Wednesday 20th August 2014

It’s the first day of the York Ebor meeting and my favourite flat meeting of the year. Four days of really good racing at a stunning course all based in a great city, I thoroughly recommend it.

Hopefully we’ll have some bigger priced selections in the next few days but let’s try and get the meeting off to a winning start.

In the 3:05 Great Voltigeur Stakes the Epsom Derby 2^nd Kingston Hill has a good 10lb in hand on everything in this race, his effort behind Australia who goes later in the day is standout and makes him a good thing if running to the same level of form.

Kingston Hill has ran once since the Derby when 4^th in Eclipse beaten 4 lengths, that was over 10 furlong though a trip to short and against older horses, the Roger Varian trained runner was also given a poor ride, set to much too do. Kingston Hill was nearest at the finish and would have gone very close with more forceful tactics.

A return to one mile four “same trip as the Derby” is perfect whilst the icing on the cake, Ryan Moore booked to get the job done.

My one concern is a few of the Roger Varian horses have ran a little below par of late for whatever reason, reports of a few coughing have been doing the rounds. However I’m sure Kingston Hill wouldn’t be running if he wasn’t 100% right and media gallop reports suggest he’s in very good form.

The price of 11-8 is very fair, I expect him to take all the beating unless something goes pear shaped or there is a huge improver in the field. Kingston Hill looks one of the shorter priced bankers of the week, he should take this on route to the St Leger.

Keep an eye out for another update this evening, before 7pm. I’ve not totally decided yet but might be a runner we’ll take an early price for that runs on Thursday.