York Races: who’s tipping what for John Smith’s meet

The second day of the John Smith’s Cup Meeting begins this afternoon.

See below for a full preview of the festival from Go Racing Yorkshire’s Graham Orange.

But which horse should you put your shirt on at York Races today? Here’s what the YorkMix tipster Dick Turpin has to say about the big race: “John Smith’s Gold Cup… Mijhaar will be all the rage, justifiably, but Dick Turpin always looks for value and will be going big-style each way on Kirthill. Luca Cumani’s horse represents fabulous value and could just do it.”

This is our tipster’s table for the day.



What they’re tipping for York: Saturday July 14



From yesterday’s YorkMix:



What they’re tipping for York: Friday July 13

Graham Orange of Go Racing In Yorkshire previews the two-day meeting which starts today

The 53rd running of The John Smith’s Cup – Britain’s longest continuous commercially-sponsored race named after Britain’s best-selling ale – is the centre-piece of a quality seven-race programme at York this Saturday, July 14, the second day of the early July meeting on the Knavesmire.

Racing on Friday begins at 2.05pm, with Saturday’s card starts ten minutes earlier than that.

One of Europe’s most prestigious, competitive and valuable middle-distance handicap contests, Saturday’s renewal of The John Smith’s Cup is contested over the extended one mile and a quarter – and retains a total prize fund of £150,000. The winning owner can look forward to receiving the specially-commissioned Wedgewood challenge trophy.

Fougalle was the first winner of this famous race back in 1960, and since then there have been many dramatic moments with the race becoming a major betting heat of the summer.

Yorkshire-trained horses have a very good record in the race, especially in recent times, although last year’s winner, Green Destiny was trained at Newmarket by a Yorkshireman in exile – William Haggas and ridden by apprentice jockey, Adam Beschizza, the biggest win of his career so far (and the sixth consecutive year that an apprentice jockey has ridden the winner of the big race).

Green Destiny progressed to land a couple of Group 3 races, including the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York in August, and competed in the Group 1 Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

Always one of the big days of the year, this event has been developed as a showcase for “Yorkshire’s Finest”, and sees John Smith’s treasuring its Yorkshire roots with a full Yorkshire menu of locally-sourced and home-made food.

In addition, there will be a number of cask ales available at the racecourse, thanks to collaboration with fellow Yorkshire brewers, Theakston’s.

To celebrate the occasion, prior to racing, there will once again be a fly-past over the Knavesmire by aircraft from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. John Smith’s have forged strong links with its RAF Station which trains the next generation of fighter pilots who will be at the controls of their Tucano aircraft.

Racing on Saturday also features the second running of a Listed race for sprinters, the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes – a contest over five furlongs (won last year by Masamah, trained at Hambleton in North Yorkshire by Kevin Ryan) and the John Smith’s Silver Cup, an established Listed contest for stayers over one mile and three-quarters, which has produced a back-to-back royal winners in the last two years – Tactician (last year) and Free Agent – both owned and bred by The Queen. Both Listed races offer increased prize money of £33,000.

The highlight on Friday is The tyregiant.com Summer Stakes, a Group 3 sprint contest over six furlongs for fillies and mares, offering increased prize money of £55,000. This race is supported by Pocklington-based Bond International, a global tyre distribution company headed by local businessman and racehorse owner, Reg Bond, who was delighted to win this race last year with his top-class filly, Ladies Are Forever.

Friday is the annual charity day in support of Caravan – the National Grocers Benevolent Fund – which exists to provide financial aid for those people who have served in the grocery industry.

The northern branch of the charity is once again responsible for Friday’s fund-raising activities, which also involves other sponsored races – the Haylin Stakes (a nursery handicap for two-year-olds over five furlongs), the Cakemark EBF Maiden Stakes for two-year-olds over seven furlongs and the Caravan Chairman’s Charity Cup (a handicap contest over one mile and a half).

Apprentice jockeys take part in the concluding race on Friday, the Livwell Stakes, a handicap contest for sprinters over the minimum distance of five furlongs, backed for the first time by East Yorkshire-based bakers Livwell Ltd which produces wholesome bread and cakes, and who support the fund-raising efforts of Caravan.

Also featured on Friday are a handicap contest for sprinters over five furlongs supported by Racing Plus, the new Saturday racing publication and the Ken Hodgson Memorial Conditions Stakes, a contest over nine furlongs which remembers a former local racehorse owner, who enjoyed successes at York and at other Yorkshire racecourses.

Going into this meeting South Wales trainer Ron Harris leads the way to be York’s top trainer and secure The H.A. Fox Jaguar Trophy, having recorded four winners so far this term. William Buick heads the race for the Living North-backed award for York’s top rider, having also ridden four winners already this season on the Knavesmire.

For those with broad musical tastes, the traditional Yorkshire sound of a brass band is provided on Saturday, complimented by the foot-stomping Murphy’s Marbles.

A number of giant screens will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action on both days, along with racing from Newmarket’s July meeting.