SATURDAY'S RUNNERS LOOK SET TO INCLUDE BEST ALIBI...

A total of 15 horses have been entered for the inaugural £100,000 Sky Bet York Stakes, run at York on Saturday, July 29.

The Group Two event takes place over an extended 10 furlongs, the same distance as the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes held at York on Tuesday, August 22, and the first running looks like developing into a cracking contest.

Sir Michael Stoute revealed today that Best Alibi will take in the Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes on Saturday. The trainer is targeting the £100,000 York prize over an extended 10 furlongs with the son of King's Best, last seen running an excellent third to Dylan Thomas in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on July 2.

Stoute said this morning: "The horse is well and this is the right type of race for him after the Irish Derby. I'm hoping that Ryan Moore will be able to ride him on Saturday."

Newmarket trainer Michael Jarvis could be double-handed in the event with both Notability and Zayn Zen entered.

The former was last seen running an excellent third behind the Godolphin pair Echo Of Light and Satchem in the Group Three Summer Mile Stakes on the all-weather at Lingfield on July 15, and would be attempting the 10-furlong trip for the first time, although he needs some rain to line up.

Jarvis said today: "Notability would need some cut in the ground to take his chance in the Sky Bet York Stakes. If we get some storms and the surface eases, then he could go.

"He enjoyed the Polytrack last time when third at Lingfield. It was a strong race and we were very pleased with his run there. He's come out of the race fine and is in good order.

"I think the step up in trip would suit him - he's out of a staying family and there's no reason why he couldn't stay a mile and a quarter."

Unlike her stablemate, Zayn Zen has won over 10 furlongs, and comes into the race in grand fettle having finished fourth behind Soviet Song in the Group Two Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot on her latest start on June 21.

"Zayn Zen has run two good races this year and likes fast ground. I want to see the strength of the race before I commit her, as I would prefer to run her against fillies and mares, but there's not too many opportunities for her," explained Jarvis.

"She's get 10 furlongs well - that's probably her best trip. We've dropped her back to a mile for her last two starts, and though she has run well, she looks like she needs the extra distance. She's in good form and we'd like to win a Group race with her."

Other possible runners include the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Best Alibi, sixth to Sir Percy in the Epsom Derby and third behind Dylan Thomas in the Irish version last time out, and Fracas, trained by David Wachman in Ireland, a 10-furlong Group Two winner who has not run since finishing seventh behind Hurricane Run in the 2005 Irish Derby.

Godolphin has entered three - Windsor Knot, runner-up in a Listed contest at Newbury on Saturday, True Cause and Reunite, recently successful in a Listed contest at Yarmouth, as has trainer Mick Channon - Rocamadour, Royal Power and Yasoodd.

A trainer with two entries is Newmarket-based Luca Cumani (Vol De Nuit and Crocodile Dundee).

The Sky Bet York Stakes is one of six races sponsored by the leading sports betting company on the seven-race card, which also features the prestigious £50,000 Sky Bet Dash Heritage Handicap over six furlongs.

A cracking 27-strong entry has been received for the £50,000 Sky Bet Dash, a heritage handicap run over six furlongs at York on Saturday, July 29.

Last year's renewal fell to the Barry Hills-trained La Cucaracha, subsequent winner of the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at the same track, and Newmarket trainer Rae Guest is hoping that his progressive mare Yomalo can follow in her footsteps and land the valuable prize.

The six-year-old has been in tremendous form this season, landing the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes at Leopardstown on June 7, her first success at Group level, and followed an excellent fifth in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot with a close fourth behind La Chunga in the Group Three Cuisine De France Summer Stakes over six furlongs at York on July 14, conceding weight all round.

Guest said this morning: "She's very well and all being well she'll run at the weekend. She's also in at Ascot over five furlongs but she's probably better at six furlongs. I need to talk to the owners and see about jockey availability.

"I was very happy with her last run - if you take the weight issue into account, where she gave 8lb to both La Chunga and Donna Blini [a winner since], she's bang up there with any of them."

The daughter of Woodborough is the second highest rated in the line-up for Saturday's sprint, but her trainer is not unduly alarmed by the prospect of having to give weight away to the other runners.

Guest continued: "Last time she had top weight in a Group Three race so I don't think the weight will worry her. The faster the ground the better for
her and we're looking for a quick surface.

"Some sprinters improve with age and she is definitely showing her best form this year. Towards the end of last year she really started to come to herself, and this year she's continued to progress and is in great form.

"She is a marvellous filly and she's not doing anything wrong at the moment. If she runs up to her recent standard she'll run a big race."

The betting for the Sky Bet Dash is headed by Richard Fahey's pair Wyatt Earp and Knot In Wood and the John Quinn-trained Fantasy Believer on 7/1, while Machinist is the shortest priced of David Nicholls' four entries on the 9/1 mark.


Racing commences at 2.10pm with the £15,000 Skybet.com EBF Fillies'
Handicap over 10 furlongs and is followed at 2.40pm by the two and a quarter mile Sky Bet Press Red To Bet On Channel Four Handicap, worth £12,500.

The Sky Bet Dash will take place at 3.15pm and the Sky Bet York Stakes at 3.50pm. The two features precede the six-furlong £10,100 Sky Bet Maiden Auction Stakes (4.25pm) and the £10,000 skybet.com Claiming Stakes (5.00pm) over seven furlongs.

Sky Bet is supporting another first at York on Thursday evening, July 27, when it sponsors the first race run over the trip of five and a half furlongs at the course. The contest is part of the preparations for the temporary relocation of the St Leger Festival in September, when the Portland Handicap will be over this unusual sprinting distance.

Skybet Dash - prices from Sky Bet: 7/1 Knot In Wood, Wyatt Earp, Fantasy Believer 9/1 Machinist, 10/1 Blue Tomato, Ice Planet, Steel Blue, Yomalo,
12/1 My Gacho, Bo McGinty, Desperate Dan, Fonthill Road, 14/1 Munaddam,
16/1 Rising Shadow, Talbot Avenue, Bond Boy, Dazzling Bay, 18/1 Highland Warrior, 20/1 Bahamian Pirate, Obe Gold, Continent, 25/1 Glencairn Star, Josh, Kings Gait, Pacific Pride, The Kiddykid, Crocodile Bay