Watching the first race at York it was obvious how dusty the ground was and, therefore, firm, so expect the taps to be on tonight.
Treaty Of Paris assisted the bookies in the Acomb, under a good ride from the front by James Doyle. Godolphin’s First Flight was particularly disappointing. Not a bad effort from The Grey Gatsby on only his second start.
Telescope beat his own generation after disappointing against his elders; but it was a good effort by runner-up Foundry on only his second start. The race does not look like great form as the winner was really only staying on. The Gordon Stakes form was totally let down by the Godolphin pair.
Declaration Of War reversed Eclipse form with Al Kazeem but how much was that down to the firm ground? The flat course was more in the winner’s favour but it is hard to say that the favourite would have overcome Trading Leather. Toronado was not going from a long way out so whether he stayed was not a factor. If the winner had not also run in the Sussex Stakes we would be wondering about it now as the first two have not advertised it.