Ryan Moore: The verdict on my Friday rides at York

Ryan has six rides at York today

It's a busy day at York for Betfair ambassador Ryan Moore, with six rides including Joshua Tree in the Yorkshire Cup. Read on for his exclusive verdict on all six...

14:15 York
Sir John Hawkwood

This horse was a bit in-and-out last season, but you could not fault the manner of his win at Chester last week. In some respects the horse got me out of trouble there, as I felt that I had to be positive on him from the outside stall in 11, and he certainly delivered. In fact, I think only a good horse could do what he did there, as I really had to use up a lot of him early on and he kept finding for me late on. Good to soft ground would be ideal - he has winning form in softer but I don't think he wants extremes of going - and I think the step up to 1m4f won't be a problem, so he should go well under his 6lb penalty. But I would like to see him put back-to-back performances together, which he didn't do last season, before I would start getting carried away and this looks a pretty decent race.

14:45 York
Joshua Tree

This looks a pretty tight race on official ratings, and a 4lb Group 1 penalty doesn't make life easy for him. I rode him a couple of times when he was trained by Marco, and won the Kergorlay on him at Deauville over 1m7f. And he went on to show improved form when third in the Foy and when winning the Grade 1 Canadian International in October. Trip and ground should be fine -he looks versatile enough on any going - and he clearly has chances on that form, but his first time out record suggests that he may not be at his sharpest today. But, then again, I rode him in work recently and he felt in good order.

15:15 York
Pavlosk

She has it all do on the book against more experienced fillies. But I was quite impressed by her when she won her maiden over 7f on good to soft ground at Newbury last month, and this extra furlong is sure to suit her, too. And she has been pleasing us at home since. Yes, I think she will go OK in this better grade.

15:50 York
Dutch Masterpiece

Wasn't suited by the combination of the faster ground and the track when beaten at Goodwood last season, but other than that obviously did nothing wrong at two. And I was on board when he ran an encouraging race to fifth at Newmarket over 6f on his reappearance, form that has worked out ok. Wouldn't have wanted the ground to dry up too much, so yesterday's afternoon rain was a positive for him. I think he is fairly treated off 90, and he has the pace to be competitive over 5f today. But this is a 20-runner race, and I imagine half the connections are thinking they have decent chances too.

16:25 York
Rye House

Paid for a head win in a soft-ground Windsor handicap with a 7lb rise in the weights, and then took another 6lb hike for being beaten the same distance at Salisbury. So I've seen better handicapped horses. But he is a 4yo with not many miles on the clock, has been going well enough at home, so let's hope he has improved enough from 3 to 4, like his half-brother Warringah did, to be competitive here.  He is a good-looking horse who I think will be suited by this track, and the ground, but I just have a nagging doubt that he may need this.

17:00 York
Rundell

I haven't spoken to Hughesie about this one yet. But, judging from Richard Hannon's comments after he won at Bath over 1m2f last season, I suspect that he could be fairly treated off 76. You'd have thought that the extra 2f would suit, too, but that's an unknown as yet. Three-year-old handicaps at this stage of the season are pretty much guessing games, especially if it rides very testing come race-time, but I think he has a decent chance.