York looks perfect for Constitution River

York is a great meeting. A really strong mix of top-class Group 1 races, with the Juddmonte International, the Yorkshire Oaks, the Nunthorpe and the City of York, and very competitive handicaps, culminating in the Ebor on Saturday.

It’s the north’s version of Royal Ascot, really, and it’s always a great few days of racing with good crowds.

York: Race 2 | G3 Acomb Stakes

I ride HAFFNER in the Acomb and he probably sets the standard.

He had a good run on debut behind Abraham Lincoln before winning his maiden on the July Course at Newmarket and ran a very good race to be second in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

I think York will suit him. As a son of Justify, he’ll like the galloping nature of the track, with the only concern being he’s drawn a little wide.

Trean was a nice winner for Paddy Twomey last time at the Galway Festival and looks to be the one to beat.

York: Race 3 | G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes

I ride CHRISTMAS DAY here.

He won the Derby at Epsom and backed that up with a really good effort in the Irish Derby. He will have to carry a penalty, but the mile-and-a-half will suit him well.

He’s had a look round York before when he ran in the Dante where he didn’t run bad at all, so he has a good chance.

We also run PIERRE BONNARD.

His season hasn’t really gone the way we hoped it would. He was beaten on his first couple of starts and he didn’t enjoy the bad ground at Epsom.

He ran really well in the Irish Derby though, when running on to finish third, and I think York will suit him. He looks to have good claims as well.

York: Race 4 | G1 Juddmonte International Stakes

I ride CONSTITUTION RIVER in the feature on the day.

I’m really looking forward to getting back aboard him, he’s done nothing wrong in his whole career.

He was a good winner at Chester before he won the French Derby with his most recent run his win in the Eclipse. The trip looks perfect for him, we think York will suit him and the nicer ground will be ideal for him.

He takes on last year’s winner Ombudsman, who was very impressive in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and has obviously been trained with this race in mind. It looks a really good race between the two of them.

With that said, we’re really looking forward to Constitution River and it’ll be great to see how he measures up.

York: Race 5 | 3yo+ Handicap

I haven’t ridden KIRCHNER before, so I don’t know much about him, but he looks an improving horse. He won a small-field race at Ascot very well; he’s up six pounds for that but he looks as if he will improve again for the step up in distance.

It’s going to be a very competitive race. There’s plenty of challengers in there, like Small Fry who caught the eye the last day at Goodwood, but hopefully Kirchner can improve again.

York: Race 7 | 2yo Handicap

I ride DUBAI CHAMPION in the final race on the card, the six-furlong nursery.

He ran a very good race when I rode him last time at Goodwood. I felt he was a little unlucky that day when a few little things went against him. He was slowly away and got a bump early on and just looked to his right late on.

He’s drawn high at York so we will see how that plays out but he’s obviously a progressive horse and I think he will run well.