A Fair reason to miss York

Matt Brocklebank was at York on Saturday, unlike the trainer of the feature race winner on the card. Our man reflects on the action.

The York gates opened at precisely 11am for the seventh day of the Sky Bet Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival and people poured through them like never before, but Roger Charlton – trainer of the day’s feature race winner, the Group Two Sky Bet Stakes – was not among them.

Some punters sprinted, concerns over the condition of freshly-pressed suits, high heels and fascinators momentarily abandoned for the chance to claim some precious picnic ground close to the famous Knavesmire rails.

The 40,000-strong turnout – The Corrs providing post-race entertainment was clearly a significant draw – were treated to a glorious summer’s afternoon and highly competitive racing, but what would keep Charlton from watching his ace in the pack Time Test live in the flesh?

Was he stuck on the A64? Cared he not for Irish “super-group” The Corrs’ recent resurgence?

The picture immediately became a whole lot clearer when Fair Eva demolished her rivals to win the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot, prompting quotes as short as 4/1 for the 1000 Guineas next spring.

The Frankel factor …

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