York Ebor Festival 2015: City Of York Stakes preview (15.05)

Fadhayyil has some strong form to her name and can take advantage of a drop into Listed company to land the 7f City Of York Stakes at York (15.05), on the third day of the Ebor Festival.

The Barry Hills trained filly posted some smart efforts last season, despite looking far from the finished article.

After opening her account at the second time of asking when staying on strongly to score by 1 1/2 lengths at Salisbury, Fadhayyil ran a stormer when stepped up into Group 2 company and runner-up to Lucida in the 7f Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.

The daughter of Tamayuz showed plenty of pace to race up with the pace and, after being produced to lead inside the final furlong, showed distinct signs of greenness when headed before rallying strongly to go down by just a length.

It was a performance full of promise against a far more streetwise opponent, and one which suggested Fadhayyil would make up into a top class three-year-old once strengthening up and maturing.

That view was confirmed on debut when Fadhayyil ran very well to finish fifth of 13 to Legatissimo in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, and she backed that up with a cracking 1/2 length second to Dutch Connection in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Those runs represent very strong form in the context of this lower grade Listed contest, and although Fadhayyil could finish only seventh last time out in a Group 3 affair at Goodwood she was unsuited by the undulations of the course.

The return to a more conventional galloping track is sure to suit, and this represents an excellent opportunity for Fadhayyil to get back to winning ways.

Richard Pankhurst looked a smart prospect when bolting up in the Chesham at Royal Ascot on just his second start last season and is a fascinating contender on his belated return to action.