'We've always had the Melrose as a target' - who's been laid out for York prize?

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

A clutch of highly progressive young stayers line up in a strongly contested Melrose with significant overall depth and it is no surprise to see bottomweight Soulcombe at the top of the market.

The son of Frankel has improved with each of his three runs since being gelded, sent handicapping and fitted with blinkers, and was a big eyecatcher when fourth in the 1m4f Goodwood handicap won by Secret State last month.

He’s been put up 2lb for that defeat but promises to take another step forward for the longer trip.

His trainer William Haggas has landed this prestigious event twice in the last ten years with Guarantee (2012) and Hamish (2019).

Charlie Appleby, another Newmarket trainer to have won the race twice lately – Secret Advisor (2017) and Ghostwatch (2018) – is two-handed with topweight Wild Crusade and the thoroughly unexposed Al Nafir.

Wild Crusade, three times a winner at 1m4f in cheekpieces this year, looks a powerful galloper who will relish this step up to 1m6f, but defying a mark of 102 presents a huge challenge.

Al Nafir, who makes his first venture into handicap company off 92, raced over 1m2f last time and clearly has plenty of potential at this much longer distance.

David Menuisier’s Caius Chorister comes into the race on the back of five straight wins but faces by far her toughest task.

She’s been raised a total of 39lb for those successes at Yarmouth, Salisbury, Epsom (twice) and Goodwood, the last-named coming in 0-90 company.

Caius Chorister will need to find another chunk of improvement to continue her impressive sequence, but York should suit and it’s highly likely the step up to 1m6f will play to her strengths as her dam, Corpus Chorister, was a relentless galloper who broke the 2m track record at Beverley.

The Sussex raider must not be underestimated, a comment that applies equally to the Andrew Balding-trained Soul Stopper.

Both trainer and horse are bidding for hat-tricks, Balding having won the Melrose with Coltrane (2020) and Valley Forge (2021), while Soul Stopper has landed his last two starts at Salisbury and Chester.

Both came on the back of Soul Stopper being gelded and the manner of his comfortable success in a four-runner Chester handicap last time out off 8lb lower stamped him as an ideal Melrose type.

At bigger odds don’t dismiss Savvy Knight, fourth in Royal Ascot’s King George V Handicap off a 2lb lower mark. He’s unexposed at 1m6f and there were genuine excuses for his last-time-out Sandown defeat.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

Savvy Knight out to resume progress

A Sandown deluge on heavily watered ground severely compromised Savvy Knight’s chance last time out when sent off 8-11 favourite in a three-runner handicap.

“We were very happy with his work going into Sandown but Tom [Marquand] said Savvy Knight was beaten on the way to the start,” his trainer Sean Woods said.

“He couldn’t get any sort of grip on the ground. A lot of horses didn’t act on the ground at that meeting. It was unfortunate. They put a lot of water down to keep the ground safe, and then it rained heavily. We’ve put a line through the run.”

Savvy Knight had previously looked a highly progressive staying type, posting a hat-trick at Nottingham, Bath and Hamilton before finishing fourth at Royal Ascot.

“He’s done nothing but please and we’ve always had the Melrose as a target,” Woods added. “We’re very hopeful of a big run.”

What they say

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Wild Crusade and Al Nafir
The Melrose is a great staying handicap for the younger brigade and also a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Ebor. We’ve got two nice Dubawis going for this. Wild Crusade put up a great front-running effort at Ascot, with runner-up Warren Point going on to win at Goodwood, so unfortunately he took a rise in the handicap for standing in his box at home. He looks a nice staying type and this is a good stepping stone into better company. Al Nafir is a brother to Ghaiyyath and we're going up further in trip with this horse. His pedigree says he'll be suited by it.

David Probert, rider of Soul Stopper
He looks like a good, strong stayer and I feel this race could be ideal for him. He’s in good form at home.

David Menuisier, trainer of Caius Chorister
She’s highly progressive and put up a career-best performance at Goodwood. She was really impressive that day, particularly in view of the fact that she dropped down a furlong in trip. This step up to 1m6f will suit her really well and she seems in good form. As she’s such a lightly framed filly we don’t do a great deal with her in the mornings. At the start of the season I would have been surprised if you’d told me what she would go on to achieve. There are many bad surprises, so you need a good one from time to time.

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Nusret
We’re hoping for a good run. He’s got a good draw and we think he has plenty of class. His confidence should be good after his win at the Curragh and hopefully he can give a good account.

William Haggas, trainer of Soulcombe
He doesn’t want the ground much quicker but he ran a good race at Goodwood. He got too far back there and the twists and turns made it difficult. This track will be more to his liking and he should run a good race.
Reporting by Richard Birch

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 York: can Mighty Ulysses emulate one of Gosden's greats en route to Group 1 glory?

2.40 Sandown: could Haggas have another super son of Sea The Stars on his hands?

3.00 York: 'If everything goes right he could do it' – City of York Stakes trainer quotes

3.35 York: 'He's ready to roll' – who will land the Ebor, the day's big betting race?

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