Jim Crowley “Yafta can win this without a doubt”

I was really pleased Shabaaby won on Saturday. It was a good performance given he’d been off such a long time. I think he’ll improve for that too. And I thought Mankib ran a super race finishing second. He just got a little bit tired. He was having his first run of the year and he will improve leaps and bounds.

1.50 York – Corgi

I really like this horse. I was second on him at Royal Ascot last year. He’s a bit better off at the weights with First Eleven, who is well fancied in this race, and I think he has a great chance. He’s a proper horse and he has been gelded and also undergone wind surgery since last season. I think that will help him.

I won on Crystal King last time out and I think he could be an improving horse. He’s the one I’m fearful of. It’s clearly a very competitive race but Corgi will be there or thereabouts at the finish.

3.00 York – Yafta

He was a bit unlucky last time out. With another stride we would have won at Newmarket. He is a tough horse who just kept on improving last year. I think he’ll go very well. The only downside is that he’s drawn one and the horses drawn 2 and 3 are 66/1 and 33/1 so all the better horses are drawn away from him. But hopefully the pace is where he is, so even if they aren’t the best horses, they are the pace horses. He can win this, without a doubt.  

Musidora Stakes

I think there’s a really good bunch of three year old fillies this year. I was impressed with Sparkle Roll last time out. The fact she’s had a run already this term is a help for her. Frankellina was pulled out of the Lingfield Oaks trial on Saturday and she’s come here for the better ground. John Gosden has some good fillies and he’s running Enable’s half-sister, Entitle. It’s a trappy race but it’s always a good pointer to the Oaks.  

There’s been no decision on whether Maqsad runs in the Oaks, but if she goes to Epsom I wouldn’t swap her for any other horse in the race.

4.00 York – Karnavaal

I’ve been living on salmon and scrambled eggs for the last couple of days to make the weight on Karnavaal, and doing loads of running.

He progressed nicely last year and won well in what was only a small race at Chelmsford. He disappointed last time at Newmarket. He just didn’t go that day. It didn’t work out for him. I have ridden him in work since and he’s come on for that race. He’ll run very well. He’s got a nice racing weight on his back and he’s nicely drawn. He should go well. There’s improvement in him

Jim