Race One: The William Hill Epic Value Handicap - Class 2 - 7 Furlongs - 8 Runners
Winner: Northern Express (#3) (Zoffany x Hint Of A Tint) - P. Mulrennan - M. Dods
The meeting kicked off with a competitive handicap over the specialist distance of seven furlongs and it saw plenty of familiar faces returning to the Knavesmire one more time. Course form is often taken very seriously in the process of finding winners at York and half of the field had won at York at least once before. Another Investment was a wide margin winner here back in June and stepped up in class to face tougher rivals. They included the likes of the smart Vafortino,  Northern Express who loves this track, Bopedro who rarely runs a bad race and Documenting who is rarely far from the scene. Gweedore was a valiant runner up here in June and the popular Zip has his own fan club for his grey roan coat.

As light rain began to fall on the racecourse, there was a thrilling finish to heat up the atmosphere and set the precedent for the rest of the meeting. From the outset of this seven furlong contest, Scottish raider Gweedore led the field along at a sensible pace as the likes of Zip, Able Kane and Documenting raced prominently. The gallop was run evenly and approaching the final furlong, Gweedore was still there battling gamely. The Kevin De Foy runner Vafortino nosed ahead and Northern Express finished with his customary late kick. Under a strong Paul Mulrennan drive, the six year old Northern Express answered every call and put his neck in front when it mattered the most, in the shadows of the post. It would be a third win at York for the son of Zoffany who clearly loves the Knavesmire. Finishing a fast closing third in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot on his last start and it represented a drop in class and a popular win. Vafortino was a shade unlucky to lose in a photo finish and Gweedore held on for third, another bold run for the popular horse. It would be another win for jockey Paul Mulrennan following his brace at Doncaster just twenty-four hours ago. 

Race Two: The William Hill Summer Stakes - F & M Group 3 - 6 Furlongs - 10 Runners
Winner: Swingalong (#10) (Showcasing x Pilates) - C. Lee - K. Burke

The feature race of the day came early in the running order and it was a fiercely contested group three sprint for fillies and mares. A classy line up of ten took to the start and it included a mix of progressive types and fillies looking to regain the winning thread. The dark blue and yellow silks of Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum were carried by three high quality fillies including Royal Aclaim whose form had dipped recently. The three-year-old Swingalong posted a mighty effort in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and would appreciated this big drop in class. The class two handicap run at the previous meeting in June saw Radio Goo Goo bravely hold off Al Simmo and Pink Crystal in a great finish and those three fillies returned to do battle once again. One of last year's most progressive mares Gale Force Maya returned to a track where she has a great record in the hope of finding her form again. Mammas Girl had started the season very brightly with a sparkling win in the Nell Gwynn Stakes at Newmarket, but failed to cope at the top in the 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes. 

There would be another win for punters as the well backed favourite Swingalong proved to be all class and regained the winning feeling. From the outset, the pace was quick with front runners Radio Goo Goo and Al Simmo took each other once again with Swingalong sitting on their heels. Mammas Girl was under the heat from the very start of the race as she struggled to keep up with the early pace now dropping in distance. Under a well judged ride by Clifford Lee, Swingalong held off her pursuers and landed a second big race at York in her short career. Last year, the daughter of Showcasing was a shock winner of the Group 2 Lowther Stakes but she has since established herself as a high class filly. The only blot on her form book came in the French 1,000 Guineas, but a third in the Commonwealth Cup last time out showed her love for sprinting. 
The decision to run three horses in the same race proved inspired for owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum as he was represented by the winner as well as second and fourth with Royal Aclaim and Pink Crystal. The Michael Dods-trained Gale Force Maya returned to form to replicate her third place from last year. 

Race Three: The William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes - Class 2 - 6 Furlongs - 8 Runners 
Winner: Symbology (#4) (Havana Grey x Showstoppa) - R. Ryan - C. Cox.
A valuable novice stakes for two-year-old fillies was next on the racecard and there was plenty of intrigue about the eight runners taking part. The race was won in spectacular fashion by The Platinum Queen who scorched the turf to a six length win. She would go on to finish second in the Nunthorpe before making history by winning the Prix de l'Abbaye. 
The class of 2023 saw some nicely bred newcomers facing up against a few who had run twice already to date. Karl Burke's stable always unveil top class juveniles and they introduced the newcomer Fighting Wren, a half sister to last year's May Hill winner Polly Pott. The Lambourn stable of Clive Cox sent up their debutant Symbology, a half sister to very smart Group Two winner El Cabello and the royal blue silks of owner Jaber Abdullah were carried by Kevin Ryan's Looking For Queen, a half sister to dual winner Hello Queen.
A potentially smart newcomer was unearthed from the gloom as Symbology made an impressive winning debut. The grey son of Havana Grey race greenly as he chased the early leader Nighteyes, under Danny Tudhope. Fellow newcomer Looking For Queen showed bright early speed with Fighting Wren, but it would be the front runners who had their own private battle. Entering the final furlong, the experienced Nighteyes kicked on, but Symbology followed suit. Under the urgings of Rossa Ryan, the grey switched lead legs and found plenty for pressure. Running all the way to the line, Symbology was pulling away from Nighteyes and took a while to pull up after the line. 
His trainer Clive Cox has enjoyed a brilliant spell with his two-year-olds recently following two winners at Doncaster the previous day adding to their win in the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket. This half sister to the very smart El Cabello, last year's Group Two winner and six time winner, the future looks bright for the filly. 

