'He likes to be held up and will be doing his best work late on' - is this the class act in competitive York sprint handicap?

Every punter will have been wounded by pace, draw or track biases in a York sprint. The problem is they are exceptionally difficult to call beforehand. 

Horses drawn in stalls two and three made all in this race’s 2022 and 2023 runnings. Last season three of the first four home were among the slowest starters and double-figure stalls were favoured. 

Another mini-pace collapse would surprise nobody given the volume of prominent racers.

In the high numbers we have Zoulu Chief (stall 18), 2022 winner Fine Wine (17), Vantheman (15) and Mon Na Slieve (13) as plausible sources of early speed.

Vince L’Amour (two), Tees Spirit (three) and Spartan Arrow (five) are among those with pace to burn on the other side. Between the two groups are course winners Jm Jungle (nine), Royal Ascot winner Pilgrim (ten) and Vintage Clarets (11).  

American Affair (near side): could develop into a Group-class sprinterCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

It is a minefield, although these races sometimes reveal a future Group-class sprinter and American Affair (16) may be just that. 

American Affair had to wait for a run when recording a cosy victory at Musselburgh on his return and Jim Goldie is dreaming big. The five-year-old is entered in next week’s Temple Stakes and the King Charles III at Royal Ascot. That is an unrealistic level for most of these.

From the other side, Spartan Arrow is worth a mention. Archie Watson is a master with sprinters and this five-year-old has won two of four since joining the yard. He has even lower mileage than American Affair and was placed in this race last season for Simon and Ed Crisford.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Adrian Nicholls, trainer of Tees Spirit
He’s gradually getting down to a workable mark after the handicapper hit him for winning at Beverley last year. My son Jack takes a handy 7lb off and he’s getting a few rides now off his boss Karl Burke. We're drawn low, which I'd have preferred over high.

Hollie Doyle, rider of Spartan Arrow
He was third in the race last year and seems to have come out of his latest win at Epsom in good shape. The track and ground will suit him and he has a nice draw, so there’s plenty to like.

Jim Goldie, trainer of American Affair
He’s been in good order at home since his win at Musselburgh last time and we're hopeful he can overcome a high draw in 16. He likes to be held up and will be doing his best work late on, so hopefully Mr Mulrennan has a plan.

Jim Goldie: trainer of American AffairCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Nicola Barron, joint-trainer of Pilgrim
He likes York and likes to be on the pace and he finished third at this meeting last year. He has a nice draw in the middle and he should be okay as they usually go in arrowhead formation there.

John Quinn, joint-trainer of Jm Jungle
He likes York and ran well to be second at Musselburgh last time, which has set him up nicely for this. The winner that day reopposes but we have a nice draw in nine and we go there hopeful.

Adam Ryan, assistant to Kevin Ryan, trainer of Vantheman and Mon Na Slieve
Mon Na Slieve needs a bit more in this grade but he won at the track as a two-year-old. Vantheman made a nice return at Newmarket and the drop back to five furlongs should suit.

Heather Main, trainer of Zoulu Chief
He has come back off a long break this spring and ran a big race to be third at Ascot last time. He should enjoy a speed track like York and we're hoping he can overcome his outside draw in 18.

Heather Main: runs Zoulu Chief at YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

William Easterby, assistant to Tim Easterby, trainer of Vince L'Amour
He's in good form and he won at York last year, which is always a help. This is a higher-rated race but we think he's got a good sprint handicap in him somewhere this year. Ideally he'd have liked a little rain.
Reporting by David Milnes

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