14:20, York - Klassleader has similar profile to stable's past winners
'Hot Trainer' William Haggas has won the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap twice in the recent past with Ilaraab in 2021 and Gaassee a year later. Both were unexposed four-year-olds open to improvement, and the stable looks to have a contender in a similar mould this time in the form of Klassleader.
Like that pair, Klassleader didn't make his debut until well into his three-year-old season, but he quickly progressed into a useful performer. After a narrow defeat in a novice at Doncaster on his second start which worked out particularly well, Klassleader went one better next time in a similar event at Ffos Las where he landed very short odds.
For his handicap debut on his final start last season at Haydock, Klassleader was stepped up from a mile and a half to a mile and three quarters, though a dawdling pace meant it was far from a thorough test at the trip. He ran well in going down by three quarters of a length to Sing Us A Song and meets that rival again here, though he's weighted to turn the tables this time, and the winner seemed to need every yard of that longer trip at Haydock. A physically imposing sort, Klassleader looks the type to do better this year and holds leading claims.
Back Klassleader in the 14:20 at York
Minster Stakes, 15:30, York - Group 1 winner Time For Sandals has leading claims in open sprint
The Minster Stakes is the new name for the Group 2 sprint at the Dante meeting and this year's renewal features plenty of familiar names from the wide-open sprint division. Three of the field of 13 were successful in Group 1 company last season, including Sprint Cup winner Big Mojo, though he has to carry a penalty for that success, and American Affair, who goes unpenalised but returns to the track for the first time since winning the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and is better at five furlongs.
The one who makes most appeal, therefore, is the only filly in the field, Time For Sandals, winner of last season's Commonwealth Cup for Harry Eustace. As well as Big Mojo, she had subsequent Nunthorpe runner-up Ain't Nobody behind her when registering the biggest win of her career at Royal Ascot.
Time For Sandals should be all the sharper for her return to action in last month's Abernant Stakes at Newmarket. In a bunched finish, she was a close fifth behind surprise winner Run To Freedom so won't have to improve much at all to turn the tables on Aramram, Quinault and Diligent Harry who finished just in front of her but all of whom had the advantage of runs already this year. She can give Ryan Moore a second consecutive win in this race after Inisherin last year.
Back Time For Sandals in the 15:30 at York
18:20, Punchestown - Spanish Maid clear top on ratings
There are some big fields on Punchestown's hurdles card, but the second division of the two-mile handicap doesn't look anywhere near as competitive as the numbers might suggest. In a race where plenty are hard to fancy, Spanish Maid is 4 lb clear on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings and creeps in at the bottom of the handicap.
She had plenty of chances over both hurdles and fences for her previous stable without winning, but her new trainer Ross O'Sullivan has evidently found the key to her. Both her runs for current connections this spring have been over fences, and after being gambled on at Wexford when pulling clear of the rest but unfortunate to bump into a progressive rival in Connemara Shore, Spanish Maid went one better at Tramore last time.
Tried again in cheekpieces which she'd worn once for her previous stable, Spanish Maid was well backed again and ran out a cosy winner after leading at the last to beat Courtbrack Boy by two and a half lengths. Spanish Maid earned the 'Horse In Focus' flag for that first win, while her stable has had another four winners since then. She's the one to beat if in the same form back over hurdles.
Back Spanish Maid in the 18:20 at Punchestown