Race One: The Andy Thornton Hospitality Apprentice Handicap (Class Four) (1 mile, 2 furlongs) (9 runners)

Winner: MENELAUS (#7) (Galileo Gold x Empress Rock) - C. Planas - M & D. Easterby. 
An apprentice handicap kicked off the card and although it is a view to the next stars of the saddle, the lineup contained some of the country's best apprentice jockeys. Last year's Champion Apprentice jockey Jonny Peate was present with Jean Baptiste, who was third over course and distance last autumn. Other young riding starlets in the race included Harry Davies, Mark Winn, Sean Kirrane and Callum Hutchinson, all of whom have made a good impression against their professional counterparts.
The equine talent looked equally competitive and made it a strong looking class four handicap. The very consistent Westernesse had finished in the top three on his previous seven starts and arrived here on the back of a win at Pontefract a couple of weeks ago. The Easterby family name had a strong presence on the racecard as Tim saddled two runners, Highwaygrey and Poet's Dawn, while the legend Mick saddled Menelaus in a miniature family battle. The rest of the field arrived in good form including the multiple winner Solanna, Showmedemoney and Aqwaam.
The field was reduced to nine runners after the early withdrawal of soft ground lover Aqwaam, but the race was still closely fought over until the outcome was decided by a wide margin winner. It would be a popular winner for trainer Mick Easterby as his gelding Menelaus romped home in the opener. Racing keenly in midfield as Showmedemoney, Jean Baptiste and Pledge Of Honour took turns to lead in the early stages. Jonny Peate blinked first and attempted to slip the field by going clear entering the final two furlongs. Pledge Of Honour soon took over, but Menelaus had travelled sweetly and found plenty when asked to go. Bouncing off the quick ground, he looked to be enjoying himself as he crossed the line over three lengths clear of his rivals. Pledge of Honour held on for second while Westernesse and Dougie's Dream made good headway at the death for third and fourth.
Winning jockey Connor Planas has been gaining more and more attention this year due to his riding ability. Emerging on the scene last year, he had a good first season with nineteen wins and looks set to break that this year as he hit thirteen in this race. With the right support, his apprentice claim will surely whittle down to zero in no time. 

Race Two: The SBK 2-Y-O Selling Stakes (Class Three) (6 furlongs) (14 runners)
Winner: CELESTIAL FLIGHT (#2) (Harry Angel x Ebrah) - J. Sullivan - O. Pears
A tricky contest for punters to solve, but it was a unique race as York held one of the most valuable selling races of the year. Restricted to two-year-olds, each of the fourteen runners were up for sale and the winner would go through a public auction after the race. 
A field with largely uninspiring form made it a difficult race to get involved in, but for connections it would provide one set of owners the winning feeling with their budget purchases. Travel Candy had won a selling race at Beverley when trained in Irleland, but she stayed in Yorkshire after the Brian Ellison snapped her up swiftly. The Dandy Man filly would be fancied to land another race of this kind but faced some live dangers. The Nick Bradley Racing-owned Bazball hadn't progressed as hoped and she would be one of the better bred contenders. The stables of Ollie Pears and David Evans provided almost half of the fourteen-strong field with four runners for the Pears yard and two from the Shropshire yard of Evans. The intriguing runner would be the newcomer Royal Solitaire for trainer Phillip Makin. A half sister to a smart handicap sprinter, the daughter of Massaat would be one for the notebook.

There would be drama just moments after the start as the newcomer Royal Solitaire started very slowly and became very green. Bucking and kicking, it was a minor miracle that Rowan Scott stayed in the saddle for as long as he did. Finally unseating her rider after fifty yards, Royal Solitaire galloped loose with the field and horse and rider were perfectly fine. In the actual race though, there was an excitingly close finish with the Ollie Pears stable getting justified for their stack of entries. Celestial Flight was in the right spot throughout, sitting on the heals of the early leaders. Taking up the lead inside the final furlong, the gelding was very tough to hold off his rivals who came from all sides. Up The Jazz finished second once again while favourite Travel Candy wasn't far away in third and Bazball could only manage fourth after travelling well throughout.
The owners, Ownaracehorse Ltd, had three runners in the race and it would be the first choice who took home the valuble prize.  Fifth on debut at Beverley back in April, he hadn't run since so this race could have been a long term plan. 

