Tag: York

York Saturday Preview

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Sole Power and Pale Mimosa (both tipped here at 7-2) put Betcirca followers nearly 30 points up on the week. The York Ebor meeting comes to a close on Saturday with some very competitive racing with the feature race due off at 3.50.

The gamble of the race is Pallasator for Sir Mark Prescott. The five-year-old has now been bought by Qatar Racing and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him contesting some big Cup races next season. Apart from having missed any value in his price, I am put off by his draw in stall 22. It shouldn’t be too much of an issue over a mile and three-quarters but I’m sure connections would have been happier if he had been in a low to middle stall.

One that fits the bill is Marco Botti’s De Rigueur in stall 6. He has beaten Pallasator before at Haydock and should finish close to the favourite on that evidence. He is three times the price and has to be the each-way selection.

The day’s racing gets off to a subdued start with seven runners lining up for the Strensall Stakes. Having tipped Farraaj in the John Smith’s Cup and collected three times previously on Graphic, something has to give. The drop back to a mile may count against Farraaj but he is a free-running sort and I just give him the verdict.

The Melrose Handicap is every bit as competitive as the Ebor with a whole host of improving three-year-olds. Connecticut’s form has been boosted time and again and he looks the sort who will find more when necessary. With Cumani’s team in such fine form he is hard to oppose but I am going to have a saver on Captain Morley who should appreciate this trip.

He was desperately unlucky at the Chester May meeting when flying through into second and made amends on his next visit. He was then a fair third at Royal Ascot behind Elite Army, staying on up the straight. He could give Jamie Spencer the winner that he has been waiting for this week.

Baitha Alga has also been a good friend to this column with three victories on the trot. He has not been out since Royal Ascot and that may leave him vulnerable in the closing stages. He also has to shoulder a 3lbs penalty and I think Muhaarar may run him close. He didn’t settle over seven furlongs at Ascot and was previously third to the classy Ivawood. He was inches behind Jungle Cat but that one ran disappointingly at Goodwood.

Ajman Bridge ran a cracker at Goodwood when just failing to catch Sennockian Star. He has another tough task in the 5.00 but deserves to win a decent prize.

Farraaj 2.05 York @7-4 Totesport, Stan James

Connecticut 2.40 York @6-1 Bet365

Captain Morley 2.40 York @10-1 (each-way) BetVictor

Baitha Alga 3.15 York @14-5 BetBright

Muhaarar 3.15 York @8-1 BetVictor

De Rigueur 3.50 York @14-1 (each-way) BetVictor

Ajman Bridge 5.00 York @5-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

York Friday Preview

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Tapestry (advised at 12-1 yesterday) put Betcirca followers well ahead for the week following Dutch Connection (16-1) on the opening day of the York Ebor meeting.

Friday’s action gets under way with an impossible looking handicap over a mile and a half. Semeen is the likely favourite for the in-form Cumani stable but I’m slightly worried about the quicker ground for that one. The one I like here is Stomachion from the Sir Michael Stoute stable.

Ryan Moore produced another perfectly timed challenge on Tapestry yesterday but has not ridden his best races on Stomachion on his last two starts. He was well off the pace at Epsom and was never going to get to Miss Marjurie at the Derby meeting. He did well to run through into second place and it was surprising to see him dropped back in distance at Goodwood.

He was again held up at the back and never looked like getting into the race won by Sennockian Star. He could manage no better than eighth place but was less than six lengths away at the finish. He may also want a bit of give in the ground but I’m prepared to take a chance that he will perform better with a more positive ride on Friday.

The Lonsdale Cup is a bit of a quandary with question marks against several of the leading protagonists. Admirable though Cavalryman has been this season, he is too short in the betting and I’d rather support the lightly-raced Irish raider Pale Mimosa. She has a bit to find on her overall form but usually travels well in her races and could have a bit of improvement in her.

The City Of York Stakes looks wide open at 3.05 and I’m going to take a couple of each-way bets against the field here in Windfast and Ertijaal. Both look ideally suited by seven furlongs and the International Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks results suggested the three-year-olds are not such a bad crop. Ertijaal was not up to 2000 Guineas class but he is a decent performer while Windfast was a close fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes should go to Sole Power who has his ideal trip and ground. Shea Shea is probably better over six furlongs these days and likely dangers are Rangali and Cougar Mountain. The closing handicap can go the way of Sir Michael Stoute with Munaaser. I don’t usually like backing horses that have gone up 12lbs but he won so easily at Newmarket he is difficult to oppose. Maverick Wave had to make his own running last time and could give him most to do.

