Fran Berry offers his insight on the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes, while we have the Timeform predicted pace map and free video replays too.

Sky Bet City of York Stakes – 3.00 York

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The Sky Bet City of York Stakes is run as a Group 1 for the first time and the poster boy for the inaugural top-level renewal is two-time Group 1 winner Rosallion who tops the adjusted Timeform ratings on 131. He has the Horse in Focus and Sectional flags next to his name following his Sussex Stakes second and looks the one to beat as long as the drop to seven furlongs is no inconvenience. Never So Brave is next best in on 128 after his Buckingham Palace and Summer Mile victories and he’s 4lb clear of the 124-rated Lake Forest, giving this renewal a match-race feel for all that performers like Audience on Quinault (3/3 at the track) are respected on their best form.

Fran Berry Insight

It’s great to see Rosallion rerouted for what is the first running of the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes as a Group 1 and he’s a proper top-level horse with a great CV.

He hasn’t won this season but he has run some good races in defeat following a long lay-off after what was a tremendous Classic campaign.

As everyone saw, nothing went to plan at Goodwood last time but it was a really good run and he should have a nice set up here at the Knavesmire.

He’s running over seven furlongs for the first time since winning the big Group 1 in France as a two-year-old and with a likely good solid gallop to aim at he looks to have a fine chance of getting off the mark for the season.

The French challenger Maranoa Charlie ran a cracker in second in the Prix Jean Prat last time and it’s fascinating to see how this son of Wootton Bassett gets on on his first start overseas.

He’s interesting along with the likes of Exactly, Qirat and Quinault but for me it boils down to a match between Rosallion and NEVER SO BRAVE with preference for the Andrew Balding-trained horse.

This horse has been a revelation since joining his new yard, winning a big handicap at Royal Ascot easily before he landed the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot last month.

Dropping back down to seven furlongs should not inconvenience him and considering his rapid improvement he can take this for Balding and Oisin Murphy in the first running of the City Of York as a Group 1.

Timeform Pace Map

Pace Forecast: Very Strong

Draw Bias: N/A

Specific Pace Hint: Those that race prominently at this trip here are usually favoured but a very strong pace is on the cards and that will probably take the advantage away from AUDIENCE and towards ROSALLION.

Individual Price Hint: LAKE FOREST touched an in-running low of 25% or less of his starting Betfair SP when meeting with defeat on his most recent outing.

Free Video Replays

ROSALLION 30/07/2025

NEVER SO BRAVE 12/07/2025Safer gambling

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