Race Three: The EBF Supporting Racing With Pride Fillies' Handicap (Class Two) (6 Furlongs) (8 Runners)

Winner: RADIO GOO GOO (#7) (Havana Grey x Radio Gaga) - B. Curtis - D. Evans.
A good quality sprinting handicap for fillies and mares' provided the feature race of the day. A classy list of eight flying females looked wide open with many opposing profiles meeting in the middle. The now Group-class sprinter Gale Force Maya landed this race last year and the third in that renewal, Al Simmo, was back again in the hope of a higher finish.
The weights were headed by the William Haggas-trained Pink Crystal who looked progressive last season, narrowly beaten in a few valuable events toward the end of last year. International Girl had won at York before and was looking to boost her good record on the Knavesmire while the three-year-old Radio Goo Goo had proven to be a revelation this year once stepping up to six furlongs. Winning four of her five starts in 2023 including at the Chester festival, it would be hard to gauge a ceiling on her ability. 

It would be yet another win for the rapidly progressive Radio Goo Goo in a popular win for any fans of the band Queen.  The three-year-old had to do it the hard way and made all the running in what would turn out to be another close finish. As she was headed in the final furlong, she bravely battled back and regained the lead under Ben Curtis and denied Al Simmo by just a nose. The returning Pink Crystal finished third and International Girl carried on her good York record with a fourth. 
The Welsh wizard, trainer David Evans, has found the key to this filly and kept her winning streak going to four in a row now. With one defeat at the six furlong distance, coming at the All Weather Finals meeting, the Havana Grey filly is progressive at a rate of knots. A dip into group company will surely come next and the stable have enjoyed brilliant days with their multiple group race winner Rohaan. 

Race Four: The Seat Unique Ganton Stakes (Listed Race) (1 mile) (5 runners)

Winner: CHICHESTER (#2) (Dansili x Havant) - R. Kingscote - K. Dalgleish
The richest race of the day came in the form of the listed Ganton Stakes, but it attracted a field of just five runners. Due to its close proximity to Royal Ascot and near identical races at that meeting, this race is regularly seen as an after thought to Ascot. Last year's renewal saw a Godolphin 1-2 as Valiant Prince beat Art Du Val with former Royal Ascot winner Mohaafeth trailing behind. The "Boys In Blue" were represented by Shining Blue, who was stepping back into pattern company after a highly impressive handicap win over seven furlongs at the previous York meeting.
The once hugely promising El Drama has yet to deliver, but he had shown glimpses of quality, the Roger Varian entire was looking for a confidence boosting win after finishing second in a Meydan Group One at the start of the year. The evergreen Azano was a regular at this level for trainer David O'Meara and the Keith Dalgleish stable star Chichester had been in good form on the all-weather over the winter. The ever growing Newmarket stable of Jack Jones would have a big day out with their filly Silver Screen guaranteed to take prize money home even if she finished last.
There would be a win for Scotland as Chichester made a return to the winners' enclosure. Racing in third as the field ran in single file, there was little change in the order as Azano cut out the running. Once the David O'Meara-trained gelding had weakened, Chichester had found himself in the right place to pull clear and take the listed race prize. Shining Blue would follow him home into second and Azano was rewarded with third as El Drama disappointed once again in fourth.
It would be a rare win on the turf for the six year old, ridden by Richard Kingscote for the soon-to-be retiring trainer Keith Dalgleish. The son of Dansili has constantly proven to be smart when facing a strong pace but had recently been in good form over the winter with two wins. On his previous start, he faced the daunting task of facing Group One stars Hukum an Desert Crown, so this task was much easier today and so it proved. 

