There is heavy rain forecast for York for much of this afternoon – be aware that underfoot conditions might alter, possibly considerably, during the card.
The 15-runner, 12 furlong handicap which opens the card is a tricky puzzle to solve but as long as the ground is still on the fast side then I think Barsanti (1.55) representing the same connections as Juddmonte International winner Postponed can defy top-weight.      
The selection was just run out of things over an additional couple of furlongs here last month giving the impression he would appreciate dropping back in trip; the yard, it is well documented, are not having many runners but what they are sending out are running well and at 6/1 with BetVictor I would be disappointed if Andrea Atzeni couldn’t run into at least a place.
Clever Cookie will appreciate any significant rain in the following Lonsdale Cup but last year’s Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris (2.30) ran a cracking race over an inadequate ten furlongs when third on a belated reappearance at Newbury last month and he gets the vote for Ed Dunlop. 
The selection is 10/3 at BetVictor and I would be disappointed if he didn’t go very close but if the ground deteriorates significantly Clever Cookie will be a big danger.
The Jeremy Noseda yard have been quiet of late and rain would be a blow to their chances with Nemoralia who needs fast ground to be seen at her best. If the ground stays on the fast side of good she would be a threat to all in the Group 3, sevne furlongs City Of York Stakes although she was a bit disappointing at Chantilly last time when a beaten favourite.
This represents a step up in class for Librisa Breeze (3.05) from her facile handicap success at Ascot over this trip for Dean Ivory last month. The selection is 5/1 at BetVictor, goes on all ground and I looks sure to give his running although a draw in stall 11 is less than ideal.
July Cup winner Limato has been supplemented for the Nunthorpe by connections and would be the recommendation on good or faster ground but if the forecast is correct then the rain is likely to have got into the ground by post time and he is, reluctantly, overlooked. 
The juvenile Yalta disappointed on soft ground at the Royal meeting and the vote goes to last year’s winner Mecca’s Angel (3.40) who bounced back to form when winning at the Curragh last time. The mare, trained by Michael Dods, has a bit to find with the admirable Profitable on early season form but at 13/2 she might be the value in a top class renewal of this valuable Group 1 sprint.
The booking of Pat Smullen for Via Serendipity (4.20) would suggest that a bold show is expected from Hugo Palmer’s colt in the seven furlong Maiden; the selection holds entries in a number of the big end-of-season juvenile contests and the same connections had a very impressive winner (Koropick) on debut at Thirsk earlier in the week. The two-year-old has been put in at 3/1 with BetVictor behind Rivet, runner up on debut, who heads the market for William Haggas at 11/4.
The finale is a 19-runner handicap and Tom Dascombe’s Arcanada (4.55) can reward each way support despite the fact that she he has been off the track since winning at Chester at the end of June. He is near the top of the market at 8/1 with BetVictor but with the yard in form he is taken to reward each way support.
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