York updates: 'Serious move' for Bluestocking as top filly surges to second favourite in belting Juddmonte International

Bluestocking is the one being backed against City Of Troy in a star-studded Juddmonte International with the talented filly halved in price to 6-1 second favourite.

The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old heads to this race despite having the option of running against her own sex in the Yorkshire Oaks at the Ebor Festival. She boasts winning form over the course and distance from her Middleton Stakes success at the start of the season in impressive fashion.

Bluestocking, who represents the race sponsors, is now the clear rival to favourite City Of Troy who has gone back out to 6-4, despite being subject to some early support. The Derby and Eclipse winner was said to be the biggest loser for numerous bookmakers across the four days at York.

Support has also arrived for his stablemate Los Angeles in the preceding Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (3.00). He had gone 7-4 (from 6-4) first thing this morning, and lost outright favouritism, but is now 11-8 generally.

William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “The Juddmonte looks like a race to savour and already there have been some big moves in the betting. The sponsor’s filly, Bluestocking, has attracted some really good money, hammered into 13-2 from 10-1, and is by far the most serious move of the day so far.

“While City Of Troy is still our worst result in the book, we’ve eased him out from 5-4 yesterday to 6-4 this morning, so it’ll be interesting to see how punters react in what looks a belting race."

Updated at 10.30am

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Going update

The ground is the quickest it has been all season at York ahead of a blockbuster card, headlined by the Juddmonte International (3.35).

It remained dry overnight and 2mm of watering was added to preserve the good to firm surface with a dry and windy day forecast on the Knavesmire.

Clerk of the course Anthea Leigh said at 8am on Wednesday: "We're good to firm and it's the quickest we've been all season. We've been watering at night putting back on what we've lost. I'm pleased we've done it as the ground is lovely out there.

"We're dry today and tomorrow, it's quite sunny this morning but will cloud over. It is due to get windy again later on, nothing too bad but gusting to 30mph whereas it'll be gusting to 45mph on Thursday morning.

"Every day from the nine furlongs down to the entrance of the home straight we'll move out the rail three yards for some fresh ground. We're at the innermost position on Wednesday, will be three out Thursday, six out Friday and nine out on Saturday."

An updated weather forecast for later in the week highlights the track faces the possibility of up to 10mm of rain after racing on Thursday.

Leigh added: "A few forecasts have been flagging up some rain for Thursday night and Friday. The Met Office had been dragging their heels but they've got it in its forecast now, they've said from midnight through to until 7am we'll get light rain. That could be 2-5mm but some of the other forecasts give us rain on Thursday with another 2-5mm so 4-10mm is a possibility."

Posted at 9am