See The Fire sets a high standard for her rivals to aim at. The Sea The Stars filly has run respectably in four of her five outings this season – all in Group One company. She is clearly improving with racing, too, evident in a good fourth in the G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, behind Wednesday’s impressive G1 International Stakes winner, City Of Troy.

A subsequent neck second in the G1 Nassau Stakes was an excellent performance, too. Thid drop in class could see her gain a deserved first win of the campaign.

Tropical Storm was progressing nicely this season, prior to a down-the-field effort in the G2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. That run was far better than the form figure suggests, having clearly not stayed the 6f trip after setting the pace throughout.

The speedy youngster reverts to 5f here, with the promise of a good run, from an excellent low draw. Interestingly, his half-brother, Purosange, ran second in this race last season, which is a positive.

There could be a royal winner on the Knavesmire this afternoon, courtesy of the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Reaching High. A consistent performer since switched to handicaps, the son of Sea The Stars took his form to a new level at Wolverhampton last time, winning for the first time.

The catalyst for the impressive seven-and-a-half-length victory was clearly the rise in distance – he kept on powerfully from the back in the 1m6f journey, before being heavily eased. On the face of it, an 11lb hike in the weights may seem an overreaction from the handicapper, but there could be bundles of further progress over stamina-sapping distances.

Epic Poet is one of a whole host of strong contenders in this year’s feature contest of the week – the prestigious Ebor Handicap. A Listed winner in France, he showed nothing for his first trainer on these shores but has run promisingly in all three starts for David O’Meara. The five-year-old shaped encouragingly on stable debut at this track, following a break, before an excellent runner-up in the 1m4f Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot.

He saw the race off strongly that day, suggesting he would appreciate even further, and the form has certainly been boosted – with the winner scoring in Group Three company subsequently. Despite a drop in trip, his running-on fifth back at York last time was eyecatching, following traffic issues, keeping on strongly over a distance short of his best.

He looks primed for this rise to 1m6f and holds outstanding each-way claims, granted a clear passage, for a trainer who will have undoubtably targeted this huge race all season.

Recent Windsor scorer Elmonjed is expected to continue his good form, now that he has tasted success for the first time in handicap company. Blinkers replaced cheekpieces that day, which clearly helped, coupled with a strong pace to aim at (likely here).

He only went up 2lb in the weights and is capable of finding improvement after only six career runs, for a trainer who arrives in good form. If the track runs like it has done this week then the low draw will be a plus for Elmonjed.

Our first selection in our York Lucky 15 comes in the 14:25, where we have Tactician, who has produced solid performances in his opening five races.

A three-year-old colt who has been enjoying racing in handicaps after winning a maiden stakes race in June to kick-start his career. An impressive performance when racing in his first start over 1m6f, he ran on well to win comfortably by 2 ½ lengths. Taking on his first handicap a month later at Ascot, the three-year-old was unlucky not to land back-to-back wins when having every chance to win the race inside the final furlong, losing narrowly by a head.

A great journey so far and producing his best run to date last time out when returning to Ascot, he landed his second career win. After not getting a clear run and needing to switch multiple times, he stayed on gamely and should be challenging in the business end of today’s race given his latest runs.

Our next selection in our York Lucky 15 is Queenstown, who has finished inside the top three in all six of his starts.

A highly anticipated four-year-old out of Galileo who is racing in his handicap debut here today after taking on listed and group events this year. Racing three times in maidens last year, Queenstown finished second in his first two appearances before opening his account at the Curragh in boggy conditions. After taking a four-month break, the gelding returned this year in some high-profile 1m6f races. Posting two impressive performances, he finished second behind stablemate and superstar Kyprios on both occasions, who has just landed the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, followed by the Goodwood Cup last month.

There are no complaints about finishing second to Kyprios, who has won 12 of his 16 races, and these performances will bring on further improvement from Queenstown. The one to beat in this race today and holding an entry into the Irish St. Leger Group 1 next month, this is the perfect stepping stone.

Next up in our York Lucky 15, we have Elmonjed, who has won three of his five appearances over 6f trips.

A three-year-old gelding who holds strong claims heading into today’s affair after winning both of his appearances last year and showing top form so far in 2024. Winning a maiden on his racecourse debut at Lingfield before landing a novice stakes race at Haydock, both of these appearances came on quick ground and is where he feels the most comfortable. His next appearance on good to firm came last month at Windsor, where he put in a top performance when favourite to finish third by less than a length behind Amazonian Dream and Palmar Bay.

Returning to Windsor earlier this month, he got one back on Amazonian Dream, who had to settle for second place again at his favourite track. After landing his first win in a class two event earlier this month, he has proven himself in this class already and he’s the one to beat in today’s affair.

Last but not least, our final runner for our York Lucky 15, we have Paradias, who is looking to land a double here today.

A consistent five-year-old gelding who has raced 19 times on turf and has placed in the top three in nine of those appearances, picking up three wins in the process. Unfortunate not to pick up more wins, Paradias has finished close seconds in five of those races and has returned to his winning ways of late. Landing a competitive handicap at Goodwood earlier this month, he ran on well inside the final furlong to beat the consistent Native Warrior over a shorter 1m1f trip. Stepping back up to 1m2f here today and after staying on strongly last time out, he should have no issues being competitive in this tougher race.

Racing five times on ground good or quicker, Paradias has recorded results of 2,2,2,1,1 and holds leading claims heading into today’s affair, with further improvement on the horizon.