Ebor Meeting Day One - Main Sequence to beat Frankel's little brother

Sir Michael Stoute runs Sir John Hawkwood

Day one of the Ebor Meeting at York will see Frankel and his little brother try to dominate affairs - but Crockford believes the unlucky Main Sequence will spoil the party.

Before Frankel takes the stage for the thirteenth time at (3.40) in the Juddmonte International Stakes his younger brother will try to bolster his St Leger claims by winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes at (3.05). Noble Mission faces stiff opposition from a field of only five rivals many of which have raced against each other on a number of occasions already this season. However, the stand out horse is the Derby second and unlucky Grand Prix de Paris fourth - Main Sequence. Crockford believes that his last run at Longchamp is one of the most unlucky he has ever seen where he was checked in running so many times it is almost impossible to count - with a clear run he would have beaten the useful Imperial Monarch and could now still claim to have only ever been beaten by the legendary Camelot. Noble Mission lacking the awesome ability of his older brother will have to settle for second place at best.

The last race on the card has also caught Crockford's attention. Sir John Hawkwood has been highly touted by his connections and won the other day after disappointing on poor ground the time before. At 7/2 this runner for Sir Michael Stoute seems a stand out bet. 

Crockford's Dead Cert - Main Sequence (Great Voltigeur 3.05)

If you ran this race five times Crockford believes that you would come up with five different seconds but you would also come up with the same first - Main Sequence. His form stands out a mile amongst his rivals and should be a worthy second favourite for the St Leger.

Crockford's Whisper - Planteur (International 3.40 e/w)

Marco Botti is in tremendous form with the recent weekend runs of Jakkalberry and Crackerjack King in the US and Joshua Tree in France. The Whisper is that the once very useful Planteur could return to form with a bang and make a place at 50/1.

Crockford York Selections:

(2.00) Tax Free

(2.30) Ebn Arab

(3.05) Main Sequence

(3.40) Frankel, St Nicholas Abbey (e/w) and Planteur (e/w)

(4.15) Olympiad

(4.50) Sir John Hawkwood

(Photograph - Sir Michael Stoute at Glorious Goodwood 2012 by Stuart Rice)