcar (1¼m, good to firm) last month.
21. Rainbow Nebula
J: Cam HardieT: Richard & Peter Fahey
F: 31-015650
Price History:
-
Age:
4
Weight:
8-8
Gear:
cheekpieces
Official Rating:
85
Days Since Last Run:
42
Verdict
Back to winning ways at Redcar (1m) in May and in good nick next 3 starts before finding the John Smith's Cup too competitive last month. Cheekpieces are retried.
15. Dhahabi
J: Charles BishopT: Ian Williams
F: 4844/00-00
Price History:
-
Age:
8
Weight:
8-13
Gear:
-
Official Rating:
90
Days Since Last Run:
25
Verdict
Smart at best but lightly raced in recent times and well held in a pair of 1¼m handicaps at Epsom and Goodwood this summer.
Unnamed Favourite
Unnamed 2nd Favourite

Non-Runners

8. Kings Code
J: Non RunnerT: David Evans
F: 80005188
Price History:
-
Age:
6
Weight:
9-3
Gear:
visor
Official Rating:
94
Days Since Last Run:
9
Verdict
Capitalised on a reduced mark when winning at Chester in July. Last of 8 in handicap at Windsor (1¼m, firm) 9 days ago. Visor replaces blinkers now. Hard to fancy from stall 22.

York

Bet Slip