Weekend Offender takes no prisoners at York for Kevin Ryan

A review of the rest of Saturday's action from York, where Weekend Offender left connections hoping for big things next year.

Kevin Ryan is hoping Weekend Offender can return to York for the John Smith's Cup next year after signing off the season with a hard-fought victory in the Coral Handicap.

Jimenez and King's Pavilion set an ordinary gallop into the straight for this mile heat where the pace hotted up and most of the field were in with a chance.

However, it was Tom Eaves on Weekend Offender (5/1 joint-favourite), who came out on top by a neck after a protracted duel with Another Touch.

Just Hiss was another neck away in third.

"He's a good horse and he's getting better," said Ryan.

"He's starting to mature now and he'll get a mile and a quarter.

"The better the race, the better the horse he is. He needs a properly-run race.

"He's still a baby and physically not quite there. I did think of stepping him up to a mile and a quarter but thought he wasn't quite ready for it yet.

"That will be it for the year now. He'll be a lovely horse next year and we might come back for the John Smith's Cup."

Autocratic (11/2) got back on track following a poor run at Newbury three weeks ago to take the Download The Coral App Handicap.

After Fattsota had made the running, Ted Durcan delivered Autocratic to the far side of the field to make his bid.

Great Order proved the main threat, but Sir Michael Stoute's charge was a length too good at the line.

Durcan said: "He's a horse Sir Michael has always liked a lot, but he's a big horse and he may have had growing issues and was a little week.

"Now he's started to really strengthen up and hopefully he'll be a nice horse next year.

"He handled the ground and I was anxious to go left of the middle, where I thought the best ground was, and it worked out lovely for him."

Gulliver (4/1) overcame a 149-day absence to open his account in the coral.co.uk EBF Stallion Maiden Stakes.

The Hugo Palmer-trained youngster was in command some way out and won cosily by a length from the staying-on Dubai Horizon under James Doyle.

Palmer's assistant George Boughey said: "He just had a bit of a setback and needed a bit of time to grow up. We put blinkers on to sharpen him up.

"He's always shown plenty of ability but he's still green and learning."