Family Sunday, York Racecourse - Sunday 5th September 2021

Good afternoon from the Knavesmire!

A pleasant day at York as I type this, for what looks a great day ahead for their family Sunday.

A quality, 7 race card, with a few pony races kicking things off at 1:10pm. We even have Peter Rabbit here!

A five furlong Novice Stakes, The IRE Incentive, It pays to buy Irish EBF Novice Stakes, starts the horse racing after the ponies have had their limelight an hour earlier, with Sophie's Star, descending into calmer waters than her recent third at Naas, looked to be the one who will go off favourite, but is a non runner. It leaves True Icon, a 130,000 Guineas purchase, who seems to be an interesting one who could take all the beating. A daughter of Churchill, she makes her debut for William Haggas, with her dam Purple Glow a six time winner between 5f and 7f. A truly fascinating dash to kick the main event off.

The second race is the John & Judith Marshall Memorial Stakes, and looks to be going the route of Pagan, a horse whose recent form has been well advertised by his beaten comrades. After scoring at Brighton, the runner up Endowed went on to score on their next run at the course. Unless William Knight's Desert Gulf or Kevin Ryan's Bergerac have anything to say about it, it looks like another prize is going to him.

The Garrowby Stakes has only attracted 4 starters, albeit that can be solely down to a few also being declared for the Sprint Cup at Haydock yesterday who also had entries there. Tabdeed aims to get back to winning ways after several good placings behind Summerghand, Happy Romance and Chil Chil this season, all of whom ran in yesterday Group 1 at Haydock. Great Ambassador has won last time out and has scope for improvement, but if Tabdeed is on song he will prove hard to beat.

An interesting Novice Stakes for 2 year olds follows, with Mistrix looking to gain a first victory after two seconds and receiving 10lbs off her rivals. Just Wonder was seventh on debut at Newmarket behind Hafit, who was second by 1 1/2 lenghts behind the exciting Triple Time yesterday at Haydock. That may prove to be some excellent form, particularly if he can improve from his debut at Newmarket.

The Little Green Rascals Childrens' Nurseries Stakes comes next, and is the longest of the day at 2 miles. Battle Angel runs for Ursa Major, in their Battenberg colour silks, and whom is looking to bounce back from a disappointment back down in trip last time, as their run at Hamilton over 1m 5f was excellent. She looks to be a stayer, so how she handles the trip will be interesting to see. Alpine Stroll was well beaten 15 days ago when coming home in eighteenth out of twenty two in the Melrose Handicap over 1m 6f. He could bounce back now he is in calmer waters again.

The penultimate race is the Hanson Springs Stakes over 1m 2f, and who it looks to be between Duty Of Care and Moktasaab, who showed a very good turn of foot to break his maiden last time out on the sixth attempt. Duty Of Care won at Pontefract last time out by a short head, but connections will hope that he is open to improvement.

The last race is the Yorkshire Regiment Apprentice Stakes over 1m 4f, and Pearl Warrior is one aiming to get back onto winning ways. Second at Musselburgh just under two weeks ago on their first run back from a wind op, he is looking to go one better, especially as he is 3 lbs lower than his last winning mark. The Dancing Poet looks to try and make it three on the bounce, while Emaraty hero, who beat Pearl Warrior at Musselburgh, looks to defy a 6lbs rise and follow up from that success.

A fascinating and exciting day is in store. And it is fantastic to be on the Knavesmire to cover the action!