Unexposed Ra Junior can master his elders in York showpiece

Three-year-olds have a good record in the John Smith's Cup and that augurs well for the Brian Meehan-trained colt.
Ra Junior is one of the few unexposed runners in the 50th John Smith's Cup (3.10) at York today and, likely to improve now that he steps up in distance, can cause an upset.
Not many three-year-olds make the cut for this competitive contest, but they have a good record when they do, winning five of the past 17 renewals. Just two run this time around and, with Alazeyab being handed an unfavourably high draw, Ra Junior looks the one to be on.
He showed progressive form at the end of last season, beating the useful Emirates Roadshow by five lengths in a maiden at Newmarket before chasing home On Our Way in a conditions race at the same track in October. Ra Junior failed to handle the dirt surface when stepped up to group two company on his reappearance in Dubai in March, but has been given plenty of time to recover from that trip and returns on a potentially lenient mark.
David Probert, the excellent apprentice, takes off a further 3lb, while this step up in trip is sure to suit on breeding as his dam was runner-up in the 12-furlong Galtres Stakes here. His bare form gives him solid claims and, open to plenty of improvement after just five starts, he looks much too big at the 40-1 offered by William Hill.
Despite being two years older, Riggins is even more lightly raced and won in tidy fashion at Goodwood last time. He will be a threat if proving as effective over this extra quarter-mile.
Of the remainder, Sweet Lightning and Moonquake have fair form claims but are drawn higher than ideal. Seeking The Buck, unsuited by a slow pace when beaten for the first time this year at Lingfield, makes more appeal.
Mark Johnston has his stable in rude health and Quai D'Orsay may be hard to pass in the John Smith's Extra Smooth Silver Cup (3.45). He showed a good attitude when fending off allcomers at Haydock last time, shaping as though this longer trip would see him in an even better light. He can defy a 4lb rise in the weights.
Cesare will be a warm order in the totesport.com Summer Mile Stakes (2.50) at Ascot, but he seems most effective on a straight track and preference is for Confront. The latter lost a shoe when a good second at Epsom in June before being unsuited by a slow early pace when fourth at Sandown eight days ago. He can bounce back to form.
Secret Society ran a cracker when beaten a head by Fareer in the Britannia Handicap and can make the most of an easier assignment in the totescoop6 Stakes (1.50). He travelled with notable ease through that race until weakening in the dying strides and promises to be even more effective over this shorter trip.
The Euro Earthworks Handicap (2.20) can go to Mabuya. He is getting better with each start and had plenty in hand when powering clear of his rivals at Salisbury last time. A 6lb rise in the weights should not be enough to prevent a repeat.
Borderlescott has yet to rediscover the form that saw him land the group one Nunthorpe Stakes last summer, but should be too classy for his rivals in the toteswinger City Wall Stakes (3.30) at Chester. He was badly drawn when beaten a nose by Green Manalishi in this a year ago and, well-berthed this time around, can go one better.
Nashmiah has been well beaten in group one company on two of her past four starts, but has won the other two in listed company and looks the one to beat in the totepool City Plate (2.25).
Source :The times