The Great Voltigeur Stakes Wed 17th York

The Great Voltigeur Stakes  the opening day of the York Ebor meeting. A group 2, run over a mile and a half for 3yos only, it is generally considered as one of the best trials for the final classic of the year, the St Leger, with Milan, Rule Of Law and Lucarno all pulling off the double in the past 10 years.

Recent/Past Form

9 of 10 winners finished in the first 4 last time out

8 of 10 winners posted their highest MR last time out

6 of 10 winners had won over 1M 2F+ (4 exceptions had finished in first 3 in group/listed race over 1M 2F+)

9 of 10 winners had finished in first 3 in a listed or group race(exception won maiden last time)

6 of 10 winners finished in first 4 in a group 1

0 of 10 winners had won a group 1 or 2

Saeed Bin Suroor (1-1-2) has saddled a winner and a runner-up from his 2 runners in this since 2000. 

The 2 winners since 2000 to go off bigger than 6/1 were Youmzain in 2006 at 12/1 and Monitor Closely in 2009 at 28/1.

Favourites (3-4-10) have won 3 of the last 10 runnings at York but show a level stakes loss of 3.32.

 Verdict 

 Saville Racked up list of near misses in big races since 2yo maiden win, finding one too good in Racing Post Trophy, Dante, Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris; tries hard and sets a clear form standard.

There should be little fear that Sea Moon will get this distance and Namibian has already proved it with his win at Goodwood so spectacular ( Sarroor's Hunter's Light ran a cracker into third that day from a long long way back and Dettori will get to the track for this one) The dark horse is Gosden's Thimaaar who has never run in this company  but has performed very well indeed. it looks like tilting at Windmills but Gosden record in this race is right up there winning in 2007 and is (1- 0 -4) for the event Gosden quote after that last race "Thimaar ran well behind a nice colt by Galileo last time out at the July festival. We decided to step him up in trip this time and that, with the ground, has worked." 

If you Like Namibian  then you have to like Hunters Light who has a 3lbs pull for 3 lengths which is not enough but watch the race he really did not have enough room 2 flngs out when he started his effort                                                              

Held up in touch in last trio, ridden and effort just over 2f out, headway under pressure to chase clear leading pair entering final furlong, kept on but never going to reach leaders (op 17-2 tchd 9-1)  It has improvement and a very nice place price as well  

Great race 

Good luck