‘Solid’ Farraaj set for York return

Roger Varian’s much-improved five-year-old, who also overcame an unfavourable draw to land the 10-furlong heritage handicap under in-form jockey Andrea Atzeni, heads the 12 runners for this Grade Two contest – the highlight of the Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival.

The race has gained in prestige following the success of horses like the late Sir Henry Cecil’s Twice Over in 2011 and the William Haggas-trained Mukhadram 12 months ago, with the latter an intriguing contender for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Varian is no stranger to the Sky Bet race – he saddled the victorious Sri Putra in 2012 and has also entered Cameron Highland in this year’s renewal.

But while Cameron Highland won a Listed race at Windsor last season, all eyes will be on Farraaj who won at Epsom on Derby day before landing the John Smith’s Cup.

“Both Farraaj and Cameron Highland are possible runners in the Sky Bet York Stakes,” said Newmarket-based Varian.

“Farraaj has come out of his win in John Smith’s Cup absolutely fine and looks well. It was a good effort that day – a solid, weight-carrying performance.

“Cameron Highland has got to rediscover his best form but he has been working well since his comeback at Newmarket. He has been a good horse in the past so hopefully he might come back to that.”

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor has won the race twice courtesy of Stage Gift (2007) and Kirklees (2009) and has three entries this year – Sharestan, Windhoek and Tasaday.

The latter is set to make her British debut after securing notable triumphs in Dubai and France. Fellow Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby could be represented by Long John, a Group One winner in Australia who finished third on his British debut at Ascot 10 days ago.

There is a possible challenger from Ireland in Parish Hall. Trained by Jim Bolger, the horse won the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in 2011 and prevailed at the Curragh on Sunday.

Royal Ascot hero Eagle Top looks set to join Epsom Oaks-winning stable companion Taghrooda in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes after being supplemented for Saturday’s Ascot feature.

Taghrooda, regarded as the probable mount of Paul Hanagan, was confirmed an intended runner in the mile-and-a-half Group One last week following her surprise defection from the Irish Oaks, with owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum seemingly keen to test her powers against the boys.

Eagle Top oozed class when streaking clear in the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting, over the King George course and distance, and looks set to meet his elders for the first time after being added to the field at a cost of £75,000.

Taghrooda looks set to be one of two major challengers for her owner, with the aforementioned Coral-Eclipse winner Mukhadram also in the field, although final running plans will not be decided until later in the week.

Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager, said: “Everything has gone very well with Taghrooda.”

If Mukhadram does take his chance this weekend, he will be tackling 12 furlongs for the first time, but Gold is unperturbed by the step up in trip.

He said: “William has always felt he will stay and certainly his pedigree suggests he will.

“Whether he will be as effective over that trip, until he runs over it nobody can say. We’ll just have to see.”

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Telescope heads ante-post lists following his brilliant display in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Tom Scudamore was banned for 12 days by the Cartmel stewards yesterday after taking the wrong course.

He was partnering the Karen McLintock-trained Run Forest Run in a hurdles race, but angled his mount on to the chase course shortly after the start and jumped the first fence.

The jockey quickly realised the error of his ways and pulled his mount up, but it was not enough to prevent him receiving a hefty suspension.

Scudamore is currently second to the record-breaking AP McCoy in the title race after a career-best start to the 2014-15 campaign.