Coral Racing Ambassador, Jim Crowley, provides an exclusive preview on his four rides at York today and reflects on his win aboard Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard on Thursday.

I’ve had a really good week this week, but the highlight undoubtedly has to be Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard on Thursday night. I’d ridden him in his work so I knew he was in good form, but I must admit I felt he’d be vulnerable over that trip against Desert Crown.

It really was a special performance and we can have some fun with him throughout the rest of the season. I’d say he’d be a big player in The Arc or the King George, but I do think he’d enjoy a bit of cut in the ground, so we’ll just monitor that and pick our targets throughout the season.

13:35 York – La Maquina

I rode this lad a good few years ago now when he was a good second at Newmarket, but I haven’t been on him for a little while. He’s recently joined Harry Eustace who’s a very good young trainer, and he didn’t run too badly on soft ground at Ascot on his reappearance.

Most of his form is on better ground so he’ll definitely appreciate conditions here, and he’s starting to look very well handicapped on his best form. I could certainly see him running well at a decent price.

15:15 York - Alaroos

I’ve ridden her at home recently and she went really well, so she’s a filly I do like. She’s only rated 91 so she has plenty to find with the top one Mimikyu, but away from her she’s bang in the mix with the rest of them so I can see her running well.

She did most of her racing in Ireland on softer ground, but she’s won at Dundalk and I think she could be even better on decent ground, so I don’t see conditions being a problem. She’ll need to step forward from that run at Goodwood last time, but if she does then I don’t think she’ll be too far away.

15:50 York – Starnberg

This is the first time I’ve ridden him but he’s been competitive in the races he has contested so far, and he’s still lightly-raced so there should be more improvement to come from him. I don’t think dropping back to 7f will be too much of an inconvenience for him, and he’s another who’s been running on a softer surface of late. You never know the better ground might just suit him, and I’d say he’s got a decent chance.

16:25 York – Saxon King

I think this horse has a really good chance of completing the hat-trick here. His last few wins have come on soft ground but I don’t expect the quicker conditions to be a problem for him, and the form of his wins have worked out quite well. That was a really nice performance to win at Newmarket on his reappearance, and a 5lb rise doesn’t look too severe, so with more improvement likely you’d probably say he’s the one to beat.

Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador