Romsdal Up For Yorkshire Cup

Time/Date - 15.15hrs local time/Friday, May 15, 2015
Racecourse/Country - York/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 6f

Romsdal steps back up in class and distance for the Group Two Betway Yorkshire Cup over a mile and three quarters at York, UK, on Friday, May 15.

The John Gosden-trained colt kept on to take third in the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes over a mile and a half at Newbury on April 18.

He made a winning start this year with a decisive win on Polytrack in a 10-furlong Listed race at Kempton Park on March 28, and was among Britain's leading three-year-olds in 2014 following an excellent campaign.

The son of Halling finished second in the Group One Ladbrokes St Leger over an extended 14 furlongs at Doncaster in September and came home third in the 12-furlong Group One Investec Derby, at Epsom Downs in June.

John Gosden said: "Romsdal found the ground a bit too fast at Newbury last time - they broke the track record that day. At the moment, it looks like the ground at York will be fine for him but we will just have to see how it turns out on the day. He is in good form.

"He has made the running in each of his last two races but he doesn't need to. He is just like a lot of horses in that he prefers a good, even gallop.

"At the moment, he is a mile and a half to a mile and three quarters horse. He does hold an entry in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot but two and a half miles may turn out to be beyond his range."

Romsdal, with William Buick in the saddle for the third time, opposes five rivals including Irish St Leger winner Brown Panther, last year's Ladbrokes St Leger third Snow Sky and multiple Group Two scorer Times Up.

Moonax (1995), Classic Cliche (1996), Kayf Tara (2000), Marienbard (2001) and Mamool (2003) have been successful for Godolphin in the Yorkshire Cup.