York, Saturday

EL DRAMA might upset Nostrum in the opening Strensall at York on Saturday (1.50pm) at 3/1. Having just his second run for a new stable, he shaped really encouragingly when second to the very smart and cutely ridden Al Aasy at Haydock. He could get rolling along here and take a bit of catching.

ALHAMBRA PALACE is the tentative vote at 6/1 in the Melrose (2.25pm). At the foot of the weights, he has a similar profile to the stable’s winner last year, and he’s really been picking up the thread of late. Surely much better than his mark, his useful apprentice claims another three.

SANDRINE might spring a bit of a surprise at 25/1 in the City of York (3.00pm). She’s run cracking races the last two Ebor Festivals, and has been running over the wrong trip most of the season. Notwithstanding that, she ran perfectly okay in a Group One last time, is back to her optimum trip and gets a bit of headgear for the first time.

CAIUS CHORISTER is another whose ideal set-up had eluded her this season. She ran really well in the Melrose last year, and hasn’t been able to do much damage to her mark since. The run at Goodwood on unsuitable ground over half a furlong shorter was decidedly encouraging, and she’s ready to fire in the Ebor (3.35) at 25/1.

SUMMERGHAND can repeat last year’s heroics in the Constantine handicap (4.10pm) at 7/1. He came right back to form in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid last time and, although he’s five pounds higher, he followed up off this mark in the Ayr Gold Cup. A drop of rain will be no hindrance either.