Racecards
14:00 York
Ireland Gimcrack Stakes (group 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £135,000 added
- Form 2125
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey S Sanders
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon outpaced, no pressure final furlong
- Form 11
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer B Smart
- Jockey Paul Eddery
slowly into stride, held up, headway halfway, hung right and no impression when not clear run 2f out to over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
held up, headway 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on
- Form 217
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 90
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
- Form 612
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Michael Hills
with leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 14
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up, switched left to wide outside and headway 2f out, quickened to lead over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well
Swiss Franc
41- Form 31223
- Age 2
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey R L Moore
raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden and extra over 1f out, kept on, no impression with first 2
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
This doesn't look the best of fields for this year's running of the Gimcrack and we will take a chance with the debutante Great Barrier Reef, Swiss Franc, Art Advisor and Easy Target should prove best of the experienced runners. It is not often Aidan O'Brien runs a debutante in a Group contest but he must have studied the opposition and decided they are not the strongest. According to reports this son of Mr Greeley is very high up in the pecking order at Ballydoyle and that is confirmed by his entries in all of the top juvenile contests. The market will be the ultimate guide but we expect a flood of Irish money and it should be followed. Swiss Franc brings Royal Ascot form to the race, having finished second to the smart Henrythenavigator in the Coventry Stakes. However that winner is of course trained by O'Brien so he should know how he stands with David Elsworths runner. Easy Target is unbeaten in two runs to date but will find this opposition a lot more taxing than the field he beat at Pontefract last time out. Art Advisor also ran well at the Royal meeting behind Winker Watson and wasn't disgraced in France last time out. The other four runners could be out of their depth, which brings us back to Great Barrier Reef as the one to be on.
Formwatch
Art Advisor (IRE) (9-2) Tracked winner on rails, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Natagora (8-13) at Maisons-Laffitte 5f Grp 2 (1) in Jul.
Easy Target (FR) 6-1 (9-1) In touch, led over 1f out, kept on well, all out, won at Pontefract 6f 2yo stk (3) sft in Jul beating Nacho Libre (9-1) by a shd, 5 ran.
Great Barrier Reef (USA) Mr Greeley colt, half-brother to 6f-1m winner Super Singer and outstanding miler Magnificent Song.
Imperial Mint (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Behind in stand's side group, moderate late headway, 7th of 16, 7l behind Fleeting Spirit (8-11) at Goodwood 5f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Jul.
Nacho Libre 9-4fav (9-1) Held up, headway over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 5, shd behind Easy Target (9-1) at Pontefract 6f 2yo stk (3) sft in Jul.
Paveroc 2-1fav (9-3) In touch, ridden over 2f out, headway to lead over 1f out, soon hung right, ran on, won at Salisbury 6f 2yo mdn (4) gs beating Redsensor (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Sir Gerry (USA) 8-11fav (9-5) Keen, held up in rear, effort over 1f out, ridden and soon one pace, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Fat Boy (9-5) at Newmarket 6f 2yo stk (3) gd in Jul.
Swiss Franc 5-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, ridden and headway 1f out, hung right inside final furlong then left, kept on, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Winker Watson (9-1) at Newmarket 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul.