Dickensian
Dickensian only finished seventh in the Listed City Walls Stakes at York on Saturday, but he ran better than that. They raced centre to far side, which wasn't ideal for Kevin Ryan's horse from stall two. It meant that, held up early on, he had a wall of horses in front of him on the far side. Still last of the 13 runners passing the two-furlong marker, he was still on the bridle and behind horses as his rivals started to come under pressure. He made ground when he got racing room and, while it never looked likely that he would get to the leaders, he finished off his race well to take seventh place, just two lengths behind the winner Redorange, who came down the near side in clear sailing from his high draw. He was third fastest through the final two furlongs, and he left the impression that he had plenty more left to give.
Kevin Ryan's horse does go well at York, he finished third in the Listed Julia Graves Stakes at the Ebor meeting last year on his first run on the Knavesmire, and he won the Listed Westow Stakes there at the Dante meeting on his debut this season on his second. His hold-up style of racing is not automatically an advantage at York, but he did come from 11th and last to win that Westow Stakes at the Dante meeting, so he will be of interest if he goes back there next month. He will also be of interest if he goes to Goodwood at the end of this month, a track at which he finished third in last year's Group 3 Molecomb Stakes. He is fast, all his runs have been over the minimum trip, but he is well worth a try over six too. He finishes off his races well over five.
York, 11th July 2026
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