The second meeting of York races for its Spring Saturday fixture on 31 May has the Group 3 Bronte Cup headlining on the Kanvesmire. Sprint handicaps abound on a tough card for punters as well.
While this day of racing can’t match the recent Dante Festival at the track or what’s to come over the summer, it requires plenty of thought. With the 5f, 6f and 7f events that comprise most of the card, everything must go right to win.
We’re talking about the luck of the draw and in-running as well. There are often unfortunate losers at York races and punters can expect more of the same in the sprints. Fewer fillies and mares make up the Bronte Cup field. Also, look out for a three-year-olds only handicap over a mile-and-a-quarter.
Most of the action poses challenges for traders on horse racing betting sites and punters alike. We need our experts who follow the sport closely more than ever in such circumstances.
Their thoughts and analysis can narrow the field down and pick out some value at the same time. Let’s see what our experts think about the sprint handicaps, Bronte Cup and more from the Knavesmire.
York Races Preview for Spring Saturday, 31 May
1:30 – 6f Class 4 Handicap (0-78)
It’s not hyperbole to suggest this is about as hard as it gets. A field of 22 sprinters separated by just half-a-stone top to bottom. A sensible way of approaching this is looking for any horses who may have been unlucky and gone close here in the past. One who fits that bill is Ben Haslam inmate WEN MOON. He’s 6lb lower than when an eye-catching third over course and distance last summer.
Wen Moon is one of any number of each-way possibilities, however. When the market opened, it was a first show 8/1 the field. Ray Vonn should also be high on the list off the same mark as when successful here in July. He had joint-bottom weight Danzan back in fifth on that occasion. Ben Brookhouse’s five-year-old should come on for his reappearance.
Nominal favourite Bona Fortuna ran well fresh last term, yet finds himself in this tangle now for Mick Appleby. Julie Camacho’s Baba Reza isn’t fully exposed, meanwhile. Ingleby Archie, veteran Musicka and Protest Rally are both recent winners. Richard Fahey fits Rock Opera with a first-time visor that could bring about improvement.
Byzantine Express and Dickieburd aren’t out of it either, while Thankuappreciate and Lucky Man have both gone well here before. Some sort of case can in fact be made for most of the runners. It’s a real brain buster from such a tightly knit handicap.
2:40 – 5f Class 2 Handicap (0-105)
A much lower bar than 12 months ago at York races when Starlust defied a mark of 105 to win on Spring Saturday. Another three-year-old appeals most to follow in his hoofprints, however, and that’s LOOM. A good second over course and distance during the Dante Meeting for Fahey, he’s nudged up 2lb for shaping nicely here earlier in the month.
Knavesmire regular Jm Jungle is a threat to Loom, but continues nudging up the weights without winning. John & Sean Quinn’s five-year-old is now 8lb higher than when successful over an extended 5f during the Ebor Festival. Jm Jungle has bumped into American Affair three times since, but doesn’t face anything improving quite so rapidly now.
Sutton Bank trainer Kevin Ryan boasts a strong hand, meanwhile, with Ryan Moore booked for the ride on Venture Capital and another York regular Bergerac joining him in the line-up. Nigel Tinkler’s course and distance winner Duran has obvious claims too. At bigger prices, however, the likes of Jumbeau, Kodiac Thriller and It Just Takes Time could go well under claimers.
3:15 – 1m 6f Group 3 Bronte Cup
Impressive 💨
Shaha tastes Listed success in the @BritishEBF Daisy Warwick Fillies’ Stakes @Goodwood_Races for John & Thady Gosden and Kieran Shoemark 🟢⚪️ pic.twitter.com/DHbx9Y6Q7l
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 2, 2025
Galtres Stakes scorer SCENIC has been touched off by a neck over further than this in France and shaped as though she wanted to go back up in distance when runner-up in a Listed event at Goodwood. Although re-opposing fourth Sueno was a hard luck story on that occasion, Ed Walker’s five-year-old mare has experience of the Knavesmire.
Scenic may find Sueno her biggest danger with Moore booked to ride the Gosdens’ lightly-raced filly. It’s hard to see Allonsy, fifth in the same Goodwood race the last day, faring much better. Jane Temple is also pitched in at this level by John & Thady, while Divina Grace didn’t scream she wanted further when held in the Jockey Club Stakes.
3:50 – 7f Class 4 Handicap (0-80)
Also of interest from lower draws are Prosperitas and Miss Collada. Singoura, jumping from the middle of the line-up in stall 8, could be anything still. Horses from higher gates of note include Cairdeas for the Haggas stable and Adrian Paul Keatley’s Bear Kode.
The former finished in front of Four Fifty at Newcastle last time out, but there is a suspicion that Craig Lidster’s Ulysses colt could be well-handicapped on his Thirsk third. He ran into the now 96-rated Teoormm there, so a mark of 75 should be exploitable now back on turf.
4:25 – 1m 2f 56y Class 3 Handicap (0-95)
Urban Glimpse faces unbeaten handicap debutant Munsif in the Shadwell silks for Roger Varian. Moore takes the ride, but the form of this three-year-old colt looks difficult to assess. On visual impression, Munsif could be useful and should stay further.
Far Ahead, meanwhile, placed behind Derby prospect Stanhope Gardens as a juvenile and has since won around Catterick this spring. Ralph Beckett, who trains the latter, runs Cape Breton in the Juddmonte colours here, but he’s still a maiden on turf.
Of the others, Amsen Warrior has also yet to taste victory. He drops in class, however, after a good fifth in the London Gold Cup at Newbury. This is much easier and Dr Richard Newland now books Hollie Doyle for the ride.
5:00 – 7f Class 4 Handicap (0-80)
A key piece of form for the last at York races is one over course and distance earlier in the month. James Owen filly Delicacy prevailed on that occasion with Mums Tipple back in third. Behind them, however, were some hard luck stories, notably QUEST FOR FUN and RIOT. Both are worth hedging on, granted better luck in-running.
Quest For Fun came fourth, so meets the re-opposing winner and third off better terms for Tim Easterby, who also runs Mysteryofthesands. David O’Meara saddles Riot, meanwhile, who found no way through the pack, yet still finished ninth. He also chances Al Muqdad in this contest after he came home next in 10th place during the Dante Festival race.
Appleby has Daring Legend, who has placed on his last couple of outings. Last year’s winner Feel The Need is worth a mention too. Ziggy’s Condor may be best of a quartet representing Fahey. Some of the other older horses to consider include Mudamer, Tele Red and The Green Man. Like the opener, it’s hard to rule many out completely.
