'He goes there with a great chance' - will low draws prove the place to be once again in the Sprint Trophy?

By this time of year it is harder than usual to tell where the action will unfold on York's straight course.

Usually, low numbers will have the edge. That has been true for recent winners of this race, with nine of the last ten coming from a single-figure draw. Consider all placed horses and single-figure stalls, responsible for half the runners over the last decade, have had 58 per cent.

Watching back the replays tells you of the chaos that you will see on autumn ground at York. Low-drawn horses have come down the stands' side to win. In the year stall 15 won, he raced middle to far side while the third blazed a trail on the near rail from stall 20.

The suggested strategy is to pick by form and just check before putting your cash down that you are near some pace. Personal fancy Strike Red, the winner of this race a couple of years ago, will presumably be leaning to his right out of the stalls. He is in stall nine, two away from Sergeant Wilko (11) and a further two from Hyperfocus.

There is actually very little pace on the far side. King's Lynn, in cheekpieces for the first time, is as likely as any on the lower half of the draw. Whether that helps you much is questionable, as a lot of the market principals are drawn higher.

Room Service was fancied in the Ayr Gold Cup but was among those who made an ill-advised dash for the far side. Ground conditions ought to be in Room Service's favour here, as they will be with Strike Red, who has been running well on quick ground when his very best has come on softer.

Acting on the ground could be important. While conditions are likely to dry somewhat by race time, the GoingStick reading on Friday morning (5.4) would make for the softest ground at the track for a decade. It can only add to the uncertainty in one of the last major sprint handicaps of the season.
Analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Adam Ryan, assistant to Kevin Ryan, trainer of Room Service, Sergeant Wilko and Aleezdancer
Room Service ran a good race in the Ayr Gold Cup when he just found the ground too quick and a bit more juice in the ground should see him right. Conditions should suit him and he's in great order. Sergeant Wilko is a fast-improving three-year-old who's had a great season. The ground didn't suit him in the Ayr Gold Cup either and coming back to York for the sharper six furlongs with juice in the ground should suit him. Aleezdancer is far better on soft ground, so conditions have come right for him. He's a course-and-distance winner and he goes there with a great chance.

Nicola Barron, joint-trainer of Jer Batt
It's an experiment with the trip. The owner was quite keen to have a go at the big prize, so we'll see how we get on. He doesn't mind the ground and we'll ride him a bit more cautiously than we've been doing over five furlongs.

David O'Meara, trainer of Summerghand
The ground isn't entirely to his liking and he'd like it if it dried up a bit. He had a good recent run at the Curragh in a very hot handicap and still has a good one in him.

Tim Easterby, trainer of Hyperfocus and Quest For Fun
Hyperfocus loves heavy ground and should run very well. Quest For Fun is in good form and he likes the ground. We're going back to sprinting because we're short of seven-furlong races and he should have a good chance.

Seb Spencer, trainer of Archduke Ferdinand
I think the draw [21] will suit him, especially on the ground, as he'll probably be better on the outside rather than the pack. He's that type of horse who doesn't want to be crowded. He's been running some good races and with Alex [Jary] taking off five, you'd like to think he'll be thereabouts.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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