Kinross should be a city slicker at York

Kinross can retain his Sky Bet City of York Stakes title as the Ebor meeting draws to a close on Saturday on the Knavesmire.

Ralph Beckett's six-year-old is a Group One winner over 1200m, but he really excels over the 1400m that he faces in this richly-endowed contest.

After a creditable Royal Ascot return on ground that was too quick, he deserved plenty of credit for his July Cup third - a run which set him up perfectly for the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

The reopposing Isaac Shelby was beaten a neck, but Kinross was always just doing enough and is actually marginally better off at the weights this time, making it hard to envisage a reversal of that form.

Kinross is ideally suited by a good ease in the ground, but as he showed in winning this race last year, he can handle quicker conditions, too, and there are not many chinks in his armour.

Sir Michael Stoute has not saddled an Ebor winner since 1996 but Real Dream is fancied to end that near 30-year wait for another winner of the Sky Bet-sponsored handicap highlight.

Real Dream is pretty unexposed ahead of this assignment, having had just six runs to date, winning three of those starts.

He registered one victory at three before a prolonged lay-off, returning to win on the all weather at Kempton in May before posting  a fine third behind Scampi over 2400m at the Dante meeting on the Knavesmire.

Upped to 2800m at Ascot last month, Real Dream delivered an impressive performance in winning by just over 4-lengths and while the form has not worked out particularly well so far, Stoute's runner was certainly not required to engage top gear that day.

The handicapper has hiked him 3.5kg for that performance, but this Lope De Vega gelding looks quite progressive and can defy that substantial rise.

Stoute should also be on the mark in the opening Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes with Nostrum.

The Kingman colt was sent off at skinny odds at Goodwood after winning a Newmarket Listed contest in fine style on his return from injury, but he failed to show his best on what was very testing ground at the Sussex track.

His length defeat by Epictetus was certainly not a disgrace, but Nostrum should fare better on quicker ground at York.

Epictetus himself is back in action at Goodwood in the William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes.

Another son of Kingman, he appeared to have found his optimum trip at 1600m in the Thoroughbred Stakes, having previously been stretched out to 2000m by trainers John and Thady Gosden.

While it was deep ground last time, Epictetus has some decent form on quicker so he looks a solid option in this Group Two heat.

Pretty Crystal can thrive for the switch up to 1400m in the William Hill Prestige Fillies' Stakes.

Winner of a Ripon maiden before a fine fifth in what was a very smart renewal of the Albany Stakes, she found only Sacred Angel too good in the Princess Margaret at Ascot last time, beaten 3-lengths when she was staying on all the way to the line.

As a daughter of Dubawi out of a Group Three 1400m winner, Pretty Crystal is bred for a trip like this.

Lion's Pride could make a late claim for a St Leger spot with victory in Windsor's Weatherbys Digital Solutions August Stakes.

John Gosden has described him as the best of his Roaring Lion crop, with his 3-length win over a stablemate at Kempton a particularly taking performance in July.

As a half-brother to Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami, it would be no surprise should he develop into a Doncaster contender.

Passenger returns to action in the Group Three Weatherbys Global Stallions Winter Hill Stakes on the same card following a disappointing Derby run back in June - Press Association

TAB is betting on 6 UK meetings on Saturday. Here are the tips.

GOODWOOD: Race 1: 14.30 Betties Bay, Race 2: 15.05 Pretty Crystal, Race 3: 15.40 Epictetus, Race 4: 16.15 Rhoscolyn, Race 5: 16.50 Graignes, Race 6: 17.25 Faustus, Race 7: 17.55 Captain Kane.

NEWMARKET: Race 1: 14.40 Piz Nair, Race 2: 15.10 Expert Witness, Race 3: 15.45 Dasho Lennie, Race 4: 16.20 Mapmaker, Race 5: 16.55 Diligent Harry, Race 6: 17.32 Kimnkate, Race 7: 18.03 Rogue De Vega.

YORK: Race 1: 14.50 Nostrum, Race 2: 15.25 Middle Earth, Race 3: 16.00 KINROSS (NAP), Race 4: 16.35 Real Dream, Race 5: 17.10 The Big Board, Race 6: 17.45 Inquisitively, Race 7: 18.20 Symbol Of Light.

CARTMEL: Race 1: 15.15 Trick Of The Tail, Race 2: 15.50 Peaceful Sunday, Race 3: 16.25 Do No Wrong, Race 4: 17.00 Young Merlin, Race 5: 17.36 Coeur Aimant, Race 6: 18.06 Nadim, Race 7: 18.36 Judicial Law.

REDCAR: Race 1: 17.28 Freak Out, Race 2: 17.59 Arlington, Race 3: 18.30 Super Hit, Race 4: 19.00 Roach Power, Race 5: 19.30 Annandale, Race 6: 20.00 Crypto Quest, Race 7: 20.30 Blazing Son, Race 8: 21.00 Areille.

WINDSOR: Race 1: 18.15 Reminder, Race 2: 18.50 Mercian Warrior, Race 3: 19.20 Lion's Pride, Race 4: 19.50 Passenger, Race 5: 20.20 Halla Dubai, Race 6: 20.50 Duke Of Vienna.

ALL TO COME: Nostrum and Kinross (York, Races 1 and 3).