1:50 Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3) 1m177y

Nostrum found his stamina stretched on soft ground in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood but while faster ground will suit him here, the longer trip asks questions about his ability to stay, and while he’s the “sexy” horse in the field, and the one with most scope for future progress, his form is still a little more style than substance at this stage.

Chichester has no claims to be improving at the age of six, but he signed off his time with Keith Dalgleish with a stylish win in the Ganton Stakes here in June, and can be forgiven a lesser run on debut for Charlie Johnston.

He’s never a horse to take short odds about as he needs things to drop his way and tends to be reliant on a strong pace on a flat track. It’s debatable whether he will get the race run to suit here, but the return to a trip in excess of a mile is a positive, as is the ground, assuming York will miss significant showers.

Chichester’s lifetime record on fast turf or artificial surfaces now reads 2143232174122, and while he used to be considered best in big fields, that record in fields of nine or fewer is an ultra-consistent 32324122.

He was better than ever here in June, and has little or nothing to find with the principals here, so looks very appealing at 33/1.

2:25 Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1m5f188y

The Melrose is always a tough puzzle, with few of the runners proven over the trip. Lordship makes obvious appeal after winning a mile and three-quarter handicap against the run of the race at Haydock. He’s favourite though and has given the handicapper plenty of opportunity to assess his true merits, and he’s now 17lb higher than he was when scoring at Yarmouth at the end of June.

Edge Of Darkness has shaped as if in need of this trip in a winning sequence over a mile and a half and is also respected, but I’m taking a risk with handicap debutant Goldenstatewarrior on his first start for Harry Eustace.

The selection won on debut before acquitting himself with great credit in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown before finishing a creditable fourth to Gregory in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood.

He has since been purchased by Ciaran Maher, who trains in partnership with Eustace’s brother David, and new connections are eying the Melbourne Cup if they can get him qualified for that contest.

Given he was unraced as a juvenile, he has done well so far, but is likely to have benefitted from a break after his third quick run in the Cocked Hat, and is not an easy horse for the handicapper to assess given his untapped potential. The inside stall is a positive over this trip, and Kaiya Fraser is excellent value for his 5lb claim.

3:00 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2) 7f

Kinross is the likeliest winner of the City Of York, but priced accordingly and the value lies in backing Isaac Shelby who ran so well against the favourite in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time.

Brian Meehan’s three-year-old – like his sire Night of Thunder - handles all ground, and has been really consistent this season, winning the Greenham and beaten only narrowly in the Poulains (French Guineas) at ParisLongchamp.

It appears that seven furlongs is his ideal trip, and while he needs to find a bit more to beat Kinross, he was only beaten a neck at Goodwood and the assumption that Dettori has something up his sleeve is pure conjecture with the winner getting just as much assistance from the saddle as the runner-up.

3:35 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1m5f188y

I’ve had Scriptwriter marked down as an Ebor type since he defied a 4lb lower mark on Tapeta at Wolverhampton in December, and it seems that he will be best kept to the flat given his hurdling technique has not improved since he landed a Grade 2 at Cheltenham the previous month.

Milton Harris has done really well to develop Scriptwriter from a Ballydoyle lead horse into a high-class performer under both codes, and this is his chance for a massive payday.

Scriptwriter was given too much to do, but caught the eye staying on well in the closing stages of the Copper Horse Handicap won by Vauban at Royal Ascot on his flat return. He was better than ever when a head second of five to Hamish in the Silver Cup over this course and distance on his most recent start.

That form was boosted when Hamish ran out a wide-margin winner of the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood, and shows that Scriptwriter is a pattern-class stayer in his own right.

He remains lightly raced on the level, and coming off a career-best effort at this track, he would appear to hold excellent claims in what is, as always, a tremendously competitive handicap.

4:10 Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 6f

A high draw needn’t be a bar to success on the straight track at York, as we’ve seen this week, and I fancy The Green Man to build on a couple of excellent efforts at the track in recent weeks.

Joseph Parr’s four-year-old forged clear to win by three and a quarter lengths here in June, and has run very well from much higher marks since, with his latest third here working out as very strong form.

He was beaten by Aberama Gold and Manila Scouse that day, and both have won since, with the former’s Stewards’ Cup success clearly strong form, while Summerghand was just behind the selection that day and was only narrowly denied in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last weekend.

The Green Man has done most of his racing at a lower level, but his latest run in a very deep handicap shows that he merits his place in this class, and he is well drawn with Significantly likely to give those drawn high a lead deep into the race.

As such, the stands’ rail could be favoured, and if he can get the breaks needed because of his hold-up style, The Green Man is handicapped to score again.

Chichester 1:50 York – 1pt win at 33/1 (general)

Goldenstatewarrior 2:25 York – 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (Bet365, Boyles – 4 places)

Isaac Shelby 3:00 York – 1.5pts e/w @ 7/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair – 4 places)

Scriptwriter 3:35 York – 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (generally)

The Green Man 4:10 York – 1pt e/w @ 10/1 (SkyBet, Paddy Power – 6 places)