'His work indicates he’s very good' - unexposed sorts and proven handicappers clash in valuable mile contest

Ed Bethell won this last year with hardened handicapper Point Lynas and he bids to land another renewal with the unexposed Old Cock, who has a different profile.

This son of Calyx was unraced as a juvenile but made up for lost time last season, landing three of his six starts. While he needs to bounce back from a low-key run in the Lincoln when trailing in last of 22, a return to this ground could be the key with all three of his wins coming on good/good to firm.

Last year’s runner-up Northern Express heads the weights this time around. He took a couple of runs to get going last season before his neck defeat here and is back down to a mark of 103, just 1lb above his winning mark in last season’s International Stakes.

It’s not easy to come from off the pace over this course and distance but a truly run race could help those ridden patiently and the likes of Sisyphean, Romieu, Urban Sprawl and 2022’s winner Cruyff Turn all like to go forward.

Three-time course-and-distance winner Blue For You is the obvious one who could benefit from a strong gallop after his 25-1 close-up placed effort on last month’s return. David O’Meara’s first string has run well in defeat in two previous renewals of this race without having the benefit of a prep run on both occasions.

From the aforementioned front runners, Romieu is perhaps the most interesting. The former Andre Fabre inmate quickened up nicely to win a Redcar novice on last month’s yard debut, proving he handles these conditions, and this was singled out as the target after that contest. He is entitled to take a sizeable step forward from that first run in 200 days.

What they say

Michael Dods, trainer of Northern Express
He’s in good form but I feel he’s fighting a battle with the handicapper at the moment. He’s got to give 5lb to the field, so it’s a case of whether he can give that much weight away to all the other horses.

Northern Express (left): may struggle to concede the weight to rivalsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

David O’Meara, trainer of Cerulean Bay & Blue For You
Blue For You had a lovely prep run at Haydock. He likes York and comes in good order. Cerulean Bay would ideally like a little bit more juice in the ground. I think he will stay the mile and he will handle the ground, he just prefers it a bit slower.

Roger Fell, trainer of La Trinidad
I’d like to think he has a good chance, although he might be a bit high in the handicap. He ran well at Thirsk last time and is in fantastic form.

Adam Ryan, assistant to Kevin Ryan, trainer of Sisyphean
He won impressively last year over course and distance and has wintered well.

Adrian Keatley, trainer of Romieu
I was very impressed with his win at Redcar and his work indicates he’s very good. We're going in at the deep end with him, but we think he’s good enough to be there.

William Easterby, assistant to Tim Easterby, trainer of Cruyff Turn
He ran a cracking race at Thirsk last time and was a winner before that, so we know he’s well. He's been a superstar for us over the years and we like to target him at York as he tends to run well there.

Steve Brown, husband and assistant to Julie Camacho, trainer of Dingle
He’s had a good all-weather season but he’s never been quite as effective on the turf. It’s going into the unknown, but we couldn’t have him better for it.

Nigel Tinkler, trainer of Theme Park
He’s very well in himself but the draw in 15 is a big negative. We’ll see how he jumps from the stalls, but I think he’ll be coming from behind to make a challenge.

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