York has proven to be a tricky customer this week but I hope MOUNT ATLAS can confirm his improved form by going close in the opener. The Oisin Murphy-ridden Masar gelding built on a solid Royal Ascot fifth with success back at the same track and trip last month.

He comfortably beat a subsequent winner that day and has earned a 5lb rise in the weights. Despite being top-weight here, I believe he has the class to win this, en route to a tilt back in group company.

I think this year’s Lonsdale Cup looks easy on paper but may prove to be anything but that in the race. G1 Ascot Gold Cup winner, Trawlerman, would be tough to beat if repeating that form, eased in trip, and won the Ebor previously so we know he handles the course.

Shackleton has shown glimpses of good form for Aidan O’Brien and receives plenty of weight as a three-year-old. He also has the application of first-time cheekpieces, which may spark improvement. The trainer’s horses aren’t firing strongly this week, though, so is regrettably passed over.

I cannot leave AL QAREEM run without a small wager, as he absolutely relishes running at York – he is three from five on the Knavesmire and is likely to obtain an uncontested lead. I admit the extended two-mile trip is a question mark (never won beyond 1m7f) but at the prices, I’d rather take the chance he may get enough of a lead to cling on.

In what appears a weak juvenile Group Two, I’m siding with RECIPROCATED, who can be excused a last-of-six at Ascot last month. The trainer’s representative noted that he was far too keen over 7f that day and didn’t stay the distance.

The drop to 6f could work a treat here and he may well prove to be hard to catch. His previous two successes were visually impressive and I think the grey can return to the winner’s enclosure – especially if allowed to dictate the pace.

I fully understand that sometimes the obvious horse doesn’t win the big races, but cannot get away from how well treated LADY IMAN is in this Group One contest. The speedy daughter of Starman is already a dual Group Three winner and is 4-5 in her short career.

She quickly put a 6f defeat behind her when dropping back down to the minimum trip at Goodwood and she ought to be well-suited to an almost guaranteed strong pace to aim at here. She is in receipt of all the allowances, too, with her weight-for-age and sex allowances – which put her the clear pick on official ratings.

AKECHETA offers fair each-way value in this competitive handicap, run over an extended 1m2f. The Irish-trained mare is an infrequent winner but has some solid form to her name – she placed at Epsom from this handicap mark and ran well at Goodwood last time.

Her latest effort can be upgraded, too, as she had to stay on from the rear, in a race not run to suit hold-up performers. She ought to appreciate this long home straight and I can envisage her keeping on nicely for a place position.

The owners of BOND are no strangers to success at York and are operating at a whopping 30% strike-rate in 2025 (prior to their runner on Thursday). The selection’s trainer also arrives in excellent form, having registered three winners in the last fortnight (stat before his runner on Thursday).

Bond ran a promising debut fifth at Killarney, which has already produced a subsequent Leopardstown maiden winner. He was slowly away but showed good pace thereafter and ought to improve for the outing.

I was frustrated with YAH MO BE THERE’S Goodwood run last time, having tipped him in what was a tricky handicap. He was keeping on nicely but had little room at a crucial stage, before finishing a fair fifth.

I have no doubt he is a classy operator, who could easily develop into a group performer (ran in the G1 2000 Guineas), in time. The rise to a mile should play to his strengths, he has a low draw to work with and he has dropped a pound in the weights. Everything indicates a strong run is likely.