Race Four: The Azets Handicap - Class 4 - 1 mile, 2 furlongs - 13 Runners
Winner: Andaleep (#1) (Siyouni x Oriental Magic) - R. Ryan - D & C. Kubler
A tricky contest for punters to solve with not much to split between the thirteen runners. Two lightly raced and lightly weighted raiders from Newmarket caught the eye in the racecard. Bleak and El Jasor from the stables of William Haggas and Charlie Fellowes respectively were probably held in higher regard at one point in their careers but have been slow to come to hand. The pair of three-year-olds arrived on the back of a last time out win and had plenty of scope to dive into. Eetee has been a regular visitor to York in recent times and he was stepping back in grade while Dark Moon Rising has been totally out of form since his fourth in the Dante Stakes last year. Three Yorkshiremen was hoping to be a popular winner with the local punters based on his name alone. 
Beforehand, the race looked wide open, but by the end it would be a one horse race as the well fancied Andaleep breezed home. The unexposed Bleak cut out the early running of the ten furlong contest as his rivals were tightly grouped in behind. Under promising amateur Adam Farragher, Bleak attempted to make all but he looked vulnerable to challengers. On the favoured near side, Andaleep had travelled strongly under Rossa Ryan and could be called the winner from an early point. Putting clear daylight between his rivals when asked for an effort, Andaleep bolted in by three lengths to make it a quick double for jockey Rossa Ryan.
The seven-year-old has proven to be a revelation since joining the stable of Daniel and Claire Kubler in June 2022, winning for the sixth time here. Clearly thriving, this win came as no big surprise to many and the fashion of the win suggests more could follow. 

Race Five: The Coopers Marquees Handicap - Class 4 - 1 mile - 14 Runners
Winner: Monte Linas (#1) (Territories x Miss Carbonia) - H. Burns - S & E. Crisford
This class four handicap limited to three-year-olds was yet another tricky puzzle for punters with some lightly raced types entering handicaps for the first time. The Ed Bethell-trained Indiana Be has been in great form recently with two wins from his last three starts and was expected to go well again with the combination of Bethell and jockey Callum Rodriguez making a compelling case. The Richard Fahey-trained Bosc Girl had finished in the placings on all three starts without threatening the winner but she appeared to be the main danger based on potential. 
The absent Sean Levey's loss proved to be Harry Burns's gain as the young apprentice jockey landed a spare winning ride on the top weight Monte Linas. Levey was stood down by doctors after a fall yesterday and Harry Burns was called upon to step in. Racing in centre pack early in the race as Indiana Be led the field.
Entering the final stages, there was still plenty of chances in the driving rain but it would be Monte Linas who did just enough to take the prize back to Newmarket for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford. A winner at Chelmsford on his debut back in April, the top weight had struggled in recent starts. A step up in trip and return to a more conventional track such as York brought out the best in the son of Terriories. In a Newmarket one-two, Almarin took home second for trainer Pat Owens and Monty Bay finished third. 

Race Six: The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap - Class 4 - 5 Furlongs - 18 Runners
Winner: Copper Knight (#7) (Sir Prancealot x Mystic Dream) - S. Kirrane - T. Easterby
The one and only cavalry charge of the day came with this class four handicap and despite a deluge of rain throughout the day led to four non runners and eighteen contestants. There was plenty of regulars for this kind of race and trainer Paul Midgley, reknowned for his sprinters, saddled five in the race including Spring Is Sprung who finished fourth in a higher class race at York back in May. The old boys Copper Knight was back once again, still looking for a seventh York win. At the base of the weights, Mereside Angel has been largely consistent this year and the Nick Bradley Racing outfit were represented by the seasonal debutant Mersea and Epsom 3-Year-Old Dash third Dickieburd. 

A record would be broken in the pouring rain as Copper Knight rolled back the years as he made all the running is his customary fashion. Showing blazing speed on the rain softened ground, Copper Knight was always in the front seat under Sean Kirrane. Approaching the business end of the race, the crowd anticipated the feat about to be accomplished and willed the nine year old home. From out of the pack, Ventura Express finished hard and fast in his bid to spoil the romance, but it would be Copper Knight who just lasted home and crossed the line at his beloved York for a record seventh time.
For what felt like an eternity, the record of winningmost horse at York was shared by Stradivarius, Copper Knight and Dakota Gold but after the great Stradivarius's retirement, the award could only be reached by two horses now. There was jubilant scenes from the trainer Tim Easterby and connections as they welcomed the legend back into the winners enclosure. A record that will be hard to beat, there is no better duo than Copper Knight and York racecourse.