3:10 York Tips

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The hot favourite Archivist still looks well handicapped, but he took a long time to get to the front at odds of 4/6 last time and See That Storm could be equally well handicapped. He is ultra consistent and was only just touched off in the Zetland Cup at Redcar which can be a good marker for this race.

This is a very competitive renewal of the John Smith's Cup, and I'm surprised to see a 5/2 favorite. I'd love to oppose such a short price, especially with a horse which would be far from disgraced in group company. Thunder Run won his latest start with ease, despite the winning distance only being a nose. I'm assuming he's been kept for this, which should be perfect for horses that like to come off the pace. He's drawn wide, which isn't ideal, but you can't change it. The jockey will have to make some important decisions early on.

The trainer rates Hand Of God highly, and he can take this highly competitive handicap. He was well fancied for the Duke of Edinburgh at the Royal Meeting but faded in the closing stages. The trainer was very clear that the horse wouldn't be racing at a mile and a half anytime soon. I think his faith will be repaid back at 10 furlongs.

Naqeeb has shown promise for his new yard so far and I do think that this mark looks fair for a horse that is the classiest in this race.

Better ground and back up in trip to 10 furlongs, both positives. Yard in good form with a good record in this race. Notable jockey booking also a positive, especially as drawn a little wider than ideal.

The cat is out of the bag with just how good value Elizabeth Gale is for her 5lb claim, and that could make all the difference in this competitive handicap. I think the trainer knew he had a smart horse on his hands when it hacked up on debut for him on fast ground, and I suspect he's been eyeing up a big summer handicap ever since. So hopefully, it's this one. This horse was heavily eased for that win where the 2nd is a 72-rated horse and was getting 21lb from this horse in that novice race. Therefore, his handicap mark of 90 with the jockey taking off 5lb suggests he could be very competitive here.

Auld Toon Loon is a big price in a very competitive John Smith's Cup and can hopefully grab a place. The William Haggas 3yo looks the obvious choice, but the odds are a little skinny, so I'll take my chance with the selection, who I backed at Royal Ascot but could only manage mid-division. That was over 12f, but he is arguably better at this 10f trip, and with 5 places on offer, he can sneak a place.

Turned out quickly, but he's been in good form the last twice. Better than the result at Royal Ascot and then just touched off when upped to this trip LTO. Some younger rivals might have more potential, but he's undoubtedly a group horse and from a rating of 102 is weighted for a big effort. 2nd in the Group 2 Summer Mile on this weekend last year, he may be a 6yo, but two 6yo have won this in the last few years, and he's objectively a better horse than Pride Of America, who carried 4lbs more. In rude health and well handicapped, he should be in the frame.

Disappointing on last outing but some excuse (suffering from heat stroke) and had been running well prior to that. There's probably a big race in Austrian Theory. The six-year-old won off marks of 94 and 91 in the past, so is particularly interesting with Warren Fentiman taking a 5 lbs allowance off a mark of 86. Two solid seconds on first two starts this spring before two mid-division efforts (not beaten by a huge distance) over course and distance. Interesting.

FAYLAQ wasn't too far away when last seen over this trip, and also gave a good account last time out in the Northumberland Plate. He may well be the elder statesman in the field, but with wins as recently as May and competitive showings here, he's a definite tempter at this price.

Course winner over 7 that has acquitted himself well in Class 1 company the last twice. A mark of 98 could be within reach here for a horse towards the bottom of the weights. Ridden prominently over shorter, he may want to be more forward than he has been on two tries over this sort of trip since there is a slight lack of pace in here. Hopefully, that means he can get a good spot and stay in touch. With fairly franked Group form, this looks a good spot for him even if this opening mark might prove challenging. On balance, he looks overpriced against his elders in receipt of 10 lbs.

Erzindjan trained by T J Kent is making a stable debut for owner Mohammed Al Suboosi. He is a two-time winner and has posted a RPR of 111. T J Kent has been a revelation in handicaps since 2024, winning 25 out of 109 handicaps and placing 46 out of 109, showing a LSP of £92.04. He is 11 out of 28 wins in handicaps in 2025, showing an LSP of £77.45. T J Kent is 5 out of 31 for owner Mohammeda Al Suboosi and shows a £28 profit. Interestingly, combined they have had one runner at York with Habooba (previously with A bin Harmash), who won a class 2 sprint handicap in May at York at 28-1 following up a win at Kempton (both ridden by today's jockey Ray Dawson). Mohammed Al Suboosi may be providing some investment and talented horses for T J Kent given he has talented horses broad as he won the UAE 2000 Guineas and Saudi Derby earlier this year, rated 108, trained by A bin Harmash, (previously trained Erzindjan). Given T J Kent's recent streak YTD, Erzindjan could offer a big run even after a 347-day absence under Ray Dawson.