2:25 York
A maximum-field Class 3 handicap over 7f on good ground at York brings together a mix of progressive three-year-olds and seasoned older handicappers. The KTB numbers highlight a competitive race with no standout standout on pure ratings, but the top five in the Fit ranking – headed by the selection Yanifer – hold the strongest combination of course, trainer and recent-form credentials. Dropping in class looks a positive for several, while the three-year-olds stepping up in class add an element of the unknown.
How the race shapes up
With a maximum field of 22 and a pace shape that suggests plenty of early speed from the lower draws, the race is likely to be run at a solid gallop. Prominent runners and those drawn low should be to the fore, while those with a hold-up style from higher stalls will need the leaders to come back. The key question is whether the far-side group can dominate or if the race will fragment across the track, leaving scope for a strong traveller to pick up the pieces late.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Yanifer KTB Selection74/100
- 2Extremely Zain64/100
- 3Daydreama60/100
- 4Mirabeau59/100
- 5Bobby Bennu58/100
- 6Lir Speciale56/100
- 7Aalto56/100
- 8Sujet55/100
- 9Akkadian Thunder54/100
- 10Darkness53/100
- 11Recency Bias53/100
- 12Milford53/100
- 13Midnight Strike52/100
- 14White Crown Star52/100
- 15Gweedore51/100
- 16Sergeant Wilko51/100
- 17Glenfinnan50/100
- 18Brighton Boy50/100
- 19Andesite46/100
- 20Persuasion43/100
- 21Son41/100
- 22Oriental Prince36/100
The contenders
Yanifer KTB Fit 74/100
Yanifer is the KTB Selection. An 8-year-old with a recent form string of 72219-, he arrives in solid order and is dropping in class, a move that looks to suit. Harriet Bethell has a 22% strike rate at York with an A/E of 2.21 from just nine runs, while the 4/23 (17%) trainer-jockey record with Oisin McSweeney carries an A/E of 1.22 and positive LSP. He has won here from four starts at the track and holds two wins from eight runs on good ground with a further two placed efforts. Drawn in stall 11, his prominent run-style should see him well placed to take advantage of any pace that develops up front.
Extremely Zain KTB Fit 64/100
Extremely Zain is a lightly raced and progressive three-year-old boasting a 1-1 record. Stepping up in class, he is trained by William Haggas who has a 17% strike rate at York from 755 runs with an A/E of 1.01, and pairs with Cieren Fallon who is 12% at the track from 74 rides. He showed he handles good ground with a win from his sole start on the surface. Lacking any course form, his inexperience at this level and in big fields is the main question, yet his upward profile makes him a clear danger from draw 15 if he can settle into a prominent position.
Daydreama KTB Fit 60/100
Daydreama, a three-year-old with form figures of 33-729, is dropping in class which could spark improvement. Tim Easterby’s 6% strike rate at York from over 2000 runs is modest with an A/E of 0.76, but Sean Kirrane’s 9% strike rate at the track from 67 rides carries a useful A/E of 1.33. She has two wins from five runs on good ground with four placed efforts and has shown placed form over course and distance without winning, recording a second and a third from three starts here. From stall 5 she should be able to race prominently in a race where low draws are likely to be favoured.
Mirabeau KTB Fit 59/100
Mirabeau has form figures of 50-012 and is another dropping in class. The Dominic Ffrench Davis yard shows a 11% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.14 from 18 runs, and William Buick is a notable booking with a 15% strike rate at the track from 450 rides. He has a win from two starts here and one win from five runs on good ground with two placed efforts. Drawn in stall 3, his prominent run-style is well suited to a race where those near the pace from low draws could hold the key. Recent signs of finding his form again make him a live contender.
Bobby Bennu KTB Fit 58/100
Bobby Bennu is a 5-year-old with form of 2550-4 and is dropping in class. Trained by Roger Varian who has a 12% strike rate at York from 264 runs with an A/E of 0.7, the absence of a jockey is noted on the card. He has one win from six runs on good ground with two placed efforts but no course form on record. Drawn widest in stall 19, his hold-up style will require the race to fall apart in front or for him to pick up well off a strong pace. Recent form is patchy, leaving him with something to prove despite the class drop.
The rest of the field
Lir SpecialeKTB Fit 56/100
Lir Speciale has form of 1-3302 and steps up in class. Brian Ellison’s 6% strike rate at York pairs with Ben Robinson who is 7% at the track. One win from nine on good with five placed efforts, he has been placed without winning in three runs here. Drawn in 9, his prominent style could see him involved early.
AaltoKTB Fit 56/100
Aalto has form figures of 7078-9 and drops in class. Ian Williams has an 8% strike rate at York, while Ryan Moore is a strong booking at 16% at the track. One win from six on good with three placed, but he is 0-3 at York without placing. Drawn in 7, his hold-up style may struggle if the pace is strong.
SujetKTB Fit 55/100
Sujet has form of 10-720. Declan Carroll’s record at York is modest but James Doyle is 14% at the track. Two wins from seven on good with four placed efforts, he has no course form. Drawn widest in 21, his prominent style will be tested from that stall.
Akkadian ThunderKTB Fit 54/100
Akkadian Thunder has form of 60-263. David O’Meara is 7% at York from a large sample, while David Nolan is only 4% at the track. Two wins from four on good with two placed, but no course form. Drawn in 13, his run-style should see him mid-division.