Race Five: The Juddmonte EBF Fillies' Maiden Stakes (Class Two) (5 Furlongs) (14 Runners)

Winner: HARVANNA (#10) (Havana Grey x Weisse Socken) - C. Lee - K. Burke

Another installment of the new initiative from Juddmonte, the valuable series of fillies' maidens which runs through the course of the year at various locations. The added prize money and fairness of the York track saw a healthy field size of fourteen and there was some smart pedigrees on display.
The Nick Bradley Racing outfit won the race last year with Mersea and relied on three fillies this year, Dibbsy's Dream for trainer Amy Murphy, Bellarchi for last year's winning stable Grant Tuer and the Roger Fell & Sean Murray-trained Heroic Dream. Leading contenders Cool Run and Harvanna held strong bloodlines and had shown promise on their respective debuts. The Ed Bethell trained Cool Run is a half-sister to the stable's high class juvenile Fearby and finished fifth on debut while Harvanna hails from the powerful Karl Burke stable.
Of the newcomers, Pearl Abbey looked most interesting. The daughter of Soldier's Call had the assistance of Dan Tudhope in the saddle and was looking for a positive first day of school for the Julie Camacho stable. Declan Carroll's newcomer Etoile d'Alexandre also caught the eye on breeding as a daughter of the speedy juvenile Patience Alexander.

There would be a smart display from the winner who appears to have a bright future. It was no surprise to see the Karl Burke stable land another maiden race with a very nice prospect and Harvanna should have bigger and better targets in the summer. Held up in the rear early on, the daughter of Havana Grey travelled powerfully and picked her way through the field. Producing a potent final burst, Harvanna came home clear of the chasing pack under Clifford Lee to win smartly. from favourite Angel Shared, Bellarchi and Etoile d'Alexandre. The winning filly is a produce of a listed placed mare whose family includes the useful Playful. Third on her debut, there was plenty of natural improvement and there is always potential for more next time out. 

Race Six: The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap (Class Three) (7 Furlongs) (16 Runners)

Winner: ANOTHER INVESTMENT (#11) (Awtaad x Mitzi Winks) - J. Mitchell - N. Tinkler. 
Plenty of familiar names returned to the Knavesmire for another typically tight handicap over the intermediate trip of seven furlongs. Many of the runners had faced each other on more than one occasion, even on this course. The two previous races of this kind at the past two meetings would hold the key with formlines from the May meeting and Dante festival put under the microscope. 
Winner of a class four handicap at this trip at the end of May, Doctor Khan Junior was looking to continue his upward curve since fitted with a visor. The Geoff Oldroyd four year old has won at big prices, but he was set to be a lot more popular in the betting this time around. Motagally and Another Investment finished second and fifth in that race and both returned to avenge their defeat. Other leading contenders included the consistent Riot and Titan Rock, placed at the Dante meeting, as well as the classy Lord Of The Lodge and veteran Equiano Springs.
Previous York form came good once again as Another Investment gained a deserved win in some style. The five year gelding had finished third and fourth at the past two meetings but he finally got his head in front under Jack Mitchell. The early pace looked honest and the early leaders Equiano Springs and Lord Of The Lodge took each other on up front. The field fanned out in usual fashion, but on the far side, Another Investment was spotted travelling best of all. Showing a swift change of gear, the son of Awtaad bounded clear to take this competitive handicap apart and win by five lengths. The Richard Fahey-trained No NNay Nicki ran on for third and Riot was there again at York in third. Doctor Khan Junior's upswing in form ended with him taking fourth place. 

Race Seven: The Constant Security Handicap (Class Four) (1 mile, 6 furlongs) (6 Runners)
Winner: DIAMOND BAY (#2) (New Bay x Amarillo Starlight) - D. Tudhope - T. Ward

Just seven runners took the start in this staying handicap which rounded off the card. With thirteen pounds seperate top and bottom weight, there wasn't much between them and there was plenty of multiple winners in the field. The powerful connections of Sir Michael Stoute and Al Shaqab Racing were represented by the lightly race Balhambar and the four year old gelding caught the eye in the lineup. The yard of Michael Dods has been enjoying another fine season and they relied on Wor Willie, a four time winner last year at this trip. Fans of grey horses were served by the Scottish-trained Ravenscraig Castle, carrying the unique tartan silks. 
The early pace was steady as Paul Mulrennan took the field along the length of the back straight at a leisurely canter. The lack of pace meant Ravenscraig Castle ran keenly, but there was plenty of chances at the business end of the race. As Wor Willie tried to kick on under Mulrennan, his rivals were sharp to the danger and swamped the leader. Diamond Bay squeezed through the narrow gap between horses and stuck his head into the lead where he remained crossing the line. The Tom Ward-trained gelding held off the rallying State Legend as the pair pulled clear of Wor Willie in third. The five year old had won over two miles previously so his extra stamina proved vital as he was strongest at the finish in this handicap.