THE FINAL day of the Sky Bet Racing Festival at York is an absolute cracker with an upgraded Group One City of York Stakes standing proudly beside the main handicap of the week, the Sky Bet Ebor.

Let’s start with the former which has not surprisingly attracted a healthy field of 11 runners with the Sussex Stakes runner-up Rosallion set to go off a tight favourite at around the 6/4 marker. That fast finishing effort followed a similar second to Docklands in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, so another big win and a first as a four-year-old is just around the corner. And jockey Sean Levey is unlikely to be caught out off a slow pace here with the likes of Quinault, Audience and outsider Ten Bob Tony set to drive the field along early doors.

However, because of the short-priced favourite there are plenty of each-way alternatives with the likes of Lake Forest (runner-up in the Lennox Stakes) and Aidan O’Brien’s Exactly, set to drop back to this trip for the first time in four outings, also with claims. Both would have at least place claims at their best, but the one I want to be on is SEAGULLS ELEVEN (3.00) at a much bigger price.

Hugo Palmer’s charge has run his best figures on his last two outings when second in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket, and then winner of the Group Three Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood. This is yet another step up in class for the son of Galileo Gold, and from a value point of view he gets the nod over second favourite Never So Brave.

As far as the big staying handicap is concerned, last year’s fifth, Hipop de Loire, looks sure to go off favourite for Irish maestro Willie Mullins. He didn’t get the best of runs that day, but still looks likely to be hugely competitive off 3lbs higher a mark of 106.

However, there look to be a whole host of younger and more progressive horses below him in the weights with the likes of Mr Percy, London and AERONAUTIC (3.35) the pick of them; all incidentally from family O’Brien!

Joseph, also runs Mr Percy, reportedly has both horses in rude health and I simply loved the way that this son of Gleneagles finished off his race over this trip at the Glorious Goodwood Festival on ground that would have been dead enough for him.

Previously fifth of 16 behind French Master in the Copper Horse Handicap, he is now 8lbs better off for being beaten less than four lengths and was pretty keen at Royal Ascot, so has plenty in his favour if he manages to settle from an inside draw. 

As the first reserve, he needs one to come out of the main field. So if he is set to stay on the sidelines, then London would be the super substitute from Aidan’s yard. The Ballydoyle maestro considers him still to be nicely weighted, and he had a lovely warm up for this in the Group Two Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup last month.

Of the other supporting races on the Knavesmire, I have a strong opinion in the enigmatic CHECKANDCHALLENGE (1.50) in the opening Group Three Strensall Stakes.

You never know exactly what you are going to get from this talented six-year-old, but he showed that the fire still burns bright with his strong finishing third of sixth at Pontefract last time, when he looked out with the washing three furlongs out.

I have been waiting for NORTHERN TICKER (4.10) to appear since his highly credible fourth in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton, and that run should have put him right for this valuable prize. I may also have a saver on the former Wokingham Handicap winner St Lawrence, who is down to his lowest ever handicap mark of 92 and has a likely good draw in stall number seven.

Away from the northern lights there is an appealing card on the south coast at Goodwood and with fast ground once the order of the day at this most beautiful of tracks, I shall be pinning my hopes of BILLYJOH (2.05). 

A fast finishing third in the Bunbury Cup Handicap at Newmarket, his last two runs haven’t been so good. But now 2lbs below that mark from headquarters, I am looking for Ali Rawlinson to anchor him in midfield before pulling him out to mow down the leaders inside the final 300 yards or so.

DREAM COMPOSER (5.00) last won a race off 88 12 months ago, and has not really cut much ice in some of the better five and six furlong handicaps this year. But this minimum trip is what he really wants and with Shay Farmer taking a very useful 7lbs off his back, I suspect that he will be very competitive off a mark of 83 if his young jockey can get him rolling early on. 

Of his rivals, I have the most respect for Seven Questions. The top weight has finally been given a chance by the assessor having been rated as high as 106 last year, and he now gets the chance to run off a mark of 96 and the in form Finley Marsh is on top to boot.

TIMELESS CHARM (4.25) and outsider WARDA JAMILA (2.40) should also run well in their respective races. The former showed her turn was close at hand when staying on well at Leicester last time out, while the last named had a horrible passage last time out at Southwell, so could be significantly better than that run.

Finally, have a second look at THREE OF THURSDAY (Windsor, 7.45). She found the nine furlongs at Ffos Las just too sharp last time, so this step up to a mile-and-a-half on a sharp track may see her open her career account at the eighth time of asking.