Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 26 August 2025

I can’t recall a major Flat meeting when as many of the competitive handicaps were won by horses at the head of the market as at York last week.

The opening 20-runner sprint handicap on the first day was won by joint-second favourite Trefor and the later staying handicap went to 100/30 favourite Santorini Star. Bullet Point, the 15/8 favourite, won the Clipper Logistics Handicap on Thursday, with Stellar Sunrise winning the nursery at 100/30 favourite.

On Friday the 1m handicap went to 11/4 favourite Fifth Column and on Saturday joint-second favourite Tarriance won the Melrose Handicap, while Ethical Diamond won the Ebor as 5/1 favourite.

I would attribute this to the consistently good ground that we’ve had over the last few weeks, so the recent form stands up to scrutiny.

As you’re aware I much prefer softer conditions, as a handful of hoses can be safely eliminated and stamina comes to the fore.

With so many horses still in contention in the closing stages last week there were inevitably some troubled runs.

On Friday my sole selection of the day was Sea Force in the closing 1m handicap. I had noted beforehand that he had looked a wayward type in his previous races, prone to hang, but I still hoped that he would be good enough to win.

He was off the pace early in the straight and then lugged left when Tom Marquand asked him to improve, only to finish with a flourish to pass the post one and a quarter lengths behind the winner.

He possibly would have won had he not hung fire and I expect him to win a decent handicap this autumn. He had been equipped with sheepskin cheekpieces when fourth in heavy ground the time before at Goodwood, but they were dispensed with here. I expect some sort of headgear to be reapplied in the future while softer ground will allow him more time to get himself organised.

We were a little unfortunate the next day with Lake Forest in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes. The son of No Nay Never was never travelling through the race and looked destined for last two furlongs out, but he then started to pick up only to find himself continually short of room and having to switch one way and then the other.

The interference cost him momentum and he did very well to get within half-a-length of the winner Never So Brave at the line.

Bye for now

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