DarknessKTB Fit 53/100
Darkness has form of 10-760. Another from the David O’Meara yard, he has placed once from 14 starts on good without winning. Two runs at York have produced no win or place. Drawn low in 2, his hold-up style could be advantaged if the far side dominates.
Recency BiasKTB Fit 53/100
Recency Bias has form of 2-1422 and is competitive on good ground without winning. Karl Burke is 9% at York, but apprentice Jack Nicholls is 0-24 at the track. No course form, drawn in 18, he will need to come from off the pace.
MilfordKTB Fit 53/100
Milford has form of 0074-6 and drops in class. Julie Camacho is 6% at York, Oisin Orr 6%. Placed twice from four on good without winning and placed without winning in three runs at York. Drawn in 22, his wide draw is a concern.
Midnight StrikeKTB Fit 52/100
Midnight Strike has form of 340-00 and drops in class. Jennie Candlish is 9% at York with a strong A/E, but three runs on good have produced no win or place. Drawn in 1, his prominent style from the rail could be an advantage.
White Crown StarKTB Fit 52/100
White Crown Star has form of 23339- and steps up in class. Ian Williams pairs with Clifford Lee who is 12% at York. Placed three times from five on good without winning and placed on his sole run here. Drawn in 12.
GweedoreKTB Fit 51/100
Gweedore is a 9-year-old with form of 81-704. Katie Scott is only 5% at York, but he has three wins from 20 on good with ten placed and has been placed multiple times at the track from five runs. Drawn in 16.
Sergeant WilkoKTB Fit 51/100
Sergeant Wilko has form of 0-4682. Kevin Ryan is 8% at York. Placed twice from five on good without winning and no win or place from two runs at the track. A non-runner on the card.
GlenfinnanKTB Fit 50/100
Glenfinnan has form of 9-0771 and steps up in class. Michael Dods is 10% at York, Connor Beasley also 10%. Four wins from 13 on good with five placed and placed once from four runs at York. Drawn in 17.
Brighton BoyKTB Fit 50/100
Brighton Boy has form of 9-7012 and drops in class. Tim Easterby pairs with David Allan who is 7% at York. One win from seven on good with two placed and he won here on his sole previous start at the track. Drawn in 8.
AndesiteKTB Fit 46/100
Andesite has form of 0-7053 and steps up in class. Roger Fell is 4% at York. One win from five on good with one placed and he has won here from two starts at the track. Drawn in 14.
PersuasionKTB Fit 43/100
Persuasion is a 9-year-old with form of 0-7616. The David & Nicola Barron yard is only 2% at York. Two wins from 23 on good with ten placed but only one run at the track which produced a ninth. Drawn in 4.
SonKTB Fit 41/100
Son has form of 7-2297 and drops in class. Another from the Tim Easterby yard, he has placed twice from six on good without winning. No course form and drawn in 6 with a 7lb claimer.
Oriental PrinceKTB Fit 36/100
Oriental Prince has form of 2-3050 and steps up in class. Jim Goldie is 5% at York. No win or place from six runs on good and no win or place from his sole run at the track. Drawn in 10.
KTB verdict
Yanifer is the KTB Selection and arrives with the strongest blend of course-winning form, a trainer in form at York and a suitable drop in class. His prominent style from a mid-stall should allow him to track the expected strong pace and pounce when it matters. Extremely Zain and Mirabeau look the clearest dangers on the back of progressive form and high-class jockey bookings, while Daydreama’s course placings add further depth to a race where the pace shape will be crucial.
KTB Selection Yanifer
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:02 UTC, 13 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Yanifer | 28/1 | William Hill |
| Extremely Zain | 2/1 | William Hill |
| Daydreama | 28/1 | William Hill |
| Mirabeau | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| Bobby Bennu | 9/1 | 7Bet |
| Lir Speciale | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Aalto | 5/1 | William Hill |
| Sujet | 22/1 | Bet365 |
| Akkadian Thunder | 18/1 | William Hill |
| Darkness | 40/1 | William Hill |
| Recency Bias | 10/1 | William Hill |
| Milford | 12/1 | William Hill |
| Midnight Strike | 80/1 | Bet365 |
| White Crown Star | 66/1 | William Hill |
| Gweedore | 50/1 | William Hill |
| Sergeant Wilko | 18/1 | Star Sports |
| Glenfinnan | 28/1 | William Hill |
| Brighton Boy | 14/1 | William Hill |
| Andesite | 28/1 | Bet365 |
| Persuasion | 50/1 | Bet365 |
| Son | 28/1 | William Hill |
| Oriental Prince | 66/1 | William Hill |
This is the narrative read of the 2:25 York. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the York racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest York trainer record among the principals?
Yanifer’s trainer Harriet Bethell has a 22% strike rate at York with an A/E of 2.21 from nine runs.
How many course winners are there in the full field?
Yanifer, Mirabeau, Brighton Boy and Andesite have all won at York.
Which runners are stepping up in class?
Extremely Zain, Lir Speciale, White Crown Star, Glenfinnan, Andesite and Oriental Prince are all stepping up in class.
What is the draw profile for the leading contenders?
The principals are drawn as follows: Yanifer 11, Extremely Zain 15, Daydreama 5, Mirabeau 3, Bobby Bennu 19.
Which horse has the best recent form among the principals?
Extremely Zain is unbeaten in two starts with form figures of 1-1.
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