What the trainers say about their runners in Thursday's big betting heat

4.05 York
Betfred TV Hambleton Handicap | Listed | 7f 192y | ITV/RUK

Martyn Meade’s Chelsea Lad, who started a heavily backed 7-2 favourite for the Spring Cup at Newbury only to be pulled up, bids to put that lapse firmly behind him.

Thikriyaat, runner-up to subsequent Group 1 hero Ribchester in Royal Ascot’s Jersey Stakes last summer, is likely to prove popular at the head of the market. Just the type of lightly raced four-year-old with which Sir Michael Stoute excels, the son of Azamour boasts a career record of four wins from six starts.

Everything in Chelsea Lad’s favour?

Backed as if defeat were out of the question at Newbury despite a good to firm surface, the ground has come right for Chelsea Lad now and he races from a favourable stall one draw.

Top Notch Tonto will love ground

An infinitely better horse with plenty of cut underfoot, the recent rain has boosted the chance of Brian Ellison’s Top Notch Tonto, who won a York Listed event two years ago.

What they say

Roger Varian, trainer of White Lake
He won his maiden at York and shaped well from an uncompromising position on his last start at Sandown in July. We’re putting blinkers on to try to eke out more and he’s a Pivotal with form on soft ground. He's certainly got the ability to win a nice handicap at some stage.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Here Comes When
He won’t mind the rain and all of his best form is with give in the ground. He seems in fine form but it’s a tough race and he’s not getting any younger.

Robert Eddery, trainer of Donncha
I'm very pleased with the horse. The ground will help him a lot and the draw is good – when it’s soft there they tend to race up the middle. He was a little bit sore after Newbury, but is 100 per cent now. He's going there with a major chance.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Murad Khan
He'll be suited by the soft ground, and a mile is his trip. I hope he's improved from three to four.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Another Touch and Home Cummins
Another Touch ran well to finish second in the Newbury Spring Cup and that form is working out. It looks very solid. Home Cummins is the track record-holder at York for a mile, but looks drawn a bit wider than I’d have liked.

Jedd O’Keeffe, trainer of Instant Attraction
We’ve been waiting for the rain since he ran in the Lincoln - the softer the better for him. I was very happy with his performance at Doncaster on ground that was too lively. He has a decent chance of finishing in the first four.

Martyn Meade, trainer of Chelsea Lad
I’m very pleased with the ground and the draw looks in his favour too. He's been perfectly sound since Newbury. Ryan [Moore] heard a ping and a bang at the stalls as a shoe came off and was worried it had hit the horse. He pulled Chelsea Lad up to be on the safe side as he didn’t think he was moving well.

David Menuisier, trainer of Havre De Paix
She's in very good form. Soft ground suited her in France and a mile is her ideal distance. She's been working great but my concern is the draw. We’re trying to get some black type for her.