Brown Panther To Pounce In Yorkshire

The big staying race at the Dante meeting comes on the final day courtesy of the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (3.15), where the popular, Brown Panther (2/1), bids to land a sixth Group event.

Panther To Pounce

The last of this 7yo’s Group wins came at Meydan in Dubai a few months ago, when a comfortable 3l winner of a Group 2 race (2m, good).

This step back up to 1m6f won’t be a problem, though, as that is the same trip Tom Dascombe’s runner won the Irish St Leger over last September.

Brown Panther’s chance is there for all to see, and the fact he has yet to run at York could be a blessing based on the last 10 years trends…

Trends Summary

Of the last 10 Yorkshire Cup winners…

10 were drawn in stall 2-7

9 were 5-8yo’s – 4yo’s were only 1-22

9 were officially rated 109 or higher

9 had yet to win at York

9 made the top four last time

8 returned 8/1 or shorter

8 were British-bred

8 had yet to win over 1m6f

8 ran in a Group2/Group 3 last time

Sir M Stoute won it twice

Stoute To Be Sky High?

But, with Sir Michael Stoute winning this prize twice since 2009, his 4yo, Snow Sky (5/2), needs respecting. True, 4yo’s have a poor record in this event, but his 3l third in Doncaster’s St Leger (1m6f, good), was a grand effort, and he should have a big year ahead.

Another with big plans this season is John Gosden’s 4yo, Romsdal (9/4), who was 1l ahead of Snow Sky in the St Leger, and showed he had trained on when keeping on nicely into third back at 1m4f last month. The return to this sort of trip will suit, and the booking of William Buick suggests a big run is expected.

Each-Way Possibles?

There is no ignoring the fact that older runners did well in this down the years, which gives Andrew Balding’s 5yo, Havana Beat (10/1), a small each-way chance. Last seen when 4l behind Brown Panther in Dubai, this Listed winner will handle conditions if staying dry, but with just one placed effort in eight Group races, a debut victory in such company here seems unlikely.

Elsewhere, It’s hard to see the likes of 9yo, Times Up (16/1), winning on his first outing for 232 days, while Island Remede (33/1) steps up in class and has a bit to find on official ratings.

Recommended Bets

With fancied runners doing well in the Yorkshire Cup, it wouldn’t be a surprise for a gamble to develop on Brown Panther, who has no questions to answer and is classy enough to give weight to his rivals.