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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Chris Wright

Horse Power: Valley Forge can win the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York

Sky Bet Andrew Balding York Hugo Palmer Royal Ascot (Organization) Liverpool FC Tonga

VALLEY FORGE an win the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap)(3.35pm) on the final day of the meeting at Yorkon Saturday afternoon.

Andrew Balding’s four-year-old can land the feature handicap on the Knavesmire, where he won over course and distance at this meeting last season.

The gelded son of Dansili took the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap over course and distance as a three-year-old last August and he can go in again at York.

This season Valley Forge has won just once, taking a two-mile handicap at Haydock Park in May.

He then ran well enough over a similar distance in the Northumberland Plate. Being prominent throughout at Newcastle at the end of June, he faded over the final two furlongs to be seventh behind Trueshan.

Dropped back down to this 1m6f at Glorious Goodwood last month he again finished seventh, although he wasn’t beaten too far and as can happen at the Sussex track, he didn’t have the best passage throughout.

Back on a track he likes, Valley Forge can get much closer and may be able to grab a second successive victory at the meeting by landing the Ebor.

There are plenty of dangers with Willie Haggas’ duo Candleford and Gaassee, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Trawlerman and top weight Get Shirty, already a winner at Royal Ascot and Haydock for trainer David O’Meara.

It may be a good day for trainer Balding with SANDRINE capable of winning the Group Two Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (3pm).

The three-year-old filly won at Royal Ascot and July Festival at Newmarket as a juvenile, but she had been a bit out of form in her three starts of the season, including back at both those two meetings.

But she was back to her best when taking the Group Two World Pool Lennox Stakes at Goodwood at the end of last month.

And she can follow up at York.

The Gosden’s MIGHTY ULYSSES can follow up Listed success at Newmarket with victory in the Group Three Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (1.50pm).

The three-year-old colt ran well at the top level when fifth behind Coroebus in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and he should have too much class for his rivals here.

Charlie Appleby’s WILD CRUSADE – under Liverpool FC fan William Buick – can win the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (2.25pm).

The three-year-old has been in fine form this season, winning three of his fourth starts. And the Dubawi gelding can go in again stepped up in trip to 1m6f from 1m4f.

George Boughey’s SPANGLED MAC is another in-form horse, who has won four of his last five starts, and can add another in the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (4.10pm), under Buick.

Others who can win on the final day on the Knavesmire are George Scott’s two-year-old gelding ROCKET RODNEY – who hasn’t been out of the first two in five career starts – in the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes (4.45pm); and the Ralph Beckett-trained course and distance scorer LUCANDER in the Sky Bet Finale Handicap (5.20pm).

At Chester Hugo Palmer’s RAJINSKY can land a deserved success in the Listed Chester Stakes (3.05pm).

The six-year-old won at Ripon for Palmer, who had not long taken over at former Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire.

He has run two fine races in hot handicaps since – finishing third in the Chester Cup and fourth in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. He drops back down in trip to 1m6f, but he should have enough to get the better of hat-trick-seeking German raider Loft.

Stable-mate and course and distance winner FOOLS RUSH IN can land a second successive victory in the Abacus Securities 20-Year Anniversary Handicap (3.40pm).

The four-year-old took this mile contest last season and was back to form with another success over course and distance last time. He can follow up with another victory.

Another course and distance winner, Declan Carroll’s KING OF TONGA, has nabbed the plum draw in stall one in the five-furlong Joan Calvert Brown Handicap (4.15pm).

The six-year-old gelded son of Dark Angel won over course and distance in June and although he was disappointing at York the following month, he has generally been in good form this season and the return to the Roodee can see him score again.

The Simon Pearce-trained FRISKY is another with a good draw in stall two for the other five-furlong sprint, the Archie Biggs Handicap (4.50pm), and he can take advantage to score.

Others who may triumph on the Roodee are the Balding-trained course and distance winner FRANKNESS in the opener, the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (1.55pm); Charlie and Mark Johston’s CAN TO CAN in the City Framers Chester EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (2.30pm); and the Richard Fahey-trained THE NEW MARWAN – owned by Merseyside-based businessman and Chester lover Dr Marwan Koukash – in the finale, the GBR Everyone’s Turf Handicap (5.25pm).

At Sandown a chance is taken on the talented but disappointing Sir Michael Stoute-trained POTAPOVA to win the Group Three JRL Group Atalanta Stakes (Fillies & Mares) (2.05pm).

Others who can score at Esher track are the Haggas-trained DESERT HERO in the Group Three Fasig-Tipton Solario Stakes (2.40pm); the Gosdens’ KNIGHT OF HONOUR in the Kensington Gates Handicap (3.50pm); and ZAINALARAB in the Hampton Handicap (3.15pm).