Queensbury Rules looks winning material at York with favourite out
Published:The Yorkshire Oaks is the big race on day two of York’s Ebor meeting, but with three other televised contests to be shown on Channel 4, there is no shortage of action to pick some winners from.
Wentworth’s withdrawal from the big handicap on the card has made this encounter more wide open and could lead some to be jabbed in the direction of Queensbury Rules being the best bet of the day.
Yorkshire trainers have won the last four renewals of this and the pairing of Kevin Ryan with jockey Phillip Makin has triumphed on the last two occasions. They team up with Sleeper King this time and he has to be respected, especially stepped up to 6f.
The fact that Rufford holds a Group 2 entry suggests it may be wise to forget his disappointing effort last time, but Xanthos looks on the upgrade and assuming this trip is not on the sharp side as he is bred to stay further, he could prove one for each-way thieves.
Despite the fact that she will have to defy a penalty, Lucky Kristale looks the one to beat if she can emulate the performance that saw her run out a taking Group 2 winner at Newmarket.
Her main competition is expected to come from J Wonder, who is unbeaten in two starts with the form of the latter working out well.
Queen Catrine is another with a chance given she will have Johnny Murtagh on board in what is an eye-catching jockey booking. Furthermore, she was second last time in the Princess Margaret Stakes, which has tended to be the best trial for this race.
Wentworth would have had many admirers here, particularly as he seemed to have a bit in hand when landing the Betfair Mile last time. However, even if he wasn’t a non-runner, he may have had difficulty beating Queensbury Rules.
The selection would have been 7lb better off with Wentworth despite finishing in front of him in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier in the season, has a useful low draw and should appreciate a return to 1m after competing over 7f last time.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
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