Saturday tips: Success Days can win York Stakes two years running for shrewd Ken Condon
The game front-runner has found Group 1 company a bit hot recently but can take advantage of the drop in grade
SUCCESS DAYS can make it two wins in as many years in the Sky Bet York Stakes.
Ken Condon's money-spinner has been up and down so far this season but on his best form has the beating of his rivals.
A second in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup last time out can be overlooked as he helped set a pace that was far too quick.
Now back in grade and without the presence of the top class Lancaster Bomber, he can set his own fractions - just as he did so effectively last year.
He held on by a nose in that contest from Mondialiste, who was rated 113.
Only one horse in this year's contest is rated higher than that, and that's 2,000 Guineas fourth Elarqam, who was so disappointing when sent off favourite for the Irish equivalent.
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If back to his best, then Success Days can conquer these rivals.
Most of the ten entries are coming into the race on a recovery mission - Forest Ranger was stone last in the Eclipse, Fabricate was disappointing in a weaker grade at Royal Ascot, and Euginio has never won anything better than a handicap.
Thundering Blue needs to improve markedly on what he's shown so far, German raider Navaro Girl isn't good enough and Brorocco and Euro Nightmare would be more at home in a lesser grade.
That leaves only Elarqam and Smart Call capable of giving Success Days a race.
The former was unbeaten as a two-year-old and ran a cracker in the 2,000 Guineas to finish fourth.
However, he was a flop in the Irish 2,000 and will need to produce a much better performance to come out on top here.
He gets a fair amount of weight from his elders but until he shows more, he can't be backed at such a short price.
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Smart Call was a very good horse in South Africa but has taken a while to come to the boil over here.
However, Sir Michael Stoute's mare finally returned to winning ways at Newcastle last time out in a Group 3, and on that form she'd have a good chance.
That was on the all-weather, though, and she's yet to prove herself on British turf.
So that leaves Success Days, who should be able to get a relatively easy time of things out front.
He clearly goes well at the track and although he could have done with the ground easing a touch, it may not matter.
His penultimate run behind Cliffs Of Moher would be good enough to win this and provided he's recovered from his exertions at the Curragh last time, this is his for the taking.