York Ebor — 19 August 2026

Class 2 · 0m5f89y · Good · 22 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Corolla Point (6/1)

Won by: Air Force One (IRE) at 13/2 · then Corolla Point (IRE), Toca Madera (IRE), Apollo One (GB)

What we said: Twenty-two runners in a wide-open sprint handicap where Corolla Point's progressive 1-3321 form, The Man's market support down to 9/2, and Toca Madera's in-form yard all have live claims, with nothing separating them cleanly enough to back one at the price on offer; fields this size are the type that have burned this column hardest.

Class 1 · 0m7f0y · Good · 11 ran

Our bet: Haffner (13/8)

Won by: Haffner (USA) at 11/8F · then Gentle Hurricane (IRE), Trean (IRE)

What we said: Two placed efforts and a win figure of 212 at this trip already, with a dist record of "12" showing he's already run well over 7f at York-class tracks, and his damsire Zoffany's stock is flagged to excel on today's easing ground. The A P O'Brien/Ryan Moore combination has a strong recent record when fancied like this, and with the rain forecast to soften things further this galloping 7f test looks to play to his stamina and consistency.

Class 1 · 1m3f188y · Good · 6 ran

Our bet: Maltese Cross (2/1)

Won by: Maltese Cross (FR) at 9/4 · then Pierre Bonnard (IRE)

What we said: Unbeaten in his last four starts (form 1-1121), with course-and-distance form of 121 and already a winner on good-to-soft ground, the forecast rain and easing surface plays right into the Sea The Stars stamp for stamina and grip. He's proven up in trip and ground already, and today's conditions look like a repeat of the exact scenario that produced his last career-best win.

Class 1 · 1m2f56y · Good · 9 ran

Our bet: Ombudsman (5/4)

Won by: Item (GB) at 10/1 · then Almaqam (GB), Constitution River (FR)

What we said: A dominant course-and-distance performer with a near-perfect record at this trip (10 runs, almost all wins) and a rating well clear of this field at OR132, he arrives fresh off a smooth course win last time in identical conditions. The step up in class suits a horse who has beaten this level before, and Buick's booking on a proven big-race performer adds confidence there's no surprise in running.

Class 2 · 2m0f56y · Good · 17 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Kirchner (5/1)

Won by: Small Fry (IRE) at 2/1F · then Mountain Road (FR), Ride The Thunder (IRE), Westminster Moon (IRE)

What we said: Seventeen runners in a Class 2 stayers' handicap with rain forecast to ease the ground, and at least four of them — Small Fry, Kirchner, Valedictory and Team Player — arrive with claims that are hard to separate on the card: Small Fry's market-leading form is undercut by a moderate record at today's own trip (5-9-2), while Kirchner won last time out over course-and-distance-type conditions but is stepping up in class off a shorter sample. Throw in the going swing toward softer ground that none of the market principals have proven form on, and this is a spread-the-field puzzle rather than a bet.

Class 2 · 0m5f0y · Good · 19 ran

Our bet: Naana's Shadow (5/1)

Won by: Miss Yechance (IRE) at 9/1 · then Manatee Mehmas (IRE), Naana's Shadow (IRE), Baker Blue (GB)

What we said: Form figures of 131191 are outstanding, and she's proven over this exact course, trip and going (319 at York, 1311 on this ground), so the extra weight looks fully earned rather than a burden. She won last time out over today's 5f at York just 20 days ago and has been racing consistently at a high level all campaign.

Class 2 · 0m6f0y · Good · 22 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Henley On Thames (11/2)

Won by: Henley On Thames (IRE) · then Super Tuscan (IRE), The Dancing Pirate (GB), God Given Talent (IRE)

What we said: Twenty-two runners in a nursery handicap is the exact race type this system loses hardest in, and here three horses — Henley On Thames, Dubai Champion and The Dancing Pirate — all sit within a point of each other on a fair-price basis with nothing to separate them cleanly; Henley's steamer and improving form (6221) are the most eye-catching but not enough alone in a field this size and this shape.