York questions: Atzeni, Haggas and co on the hot topics and big races

The Juddmonte International looks a wide-open corker – who do you like?

Andrea Atzeni, jockey It’s a very hot race this year and I ride Decorated Knight. It’s a big ask but you can forget his run last time in the Eclipse as it was a messy race and, don’t forget, he finished in front of Ulysses in the Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot before that.

John Egan, jockeyI like Barney Roy. I was impressed with him at Royal Ascot and the longer trip seemed to suit him at Sandown. He’s very consistent and he’s still improving. He’s the one to beat.

William ­Haggas, trainerIt’s going to be a fantastic race this year but I think the three-year-olds will edge it. Although Churchill was disappointing at Royal Ascot he’s better than he showed there and could well improve for the step up in trip. Him and Barney Roy look set for a titanic tussle.

Mick Quinn, trainerIt’s going to be a cracking opening day of the Ebor meeting and as I love Coolmore and what they’re about I’m hoping Churchill can come back to his 2,000 Guineas form and win. I backed him all through the winter for the Guineas, so he’s a favourite of mine.

Charlie Swan, former trainerIt’s a great race all right and I think Churchill will win. He obviously has a lot of speed but I think he’ll be suited by the step up in trip. He was flat at Royal Ascot and that wasn’t his true running. Aidan [O’Brien] has Cliffs Of Moher in the race as well, but while he would be a danger I’m quite sweet on Churchill.

Do you expect Gosden duo Cracksman and Enable to deliver the goods?

Andrea Atzeni, jockey Roger Varian is taking on Enable with Nezwaah, which will be interesting as John Gosden’s filly is probably the best horse in Europe over a mile and half right now. Our filly is trying a mile and a half for the first time, but you would think she’d get it judging by her win at the Curragh and she’ll like the fast ground.

John Egan, jockey Enable is definitely the best middle-distance filly around and I can’t see her being beaten. Cracksman has a tougher task but I think he’ll win too. He’s been placed in two Derbys and York, where he will be on home turf, will suit him better than the Curragh.

William ­Haggas, trainerI expect Cracksman to win but Nezwaah could give Enable a fright in the Yorkshire Oaks, especially if it’s quick ground on the Knavesmire. Enable is a fabulous filly but she’s very much a stayer while Nezwaah has that turn of foot. I reckon Roger Varian’s filly could well be Enable’s stalker in the race.

Mick Quinn, trainer Cracksman ran a top race in the Derby considering he was just off a brutal pace and then was just pipped when waited with at the Curragh. For me he’s a horse who is still improving and is my nap of the meeting. Enable should win but is not my kind of price – her presence is a great boost for the meeting, though.

Charlie Swan, former trainer Enable has looked very good and she’ll be hard to beat but I’m not so sure about Cracksman. He’s a very good horse and he ran well in the Irish Derby behind Capri, but this looks a good race and he will be facing some quality horses again.

Nezwaah and Andrea Atzeni are set to take on Enable in the Yorkshire OaksCredit: Patrick McCann

The Nunthorpe is one to look forward to – who’s your fancy?

Andrea Atzeni, jockey I don’t have a ride in the race but I would like to be on Lady Aurelia. The speed she showed at Royal Ascot was phenomenal and she showed from her outside draw that she can come from anywhere.

John Egan, jockey Lady Aurelia is a pure speedball and won’t be beat. It’s as simple as that. She’s getting weight too.

William ­Haggas, trainerIt’s going to be a great race whatever the outcome and the front two look hard to beat. I was very impressed with Battaash at Goodwood and he seems to be improving fast. Take nothing away from Lady Aurelia, who was just as impressive at Royal Ascot, but I hope Charlie Hills’s horse can win it for Sheikh Hamdan.

Mick Quinn, trainer The Nunthorpe is my favourite race of the meeting and I was there the day Dandy and Alex Nicholls won it with Ya Malak. I remember celebrating with them afterwards and having a head like Birkenhead the next day! My buzz as a trainer is speedy racehorses and I’m going for Lady Aurelia as she’s blinded by it.

Charlie Swan, former trainerI would love to come up with something original but I just can’t see past Lady Aurelia. She looks the standout in the race. Some people have cribbed her form away from Ascot but she’s an outstanding sprinter and should win.

