Yorkshire Cup - 15:35 Friday

2023 Yorkshire Cup Runners Guide

1. Eldar Eldarov

  • Trainer: Roger Varian 
  • Jockey: David Egan 
  • Odds: 4/1
  • Form: 111417

 

Roger Varian’s imposing four-year-old colt graduated through the ranks last season, winning his first three starts, including when coming from off the pace to reel-in Zechariah within the shadows of the post and lift the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. 

He surrendered his unbeaten record when only fourth in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris on his first trip to France but bounced back in great style to win the final Classic of the season, the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster, powering clear to win by two lengths once he hit the front. 

He never figured when only seventh in the British Champions Long Distance Cup but will have been freshened up since and this course should play to his strengths, so he must be respected on his reappearance here. Leading chance. 

2. Broome

  • Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 
  • Jockey: Ryan Moore 
  • Odds: 3/1
  • Form: 786851

 

Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative in the race found a new lease in life when stepped up to two miles for the first time in his career in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan last-time-out, defeating Siskany by a neck under a well-judged ride from Ryan Moore. 

His performance can be marked up as, unlike Siskany, who had a smooth passage, he had to fight his way through rivals from an unfavourable position to not only get to the eventual runner-up, but also get past him as the pair pulled well clear of the remainder. 

The seven-year-old has been plying his trade at the highest level for quite some time, and the form of his win in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last year reads well, as he beat Mostahdaf and Hurricane Lane, who are two horses rated 117+. 

He is a globetrotter, who has competed all over the world at the likes of Sha Tin, Keeneland, Leopardstown, Saratoga and Paris following his win at the Royal Meeting last season. His rating puts him firmly in the mix and he handles all different types of conditions too. 

This will be his first run at York but he should be well-equipped for the course and will be partnered by Ryan Moore. He could be the horse to finally give the Ballydoyle maestro a surprising first win in the race. I really like his credentials, even with meeting Siskany on three pound worse terms. 

3. Get Shirty 

  • Trainer: David O’Meara 
  • Jockey: Jason Watson 
  • Odds: 40/1
  • Form: 558230

 

David O’Meara’s seven-year-old was beaten out of sight when last of 15 behind Broome in the Dubai Gold Cup but he clearly wasn’t himself as he reportedly bled and is better judged on his previous form, including when fifth of 20 last July in the Ebor over course-and-distance. 

That was a really smart effort despite meeting defeat, as he fared best of those held-up, and was carrying top-weight, which is never easy in such a gruelling wide-open handicap. He had previously beaten Cleveland at Royal Ascot and wasn’t disgraced when fifth in the Doncaster Cup after winning the Old Newton Cup at Haydock as well, so it’s not like he is a million miles away on form. 

He might not have the natural class of some of these but he is a solid campaigner and is the one who is likely to pick up the scratchings should any of the main protagonists fail to fire. He might not be good enough to win but he won’t discredit himself and could easily make the frame with the extra places if applicable. 

4. Giavellotto

  • Trainer: Marco Botti
  • Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
  • Odds: 25/1
  • Form: 321329

 

Ran an absolute screamer when third in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster on his first start at the highest level and might have even won but for being hampered and short of room on multiple occasions when trying to mount a challenge. 

Following that career-best performance, he went close in the Listed Azzurro Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot when second and looked in need of his return when ninth behind Broome in the Dubai Gold Cup. This son of Mastercraftsman is a smart stayer, whose record in the UK over a staying trip reads 32132 from the five starts. 

This has probably been the target for a while and he is closely matched with Eldar Eldarov on a line through the St Leger form. He has the form in the book to play a leading role and is Marco Botti’s only runner on the card as well. He could be the value of the bigger-priced runners. 

5. Quickthorn

  • Trainer: Hughie Morrison
  • Jockey: Oisin Murphy 
  • Odds: 5/2
  • Form: 111656

 

Hughie Morrison’s admirable front-runner could only finish sixth behind Broome in the Dubai Gold Cup but that was still a decent effort and the last time he visited the Knavesmire, he emphatically landed the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup by 14 lengths from Coltrane. 

He did not replicate that form on either subsequent start but conditions will be more to his liking here and Oisin knows him well. He was also a neck second in an Ebor here two seasons ago and the form of his win over Coltrane is strong form when put into some context.

The second has developed into a good stayer himself, winning the Sagaro Stakes when last seen, beating Trueshan. It will be difficult for this six-year-old to dominate this race from the front but he is a good horse and a reproduction of his last win here would surely see him run very well. 

6. Siskany

  • Trainer: Charlie Appleby 
  • Jockey: William Buick 
  • Odds: 9/2
  • Form: 813312

 

With conditions set to be good, this will suit Charlie Appleby’s team-member, who is closely match with Broome on their one-two in the Dubai Gold Cup, where only a neck separated the pair at the post. 

He is a dual winner over 1m6f, so he certainly won’t lack for stamina but I question whether he is up to this level in the UK. He has already tasted defeat at Group 3 level on home soil on plenty of occasions, so he needs a personal best to come out on top. 

He might find the improvement to hit the frame but wouldn’t be for me for win purposes, even with the likelihood of him getting a required strong pace. I think his rating is a little flattering, as all of his best form has been abroad. 

You cannot dispute the flying start the stable has made this season but this consistent youngster might have to settle for minor honours. From a betting stance, I would be in favour of Broome, who overcame a rough passage to catch him in Meydan and win going away.  

7. Tashkhan 

  • Trainer: Brian Ellison
  • Jockey: Ben Robinson 
  • Odds: 20/1
  • Form: 354334

 

A smart, tough and likeable stayer from the Brian Ellison camp, who ran the race of his life when splitting both Trueshan and Stradivarius when second in the British Champions Long Distance Cup in October 2021. He hasn’t quite repeated a similar performance since but he was only beaten three lengths into third in this race last year. 

That form is really compelling in the context of this year’s renewal and he came close to making a winning return in the Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham when right in behind Trueshan and Rajinsky. He wasn’t beaten far when fourth in the Prix De Barbeville and the return to better ground will suit. He could improve on last year’s finishing effort, as he rarely runs a bad race. 

2023 Yorkshire Cup Tips & Prediction 

Despite only seven runners, there’s great depth to the Yorkshire Cup. Tashkhan and Giavellotto cannot be taken lightly at bigger odds, while St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov would have leading claims if he gets back to the form of his St Leger win and Get Shirty could be set to pick up the pieces late on. 

Quickthorn was really impressive on his last visit here and Siskany has improved a chunk over the last year. That said, four of these saw the backend of BROOME (best price 3/1) in the Dubai Gold Cup in Meydan and Aidan O’Brien’s high-class seven-year-old is fancied to confirm his superiority over these and reward connections with an overdue maiden success in the race. 

He is a Group 1 winner, who did well to overcome traffic difficulties and a lot of argy-bargy in the interim to get himself out of jail in a winning return at Meydan on his first go over two miles. He is down in distance here but he is fully adaptable to a shorter trip and conditions will be perfect.

It’s intriguing to see him as his connections’ only runner in the race, as he could have easily been deployed a pacesetter. That isn’t the case, but Quickthorn is likely to ensure this race is run at a brisk gallop.

That will suit Broome, who can just sit in behind the lead, and once he hits top gear under Ryan Moore, his spontaneous class should see him have too much ammunition for the remainder to fire back at the Yorkshire venue.