RULING COURT, made little time to emerge as a hugely promising youngster, with an impressive maiden victory at Sandown.

The €2,300,000 breeze-up purchase powered clear of his rivals that day, in the manner of a high-class prospect. The form has been given some substance, subsequently, as the third won a Beverley maiden next-time-out. The son of Justify is expected to take this class rise in his stride for top connections.

CITY OF TROY is a confident selection in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, over the extended 1m2f distance.

The impressive Epsom Derby winner was more workmanlike when landing the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month. The Aidan O’Brien-trained dual classic winner may have not been as visually impressive that day, on soft ground, and is certainly expected to improve here, switching to a more galloping track, with a long straight to draw out his excellent stamina reserves. Quick ground will be a big plus for City Of Troy, who is definitely the one to beat, if delivering anything like his best, receiving weight from his elders.

JM JUNGLE appeals from an each-way perspective, in what is historically a fiercely-competitive handicap sprint to open York’s prestigious Ebor meeting.

The John and Sean Quinn-trained four-year-old arrives in better form than his figures suggest – a seventh at this venue in May can be upgraded after a slow beginning and his two most recent efforts have come in strong Curragh/Ascot handicaps. He is now a well handicapped individual, 4lb below than his placed effort in this event last term. A strongly run race is likely here, which will play to his strengths.

Epsom Derby fourth, DEIRA MILE, is arguably the most unexposed in the line-up, having not raced since that Group One test.

The Camelot colt took a while to hit full stride that day, on such a unique track, before running on powerfully to the line. He has one-and-half lengths to make up with subsequent G1 Irish Derby winner Los Angeles, but it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility of him reversing the form, on this more galloping track. His price appears too big to hit the frame.

York specialist, DESIGNER, must be strongly considered in the 5f handicap.

The John Butler-trained speedster is two from three at this venue, having landed back-to-back renewals of this race. He has to improve again to play a part in the finish, now 4lb above his last winning mark, but that is a distinct possibility. A first-time tongue-tie and a wind operation could prove to be a catalyst for further progress and it looks likely that this has been a big target for the owners.

Our first selection in our York Lucky 15 comes in the 13:50, where we have HOLKHAM BAY, who has been producing outstanding form so far this year.

A four-year-old gelding who was showing signs last year of progressing into a top horse when rounding up his year with results of 1,2,3,3. With high expectations for Holkham Bay this year, he hasn’t failed to deliver. Unfortunate not to open his account in 2024 at Ascot in May when finishing second behind Northcliff, he ran here at York next time out when his hard luck stories continued. Looking a winner from a long way out, he was run down at the line to finish second by a short head, but returning in June, he grabbed his reward when landing a 20-runner handicap over a further 6f trip.

With his first win under his belt in 2024, he went on to land back-to-back victories when scoring at Ascot earlier this month. His best performance to date at Ascot, securing his first class two win by a comfortable 2 ¾ lengths, he’s in top form of late and looks set to give his hat-trick bid a real go.

Next up in our York Lucky 15, we have the Juddmonte Stakes and BLUESTOCKING, who has really stepped up her performances this year.

A four-year-old filly who has hardly put a foot wrong in her short career, making the top three in nine of her 10 appearances and finishing a close fourth in her only unplaced effort, it’s this year where she has really kicked on. Landing a course and distance win on her reappearance after a seven-month break, she dominated a Group 2 event in which second-place Free Wind was six lengths behind her. An impressive performance on her return, Bluestocking stepped it up another level when landing the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh in June.

An exceptional start to the year in which she nearly topped it off when finishing second in the King George at Ascot last time out. Looking to land the spoils here today for City Of Troy, she has course and distance experience on her side and is improving rapidly with every start. Holds strong each-way claims here today.

Our next selection in our York Lucky 15 is DIVINE COMEDY, who has finished inside the top three in her last 13 appearances.

Having to go back to 2021 to see Divine Comedy outside of the top three, she is the model of consistency and has been making great headway through her handicaps. Divine Comedy hasn’t just been settling for the minor placings in her races, the mare has picked up six wins from those 13 appearances, and her best performances have all come this year. Finishing third at Doncaster in April when returning from a five-month break, she then went on to win a class two handicap at Haydock, in which she dominated her rivals to win going away by 5 ½ lengths.

After an impressive display in what was only her second appearance in class two company, she backed up this performance with a great second place at Royal Ascot. Putting in the best performances of her career this year, she won’t go away lightly here today and looks a solid each-way bet at her price.

Last but not least, our final runner for our York Lucky 15, we have STAR OF LADY M, who is looking to land back-to-back wins.

A four-year-old filly who has been producing some solid runs this year, recording four wins from her 13 appearances and has finished in the top three in eight of those 13 starts. Impressive stats considering she is trying to progress this season and has been competing in a variety of class three, two and one races. Landing her first class three event at Thirsk in May, she ran on well to win at a price of 11/1 and followed this effort up with another win last month at Newmarket at 16/1. Two big, priced wins, and she’s a filly who steps up for the big occasions.

Last seen here at York in June, she ran a great race after not finding much room to finish 5th in a class two event at 18/1, finishing less than a length behind second place. Coming on a lot since then, Star Of Lady M holds bold claims back in this class two after an impressive win at Newmarket last time out.