Purely on form, Irish Derby runner-up Idaho should win the Great Voltigeur Stakes, with two of his five opponents coming from the same yard and the home team needing to find a lot of improvement.
There is no doubt in my mind that the best horse in the Juddmonte International is Postponed; however, I can see him being beaten today. He won the Coronation Cup very easily over a mile-and-a-half but now drops down in trip on a flat track – they could have gone for the Eclipse on a stiffer track if they really wanted to do ten furlongs. He missed his intended engagement in the King George at Ascot so his preparation has not been ideal and he is at York because of lack of other options. In his absence, Highland Reel collected at Ascot but there are similar reservations about the sharper trip for him.
The Grey Gatsby is a ten furlong horse despite his trainer and owner persistently wasting their time racing over further. Whilst he is a consistent performer, he lost the winning thread some time ago – although I would be pleased to see him win. The shorter trip may not see either Sir Isaac Newton or Exosphere in the best light, whilst Mutakayyef steps up in trip after beating subsequent winner Dutch Connection with something to spare over a mile. French raider Dariyan has been tried over a variety of trips with mixed results and is hard to fancy at this level.
The three-year-old challenge may not be strong numerically but they boast form at the highest level, with course and distance winner Wings of Desire having chased home Highland Reel and the Eclipse winner HAWKBILL, who accounted for a disappointing My Dream Boat at Sandown (expect better here) and is unbeaten in his last six starts.
