Jamie Spencer: “He has an obvious chance of going one better here”

York

2.05pm

Tommy Taylor

He has dropped to a mark from which he really should be competitive, but he has to show a bit more than of late, including at Newmarket last time. But he didn’t get an ideal trip there and he returns to a course where he has won twice, and run some of his better races, so you would have to be hopeful, especially as any rain should be fine for him.

2.40pm

Savalas

He ran a lot better with the cheekpieces re-applied over 5f at Newmarket, and he is another who is weighted to go very close at his best. The step back up to 6f is a positive, and he is 9lb lower when a narrow second in a valuable course-and-distance handicap last summer. You’d have to give him a fair chance in what is obviously a very open race.  He goes equally well on fast ground and with some ease, too.

3.45pm

Abstemious

He clearly ran a hugely promising race on his debut here earlier in the month, travelling really well into the race and only just getting worn down by the smart and experienced Oh Purple Reign close home. If coming forward from that run, he has an obvious chance of going one better here, even if Mr Jones And Me also ran well first time up. My horse looks a fair prospect.

4.20pm

Mixboy

I assume something was amiss when he was pulled up at Royal Ascot. Prior to that he was in good form over fences and at Southwell on the Flat, and he doesn’t look on a bad mark here. In fact, he just gets into 0-90, rated 92, so hopefully he can make his class tell. He obviously has questions to answer after his run last time, though.