Who To Follow On Day Four At York

The first race on the final day of the Yorkshire Ebor meeting is the Group Three Strensall Stakes and the form seems to be stacking up for Mark Johnston's Dark Vision.

The Godolphin owned colt after a poor three year old campaign has bounced back to his best this term not finishing outside the top two in all four of his events.

He finished second on his seasonal debut behind Sir Busker who has since gone on to frank the form with a solid performance in the Silver Royal Hunt Cup.

Dark Vision landed the spoils in his next contest at the royal meeting taking the Royal Hunt Cup and off the back of that was another bright second behind winner at the Ebor meeting Montatham.

The four year old went to Pontefract last time for a Listed event and in quick conditions managed to get the job done.

Solid form claims.

Nicky Henderson as we all know is not known for his exploits on the flat but he has his only runner across the four day meeting in the Ebor on Saturday and we think she has a live chance.

Verdana Blue has been campaigned on both the flat and the jumps for the last few years and if getting her ground conditions could go close in the feature handicap.

Having not been disgraced in the 2019 Champion Hurdle and also last year's Christmas Hurdle, she has given some good performances on the flat.

Last time out was one of her best efforts when a bold second at the royal meeting in the Ascot takes over 2 mile 4 furlongs and dropping back in trip could see a big challenge.

Nicky Henderson has had three runners over the last two weeks and he has had one winner giving him a strike rate of 33%.

Tom Marquand has had a solid campaign to date, currently second in the jockey championships and although not quite getting the rub of the green on his rides this week, we feel Saturday could be his day.

He sits on One Master in the Group Two City Of York Stakes after giving her a superb ride last time out to get her up on the line in a good Group Three at Glorious Goodwood in conditions that did not favour her.

In the only Listed event of the day he has another nice chance on board the Nigel Tinkler trained Acklam Express, who like One Master was a winner at Goodwood last time out and with Oisin Murphy jumping off to ride for his retained owners, he has picked up a plum ride.

The young rider has had 10 winners in the last two weeks giving him a strike rate of 13.7% and he will be looking to boost that at the weekend.