15:00
Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2)
Group 2, Class 1, 1m4f, Flat, 3yo, C, £141,775, 6 runners
Winning time 2m 32.04s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Christmas Day No. 1, stall 4
Ryan Moore · A P O'Brien
✓ Top rated ✓ Distance winner ✓ Trainer in form (9/37, 14 days)
Christmas Day holds a rating of 124, level with Pierre Bonnard at the head of the field, and over this mile and a half at York on good ground there is plenty to like about a horse rated narrowly ahead of the chasing pack led by Maltese Cross on 117 and Galiyan on 107. Pierre Bonnard is the obvious threat given he matches our selection on ratings, while Maltese Cross cannot be dismissed at a seven-pound deficit. On balance, Christmas Day is the selection.
Result
Tom Marquand
William Haggas
Settled handily early - eased back briefly then found rhythm - advanced steadily entering the final 3f - drew alongside the front group - edged in front 2f out under pressure - stayed on strongly to the line
Wayne Lordan
A P O'Brien
Held up towards the back early - progressed strongly to join the front group 3f out - went on 2f out before being overtaken shortly after - driven out approaching the final furlong - stayed on but unable to match winner's speed - finished second beaten 2 lengths
Ryan Moore
A P O'Brien
Went straight to the front - quickly overtaken and settled behind the pacesetter - edged back in front just before 3f out - shaken up as rivals came at - lost command inside final 2f then held on for third
Shane Foley
John & Thady Gosden
Dropped out at the rear - angled left but crept into contention 2f out - never threatened the front group from 1f out - drifted left under pressure and finished 4th
Oisin Murphy
Andrew Balding
Sat handy early - closed on pace 3f out - pushed along with 2f left - dropped away soon after finishing 5th
Ronan Whelan
A P O'Brien
Went straight to front - urged forward with 4f left - lost command with 3f to run under pressure - dropped away over 2f out and finished a well-beaten last
Racecard
Ryan Moore
A P O'Brien 9/37
Consistent and battle-hardened, Christmas Day has won three times in his last five starts, with a victory two starts back sandwiched by a second last time out, and he has experience of both today's trip and going. The 52-day absence is the only query.
- Sire
- Camelot (GB)
- Dam
- Beauly (GB) by Sea The Stars
- Owner
- Magniertaborsmithwesterbergbrant
- Foaled
- 22 Feb 2023
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 37 runs (24%)
- Trainer running to form
- 61%
- Ratings
- Perf 124, Speed 98
Tom Marquand
William Haggas 6/37
Maltese Cross arrives on the back of four wins in his last five starts, with a runner-up finish two starts back the only blot on a sparkling recent record, and he has experience of today's distance and going. The 36-day absence is the one question mark.
- Sire
- Sea The Stars (IRE)
- Dam
- Nabatea (GER) by Camelot
- Owner
- George Waud
- Foaled
- 1 Apr 2023
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 37 runs (16%)
- Trainer running to form
- 60%
- Ratings
- Perf 117, Speed 98
Ronan Whelan
A P O'Brien 9/37
Ranked bottom of the field on our figures and unplaced last time, Antigua faces a stiff ask, though he has run over today's distance and going before and a victory two starts back shows he retains ability.
- Sire
- Camelot (GB)
- Dam
- Lady Babooshka (GB) by Cape Cross
- Owner
- Brantmagniertaborsmithwesterberg
- Foaled
- 19 Feb 2023
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 37 runs (24%)
- Trainer running to form
- 61%
- Ratings
- Perf 87, Speed 78
Oisin Murphy
Andrew Balding 6/49
Galiyan shaped with plenty of promise when runner-up last time out, and he was a winner three starts back, bringing solid recent form into this; he has run over today's trip and going, and 107-rated, he looks a genuine danger, though 41 days off the track is the one question to answer.
- Sire
- Galiway (GB)
- Dam
- Via Manzoni (IRE) by Monsun
- Owner
- Rashid Al Saud
- Foaled
- 13 Feb 2023
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 49 runs (12%)
- Trainer running to form
- 64%
- Ratings
- Perf 107, Speed 96
Wayne Lordan
A P O'Brien 9/37
Third last time out and a runner-up three starts back, Pierre Bonnard arrives with solid recent form and handles today's distance and going, while our rating of 124 marks him as a genuine threat off 128 lb; the main risk is a 52-day absence since that encouraging effort.
- Sire
- Camelot (GB)
- Dam
- Sultanina (GB) by New Approach
- Owner
- Mrs J Magnierm Tabord Smithwesterberg
- Foaled
- 12 Mar 2023
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 9 wins from 37 runs (24%)
- Trainer running to form
- 61%
- Ratings
- Perf 124, Speed 98
Shane Foley
John & Thady Gosden 4/16
Superior Choice arrives on the back of three consecutive wins, which is the obvious headline, but our rating of 101 ranks him fifth of six in this field, and a speed figure of 80 suggests the level of those victories may fall short of what is required here.
- Sire
- Dubawi (IRE)
- Dam
- Loving Dream (GB) by Gleneagles
- Owner
- Ace Stud
- Foaled
- 7 Feb 2023
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 16 runs (25%)
- Trainer running to form
- 74%
- Ratings
- Perf 101, Speed 80
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.