York’s Dante meeting provides the last real chance for anything to emerge to challenge Dawn Approach in the ante-post market for the Epsom Derby. Aidan O’Brien has been busily mopping up the Derby trials over the past couple of weeks and currently has six possible runners headed by Battle Of Marengo. He saddles Indian Chief for the Dante on Wednesday where he is set to clash with Greatwood and Windhoek.
Sir Michael Stoute’s intended Dante runner Telescope has been forced to miss the race due to a minor infection and connections hope that he will still make it to Epsom. Bookmakers are offering him at 6-1 with a run. The Oaks chances of Telescope’s stable companion Liber Nauticus are put to the test on the opening day of the meeting when she lines up for the Musidora Stakes. The Azamour filly didn’t really know what it was all about on her only run as a two-year-old but responded well to pressure to win her maiden at Goodwood.
Her inexperience would usually be a cause for concern in stepping up to this grade but this does not look the strongest renewal. In fact, her main market rival also has only one race under her belt, a win on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. Woodland Aria quickened up well that day but is freely available at 25-1 for the Oaks, suggesting that the stable are not expecting great things from her.
I was most impressed with Secret Gesture at Lingfield on Saturday. Ladbrokes went 6-1 after the race but that quickly disappeared and the best price now is 4-1 with Sporting Bet. I would be very surprised if anything puts in a better display than that before Epsom and believe that she would be 7-4 if she was trained at one of the bigger yards. It could be argued that the opposition did not amount to much but she could have won by 20 lengths if she had been asked to do so and I think there is still some value left at 4’s.
Tuesday’s other feature race is the Duke of York Stakes with top sprinters Mince and Tickled Pink expected to fight out the finish over six furlongs. They have plenty of opposition, most notably from Society Rock and Hawkeyethenoo. I thought that the latter shaped very encouragingly first time out and will improve on that effort and could be worth each-way support at 16-1.
The meeting opens with a tricky looking handicap but I’m interested in Prompter who switches back to the flat after competing in hurdle races for Jonjo O’Neill. He won at Bangor-on-Dee with his head in his chest before being beaten at odds-on at Worcester recently. He was useful on the flat for Michael Bell and ran a good race here when close up behind Crackentorp. Ryan Moore has been booked and that could be significant. The 12-1 on offer with William Hill looks worth taking.
In the 2.15 Nocturn goes for a quick hat-trick after two victories at Windsor. He hung badly left-handed last time under Graham Lee but a good draw in three should enable him to grab the far rail. If he settles well he could be up to defying a 6lb penalty and it is worth taking the risk at odds of around 7-1.
Secret Gesture 4-1 Oaks Sportingbet
Prompter 12-1 (each-way) William Hill
Nocturn 7-1 Ladbrokes
Hawkeyethenoo 16-1 (each-way) Ladbrokes
