Stressfree
Stressfree ran another big race in the Ebor. Held up early on, as he usually is, he was still 20th of the 22 runners as they started to turn for home. Kept towards the far side in the home straight by Danny Tudhope, he made nice ground towards the leaders well away from the stands rail. Still only 16th passing the two-furlong marker, he stayed on well from there. He had moved into eighth place by the time they reached the furlong marker, and he stayed on well through the final furlong to finish fourth behind Ethical Diamond, and beaten a length and a half for second.
This was probably a career-best from David O'Meara's horse. Not only that, but he did best by far of horses who raced towards the far side in the home straight, and he did best of the hold-up horses. He and the winner were the only two of the first eight home who were outside the first 10 with a half a mile to run, and he was second fastest through the final three furlongs after Ethical Diamond. He has good form over a mile and a half, he won a 12-furlong handicap at Haydock in May, and he finished a close-up fifth in the Old Newton Cup, but the fact that he saw out the Ebor trip well here opens up new options for him. He holds an entry in the Old Borough Cup at Haydock on Saturday, and he will be of interest if he lines up in that off his mark of 102. He remains unexposed over a mile and six furlongs, and we know that he goes well at Haydock. He seems to be well suited by courses with long home straights, he has also run well at York and Doncaster in the past. As such, looking further ahead, he could be a horse for the November Handicap.
York, 23rd August 2025
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