Lady Aurelia: King's Stand win was just outside the course recordCredit: Mark Cranham

Give us one or two choices for the big betting race of the week, the Ebor

Andrea Atzeni, jockeyI ride Battersea for Roger and he knows all about the Knavesmire, having finished fourth in the race last year from a bad draw. He’s been working well at home recently and goes well fresh, so he could be thereabouts if he gets a better draw.

John Egan, jockey He’s probably too well treated to get in, which is maybe why he ran at Deauville yesterday, but off 8st 5lb the Goodwood Cup third Desert Skyline would have a fantastic chance as he’s 9lb well in. I’d love to ride him if he runs and I’d like to remind Mr Elsworth there’s nobody stronger at the weight and that the Ebor is a race I’ve won before.

William ­Haggas, trainerWe have Dal Harraild entered but he won’t run, but if he had run I would have been most concerned about Montaly and possibly Dubka. I thought Sir Michael Stoute’s filly ran a nice trial at Goodwood and has decent claims in a typically open year.

Mick Quinn, trainer I don’t know what happened to Seamour in the Northumberland Plate last time as he went there in top form. We all did our money on him that day but I’m hoping he can bounce back for top man and Newcastle United supporter – one of my old teams – Brian Ellison.

Charlie Swan, former trainerIt’s not a race I’ve studied in great detail but I see Willie Mullins has a few entries and I would be interested to see if he runs anything. The favourite [Flymetothestars] deserves his place at the top of the market but you could make cases for lots and it’s probably a race you’re better off looking at on the day as it’s very tricky.

Seamour: Mick Quinn hopes to see a better showing from him in the Ebor

How do you rate Geoffrey Freer winner Defoe’s chances in the St Leger?

Andrea Atzeni, jockeyHe’s improving with every run and the great thing about him is he has a good mind on him. He’s run well on good ground but is better with a bit of give, as he showed at Newbury. I know all about Stradivarius, having won the Goodwood Cup on him, but the main danger could be Crystal Ocean, if he stays.

John Egan, jockey I’ve kept a close eye on Defoe since York in July, when he went past me as if I was standing still, and it’s not as if my fellow [Emenem] wasn’t running to the line. He’ll definitely stay and he’s got pace too. He’s got a big chance, and his jockey is very lucky at Doncaster.

William ­Haggas, trainerDefoe was very impressive at Newbury and must have excellent claims in the St Leger the way he finishes off his races. Both him and Stradivarius have now beaten the older horses on the way to Doncaster and our final Classic is shaping up to be another fascinating race.

Mick Quinn, trainerDefo Defoe for the Leger! You have to rate him as a serious player at Doncaster after what we saw at Newbury, where he won with a bit up his sleeve. He’s still improving and I don’t think easy ground would be a problem to him if it came up soft on Town Moor.

Charlie Swan, former trainerHe looked very good and he has been improving all season. The St Leger will be a very different assignment and he’ll need to improve again to have a chance of winning, but he certainly has been impressive.

Defoe: now a serious St Leger contender after his fourth straight victoryCredit: Alan Crowhurst

What was your take on the BHA’s report into non-runners?

Andrea Atzeni, jockey I know of a Newmarket jockey who lost 4lb to take one ride in the 9.10 at Ffos Las, only for the trainer to pull the horse out 45 minutes before the race. I’m lucky as I usually have a few rides per meeting, but to go all that way for that to happen is a bit unfair.

John Egan, jockeyI’m not really qualified to speak on this one but the BHA is doing its best for racing by trying to ensure that fields hold up and that’s got to be a good thing.

William ­Haggas, trainer Much of the storm over this has been whipped up by the media but, as I said earlier in the week, many of the issues brought up regarding non-runners would be resolved in one stroke – by reintroducing 24-hour declarations for the Flat.

Mick Quinn, trainer It’s simple – go back to 24-hour declarations. The weather is so changeable in one afternoon in this country, never mind 48 hours, and the number of non-runners was always going to be an issue.

Charlie Swan, former trainer It’s difficult for trainers sometimes. With horses, so much can change in such a short space of time, and with ground and 48-hour declarations it can be a nightmare. With regards to ground, soft at one course is totally different to soft at another, so it’s not black and white, plus often the ground can change close to a race. It’s not straightforward and I’d empathise with trainers.

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