Saturday's John Smith's Cup at York - Woodcraker tipped

At the Royal Ascot at York meeting, it was evident that a high draw over a mile and a quarter was highly disadvantageous in big fields. Indeed, this factor has also been evidence in the John Smith's Cup over the years - only one winner in the last decade has won the valuable contest from a double-figure draw - which means that the ante-post favourites, Notable Guest and Mullins Bay, face stiff tasks from stalls 15 and 19 respectively.They're both lightly raced horses on an upward curve, representing two of the most powerful stables in Europe, so it would be folly to underestimate them. However, by the same token, they have not justified their current odds - both are around the 4-1 mark - and the 7-1 on offer about the Michael Bell-trained WOODCRACKER is far more appealing.The son of Docksider was returning from over nine months on the sidelines when finishing two-and-a-half lengths second to Notable Guest on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in April. Connections have clearly had this race in mind for Woodcracker since that highly encouraging seasonal reappearance and have resisted the temptation to take in any other potential races, with the preservation of his handicap mark obviously being the key consideration. As such, the selection meets Notable Guest on 14lb better terms on Saturday, and he's been given a reasonable berth in stall nine - a stall from which three winners of this race since 1988 have emerged.Woodcracker's most notable victory came on fast ground at Newmarket's July meeting last year, but he proved that easy going holds no fears for him when chasing home the classy Frank Sonata in a competitive handicap for three-year-olds over the John Smith's Cup course and distance at last year's Dante meeting in May. On Woodcracker's inside in stalls seven, five and one respectively, Zero Tolerance, I'm So Lucky and Thyolo will all be vying for the lead, which should enable Darryl Holland, who has ridden the selection on his last two starts, to get a nice position in the leaders' slipstream, avoiding the potential traffic problems that are nigh on certain to occur in behind.Notable Guest went on to land the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at the royal meeting over twelve furlongs, where he managed to overcome, ironically, the same stall which he has been allocated on Saturday - 15 - but it's worth bearing in mind that the only time he encountered good-to-soft ground, he flopped. All three of his career victories have been achieved on good-to-firm of faster, so the combination of his draw and preference for faster going - his rising handicap mark notwithstanding - means he is one to swerve. Crow Wood, runner-up to Notable Guest at the royal meeting, should reverse the placings on 5lb better terms but he too needs faster ground to be at his best.Mullins Bay would be a big danger if he wasn't drawn 19 - he's effectively out in the car park - and, although Arcalis won from the 18 berth last year, it's hard top see him overcoming that stalls position on a soft surface. Aidan O'Brien's charge lost no caste in defeat when chasing home Imperial Stride over course and distance at the royal meeting, but the going was firm that day and he was emerging from stall four.Thyolo, five lengths behind Mullins Bay in third that day, shaped very well under a more enterprising ride and he is perfectly drawn in stall one for a front-runner. However, he is yet another that is far better on top of the ground.Betting verdict: 1pt win WOODCRACKER @ (Ladbrokes)