Can King Of The Castle lay one more ghost to rest for late sire Galileo?

Saturday: 2.25 YorkSky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) | 1m6f | 3yo | ITV/RTV

Galileo's progeny might have dominated the Classics this century, but the late sire has yet to produce a winner of this three-year-old handicap and he may not have many more chances following his death this year.

Aidan O'Brien has enjoyed more success with the sire's progeny than any other trainer, but the great man is also still searching for his first Melrose win. He has come close on a couple of occasions, though with Apache and Outspoken third in 2011 and 2015.

If O'Brien is due a change of luck then so is rider William Buick, who is best known for his association with Godolphin and is still searching for his first winner for the O'Brien team.

Buick has had 11 rides for the Ballydoyle trainer in Britain and three finished second, two third and one fourth. Buick partners the O'Brien-trained son of Galileo, King Of The Castle, and victory for the Limerick maiden winner would evidently lay quite a few ghosts to rest.

William Buick: no winners for Aidan O'Brien - yet

Sir Mark Prescott is also due a change of fortune in the race. The trainer is famed for success with three-year-old stayers, but his record is modest. He came closest with Land Of Oz, who was third in 2019 after four straight wins, and Summer's Knight has won four of his last five.

Nobody has a better recent record than William Haggas, who won with Guarantee in 2012 and Hamish two years ago. Both his winners were stepping up in trip and Dhushan stayed on well when second over a mile and a half at Ascot last time. The extra distance is sure to suit.

Pleasant Man is the other son of Galileo in the line up and he was behind Dhushan when fourth at Ascot last month. The pair are closely matched, Pleasant Man on 4lb better terms.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of King Of The Castle
He seems a lazy but honest horse. We think he's one who stays well.

William Haggas, trainer of Dhushan
He's in good form. He's got plenty of weight but he's a nice horse and should run a good race.

Roger Varian: trains MoshaawerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Roger Varian, trainer of Moshaawer
He's in good form, and I think he'll run well. It’s an ultra-competitive Melrose, but I like him back on turf and up in trip.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Tashkhan
We need rain, but apparently it's coming. If it rains he's got a good chance. We ran him at Pontefract as a prep for this but the pace was non-existent, they basically walked around and then sprinted for four furlongs which is no good to him.

John Gosden, co-trainer of Marshall Plan and Imperial Sun
Imperial Sun won his last start nicely but obviously we are in the dark as if he'll get the trip. Marshall Plan, on the other hand, wants this distance and has been pleasing at home.

Ed Walker, trainer of Parachute
We're excited about him. I'm pretty sure he'll stay a mile and three-quarters as he relaxes very well and has stamina in his family. I'm sure he'll put his disappointing Newmarket run behind him, that was just too bad to be true - it was exceptionally fast ground and he never really looked at home running down the hill. He'll be seen in a much better light here and he'd run a huge race at Ascot previously. He's been freshened up and he's working well.

Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of Summer's Knight
He won well at Ffos Las but they gave him a good whack, he's up 8lb and I didn't have that in mind. He's improving and has done nothing wrong all year, but 8lb is not what I was expecting. I'd prefer him off 8lb less, I didn't expect him to win as well as he did.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Surrey Gold
He was impressive back in May and was a bit short of work when he ran at Ascot the other day, but he stayed on well. We've always had this race in mind for him, anything that stays and has some sort of ability you target at the Melrose, but there are other good options over the next six weeks so it's not the be-all and end-all if we think the ground's too quick for him.

Michael Bell, trainer of True Courage
We're praying that the rain stays away. This has been the plan since his last win. He's in very good order.

David Menuisier, trainer of Diamond Cutter
I thought he ran an absolute stormer first time out, after which we educated him on tight tracks, which has hopefully made him grow up quicker. For his handicap debut he is now going back to a galloping track and over a trip that should suit. He could turn into an interesting stayer but I have the obvious worry about him being so inexperienced for such a competitive handicap.
Reporting by Stuart Riley

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 York: fast-improving Real World out to continue march towards Group 1s in Strensall

2.05 Sandown: will the Queen's Reach For The Moon be another winning Solario favourite?

3.00 York: Walker hoping things fall right again for exciting Primo Bacio on Knavesmire

3.35 York: 'if you win the Ebor you're a bloody legend!' – key quotes as 22 go for glory

Big-race analysis: do you need a Group horse for the Ebor? Keith Melrose is not convinced (Members' Club)

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