Three To Follow At York - 05/09/21

There are a few unknown quantities in this including the Haggas debutant True Icon who fetched 130,000gns as a yearling, however despite conceding weight all around the vastly experienced Sophie's Star is taken to bounce back to form for an in-form Karl Burke team.

This filly ran much better than the bare form suggests when running-on into third in a Naas Listed event last time, having raced alone on the stands side throughout that contest, and while she is much more exposed than her rivals in this she has experience on her side which should stand her in good stead.

Leading claims with Pierre-Louis Jamin’s claim negating the penalty her 5lb penalty.

Ed Walker was successful in this contest last term with the top-class Starman and looks to hold every chance of back-to-back victories with his progressive 4yo Great Ambassador.

This son of Exceed and Excel has returned better than ever this season, and having appeared unlucky when first home on the stands' side in the Stewards' Cup but unable to get his head in front, he duly built on that promise when bolting up at Newmarket last month.

This does represent a much tougher assignment but he won in the style of a potential pattern horse that day and might not have done improving just yet.

We have another competitive handicap to delve into for the finale this afternoon, and it’s another Grant Tuer inmate who appeals the most to us.

The step up to this trip unlocked plenty of improvement when running out a well-backed winner after 10 months off at Musselburgh last month and while his penalty does ask further questions his riders 3lb claim will at least make life easier.

He won like a horse way above his mark that day and given the fact he has relatively low mileage for a 4yo he is confidently selected to at least be thereabouts at the business end.