STRADIVARIUS TO HIT THE RIGHT NOTE ONCE MORE

14:25 York

Not a great turn out in terms of numbers, but three of the top stayers contest this year’s Lonsdale Cup.

Stradivarius needs to bounce back from a slightly lacklustre effort in this season’s Gold Cup. He did get caught in a pocket that day when the winner Subjectivist (sadly out for the season) kicked off the home bend. Even so it’s hard to imagine he’d have won that day with a clear passage due to the winners supremacy.

Spanish Mission finished alongside Stradivarius in the Gold Cup which was a step up on his form shown prior to that improvement. Based on that he shouldn’t be too far away based on that effort, but this may be a sharper test here today.

Trueshan has emerged as a major contender in Group one staying events over the past twelve months. The one caveat with him however is undoubtedly the going. There’s no doubt he’s a better horse when the mud is flying and his lofty handicap mark has been achieved in such conditions. I’m sure he’ll take his chance even if conditions stay dry, purely because there’s some nice place prize money to be collected.

Based on the ground remaining as it is, Stradivarius has to be the most sensible selection.

STRADIVARIUS (WIN)

written by Matt Polley