Ryan Moore: My thoughts on Friday at York

Ryan is keen on the chances of Pearl Acclaim in the 14:30

Ryan is absent through injury but he has raced on or against most of these so who better to run you through the third day of the Ebor meeting?

14:00
Silver Lime will probably be the favourite in this 20-runner handicap and that is understandable. He is obviously lightly raced, will be suited by the extra furlong and the horse he beat at Goodwood last time, Assizes, ran well in defeat next time. I have ridden Martin Chuzzlewit, visored for the first time here, in both his starts this season. He hasn't been out since finishing third at Chester in May but I wouldn't read anything into that. He has been working nicely enough, should be suited by the track and looks fairly enough treated. But this is predictably a very competitive race, and of the others John Biscuit caught my eye when third on Shergar Cup day at Ascot and could run well.

14:30
I personally wouldn't get carried away with Lewisham's seemingly unlucky July Stakes second to Alhebayeb. Yes, he probably should have won that day but I don't think the form is up to that much in Group race terms. The winner was well beaten in France next time, albeit in the Morny, and the third and fifth were both well beaten at Goodwood. Obviously, Heavy Metal, who finished last at Newmarket, came out and won the Richmond next time but I couldn't really have him either here with his 3lb penalty. Norfolk Stakes fourth Morawij comes in here with the strongest form, having just got touched off in the Molecomb last time, and 6f here should be fine for him. But the horse I would like to ride in here is Pearl Acclaim. He is well-regarded and started odds-on on his debut, but I actually beat him on his stablemate Havana Gold that day. That was clearly no disgrace though and he has since impressed in victories at Sandown and Ripon. He needs to improve but the potential is certainly there.

15:05
This is another very difficult puzzle to solve, even though the race has cut up a bit at the overnight stage. But, if pressed, I think Stipulate would just about get the nod. He ran well when second to Energizer over 1m2f at Royal Ascot and then ran another very solid race when fourth to Trumpet Major and Archbishop over 1m at Goodwood. Perhaps he is one of those horses who is best at 1m1f; after all, he won the Fielden over the trip back in April. I think the trip could also suit Tales Of Grimm. I have always thought a lot of him and he has shown promise on all three of his starts this season; I think fast ground could be the key to him going well here and he has an each-way chance. The boss also runs Tazahum, a winner over 1m at Newmarket last time, but he has to step up again here. Questioning and Side Glance are very solid horses in this grade but would be vulnerable to an improver. Dubai Prince would be very dangerous if returning to the form of his course and distance win, while Fury and Barefoot Lady are also solid horses in this grade. All in all, a very hard race to call.

15:40
It may be a bit too predictable but I find it is hard to see anything else other than Ortensia, Bated Breath or Sole Power winning this. Ortensia looked a different class of sprinter to what we have in this country when winning the King George last time. She is a huge mare and quick ground could be the making of her over here, and she is my idea of the best horse in the race. The only negative I have about her is being drawn 8 of 20. Originally I thought it is was fair, but a look at the probable pace in here - Tangerine Trees in 20, and Hamish McGonagall in 1 - suggests she could be disadvantaged. Sole Power looks rock solid and guaranteed to run his race. He looked unlucky when just touched off by Bated Breath in the Temple Stakes, ran well behind that rival and the winner Little Bridge at Ascot last time, loves fast ground and must make a bold bid to follow up in this race two seasons ago. And Bated Breath is clearly a big player if the rain stays away as well. Pearl Secret will probably have his supporters but I think he has been well placed so far, and this is a big step up in class.

16:15
Hughesie has made no secret of the fact that he rates Wentworth, and there was a lot to like about his sixth on his Goodwood debut. The form didn't look much to be get carried away with at the time, but the winner ran really well to finish second in the Acomb on Wednesday and Wentworth's stablemate Colmar Kid, in fifth, won at Windsor next time. Aside the three newcomers, there are obviously others in here with a similar unexposed profile, among them Bright Strike. I rode in the maiden in which he finished third and it was steadily run, but he shaped well and the fourth and sixth have come out of the race and won their maidens.

16:50
I don't think I can shed much light on this 19-runner nursery to be honest. But I rode in the race that The Taj finished second in at Haydock, and it was run at a good gallop and the form should turn out be OK. Indeed, the third came out and won a Chester nursery last weekend. They also think a fair bit of the The Taj too, so perhaps he is the answer to an obviously competitive race.