Great Voltigeur Stakes Tips: Godolphin Runner Underestimated In This Group Two

Over the years plenty of top quality middle distance or staying prospects have taken the Great Voltigeur at York, including in recent years top class colts such as Postponed, Cracksman, Pyledriver and Logician. The Gosdens have the favourite once more and Gregory will have Frankie in the saddle when taking on four rivals...

There are very few stones to throw at favourite Gregory in this Group 2 contest that is one of the highlights of Day One of the Ebor Festival. Frankie Dettori's mount only debuted in April at Haydock but the style of his win impressed everyone and he kicked on again to win next time out at Goodwood; After the manner of these two victories he was a warm order for the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and in the end the evens favourite landed the odds authoritatively. 

Now chalked up as short as 5/2 for the St Leger at Doncaster next month, if he can win this race against a decent looking field expect him to be very short for the season's final Classic. At 11/8 he will have plenty of supporters and obviously John Gosden did send Logician here before he took out the Leger, but this season's renewal looks spicy and I am willing to back a mini upset occurring considering the prices.

Considering his prowess in nearly every big race in Ireland and Britain, Aidan O'Brien does not have a particularly strong record in this race. Idaho was his last winner in 2016, but Continuous will represent Ballydoyle and Ryan Moore will take the ride and thus he is chalked up as 5/2 second favourite. On form I'm not convinced this Heart's Cry colt should be as short in the betting so he is one to take on, as dangerous as that is with these connections.

CASTLE WAY comes next in the market at 7/2 and will be carrying my cash in this race. The consensus at Ballydoyle seems to be Tower Of London is their best Leger hope, ahead of Continuous, yet Castle Way beat him at Newmarket last time out and still is a bigger price than the Irish raider for this race. That looks all wrong to me and I think Castle Way actually has a knocking chance of upsetting Gregory too.

Charlie Appleby may not be having a brilliant campaign but this horse certainly is and I like his run style for this contest. William Buick will attempt to make plenty of use of him and get to the front early. Gregory has shown he has a nice turn of foot for a Leger prospect and I'd expect Dettori to track Buick before pushing the button and attempting to go past, but as we have seen a couple of times now Castle Way is not afraid of a battle and seems to find more when eyeballed.

He looked beaten by Tower Of London at Newmarket before fighting back to claim the race and I think the consensus after the race that he was a lucky winner was misplaced and has impacted his price here. He may not be as flashy as Gregory but I love a gritty staying horse and York suits prominent runners, so hopefully he can rack up a fourth consecutive win.

The concern is actually one of the outsiders Artistic Star, who does look interesting at massive odds, as he will be a definite pace rival on all known form. I would certainly prefer his chances to those of the outsider of the field Canberra Legend, who seems to have lost his way a touch as the season has progressed. Nevertheless I expect Buick to get the fractions right, Castle Way to win the battle of the frontrunners and then see off those hoping to pounce.