William Hill Trophy at York

The William Hill Trophy at York on Saturday looks set to be fiercely competitive and chances are that a number of these will go onto hold their own in Pattern races, as last year's victor Tax Free subsequently has. Although four favourites have obliged since the inaugural running of this valuable six-furlong dash in 1990 - Katzakeena in that year, Sheikh Albadou in 1991, Dazzling Bay in 2003 and Tax Free last year - seven in the same period have scored at odds of 14/1 or greater, so the race does have a propensity to produce the occasional shock. Michael Jarvis' progressive Borehan and the David Barron-trained Ingleby Arch head the market for this year's renewal, and the latter is bound to especially popular with Kieren Fallon making for an eyecatching jockey booking. The son of Arch is 11lb higher than for his clear-cut victory in a well-contested sixteen-runner heat at Newmarket in April, which has produced four subsequent winners, including the runner-up Angus News, who landed a Listed race at Nottingham a month later. Next time out, Ingleby Arch demonstrated a good turn of foot to mow down Obe Brave in the closing stages of a smart conditions race at Hamilton, doing particularly well given that he became outpaced two furlongs out before running on strongly again, probably not ideally suited by the comparatively modest pace at which the race was run. With the ground likely to be on the quick side and a strongly-run race nigh-on certain to ensue, Ingleby Arch looks sure to play a leading role. But the one to be on is Borehan who, despite being raised 9lb for his victory at Newmarket last month, looks the type to continue improving and my guess is that he's much better than his current mark of 100 suggests. The Agnes World colt was restricted to two starts last season, shaping encouragingly in both of those outings. This season, however, he has really come into his own. Although having to dig mighty deep to land the odds in a weak maiden on his reappearance at Thirsk, Borehan has really come into his own in decent handicaps the last twice, winning both with more in hand than the official winning margin suggests. The selection isn't a flashy type, and he'll never win a race by a wide margin, but he keeps on pulling out more and, owing to his style of racing, he's a veritable nightmare for the assessor, as it's virtually impossible for the naked eye to gauge how much is left in the tank. My view is that there is plenty more to come. He had his rivals on the stretch fully three furlongs out in the competitive Coral Sprint at Newmarket last time and although the going was soft there, he looked even better suited by faster going when scoring on good to firm going at Haydock previously. The fact that his trainer was strongly considering sending the three-year-old to Royal Ascot next week for the Wokingham, a race he won last year with Iffraaj, is indicative of the esteem within which Borehan is held by his astute handler. All in all, I'm as confident as can be that he'll win this event. Sir Michael Stoute's charge Tawaassol and Trafalgar Bay and Pearly Wey, first and second respectively at Ascot last time, head the dangers, along with River Bravo. The last-named is an interesting contender. He didn't look devoid of natural speed when cosily beating Imperial Sword in a three-runner affair over seven furlongs at Haydock and, with a strong pace certain to be on offer here, there's no reason why he shouldn't cope with the drop to six furlongs. What does concern me, though, is the prospect of a fast surface, as he is a big, rangy sort, who looked suited by the testing conditions at Haydock last time. As such, he may just find things happening a shade too quickly on the Knavesmire on Saturday. Verdict - 2pts Borehan @ 6/1 (Ladbrokes)