Stomachion 1.55 York at 8-1 Paddy Power

Pale Mimosa 2.30 York at 7-2 Coral

Ertijaal 3.05 York (each-way) at 10-1 Bet365

Windfast 3.05 York (each-way) at 14-1 Stan James

Sole Power 3.40 York at 7-2 Paddy Power

Munaaser 4.55 York at 11-4 Betfair

York Thursday Preview

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16-1 winner Dutch Connection gave Betcirca followers a great start to the Ebor meeting and Australia enhanced his reputation with a smooth win in the International Stakes.

The star of the show at York on Thursday is the unbeaten filly Taghrooda. Although I backed her at Epsom, I neglected her at Ascot last time in favour of an each-way bet on Mukhadram. She was very impressive in seeing off both he and Telescope and looks impossible to oppose in the Yorkshire Oaks.

Volume ran well in the Irish Oaks but a bigger threat may come from Aidan O’Brien’s Tapestry who was an unlucky second with a slipping saddle. Ryan Moore is aboard her and she could be the each-way bet but it will be a major surprise if Taghrooda is beaten.

When a horse wins for you at 25-1 it is very difficult not to invest in them next time. Sentimentality comes into it and I cannot ignore Red Avenger after his win at Glorious Goodwood. I backed him on a line through Abseil and their previous meeting at Epsom’s Derby meeting. Early on, things looked bleak for Red Avenger as he was shuffled back and it was a brilliant ride from Fortune to get him up to win.

He is only 3lbs higher at York but James Doyle has the ride. Another problem is that he is drawn 1 and does not possess a lot of early speed. Hopefully Doyle can keep him in touch just off the rail and deliver a challenge in the closing stages.

The early races look booked for the Richard Hannon stable with Kool Kompany and Tiggy Wiggy. Both have been on the go all season and don’t owe anyone a thing. Tiggy Wiggy was quite brilliant in the Newbury Super Sprint and I cannot oppose her, even against two Royal Ascot winners. There isn’t much value to be had with Kool Kompany on these weight terms and I’m going to have an each-way on Valley Of Fire.

William Haggas would not waste an entry unless he thought the colt was up to this class and he can improve on his course and distance win. The Galtres Stakes looks worth avoiding, although Haggas can go close again there with Arabian Comet. John Gosden could complete a memorable day by taking the closing handicap with Enraptured. She ran a lot better than her finishing position suggests behind Kosika last time and could be better value than Stoute’s Bragging.

1.55 Kool Kompany at 11-4 BetVictor

1.55 Valley Of Fire (each-way) at 8-1 Bet365

2.30 Tiggy Wiggy at 15-8 Paddy Power

3.05 Red Avenger (each-way) at 11-1 Coral

3.40 Tapestry (each-way) at 12-1 Coral

4.55 Enraptured (each way) at 16-1 Betfair

York Wednesday Preview

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The Ebor meeting at York kicks off on Wednesday with a top quality card including the reappearance of English and Irish Derby winner Australia.

His Epsom form may have been devalued since but there is no doubt he is the star middle-distance colt of his generation. The Irish Derby told us nothing as it was little more than a training exercise for Ballydoyle and Aidan O’Brien has expressed some concern over the colt’s fitness. He is also dropping back to a mile and a quarter and meeting older horses for the first time.

He should comfortably see off the other three-year-olds but it will be interesting to see how he matches up with Telescope and Mukhadram. The latter should come out on top in that particular clash with this trip much more to his liking than the mile and a half at Ascot last time. He stuck on gamely enough but is at his best at a truly run ten furlongs. He should provide a good test but Australia’s pace can prove decisive.

His closest pursuer at Epsom was Kingston Hill who goes for the early Great Voltigeur Stakes over the Derby distance. Roger Varian pulled him out of the Irish Derby owing to the quick ground and it would be ironic if he runs him here on a similar surface. He really does like a bit of give in the ground so looks a slightly risky proposition unless there is overnight rain.

The Acomb Stakes looks well above average with some promising colts assembled. Top of the list is Basateen who earned Derby quotes when winning by eight lengths at Doncaster last time. He already looks as though he wants a proper stamina test so I’m expecting Paul Hanagan to have him at the head of affairs from the start.

Growl and Dutch Connection both won nicely last time and I was particularly taken with the latter. It may have been a moderate race at Goodwood but he was always moving easily and looks worth an each-way bet here.

The card opens with the kind of race where a pin is as likely to find the winner as hours of form study! Goldream and Move In Time fought out a great finish in the Shergar Cup and are handicapped to dead-heat but I’m just swayed by the early money for last year’s winner Bogart.

It doesn’t get any easier for punters later on but Bantam could be the answer to the two-mile handicap. Ed Dunlop has booked Ryan Moore for the ride and the filly may have needed her run at Ascot after a lengthy absence. She is not proven over this trip but shapes as though she will get it.

Finally, I have to invest in Prize Exhibit after her nine-length demolition of a couple of promising colts at Nottingham. She looked as though she may not enter the stalls at one point but settled well in the race and won pulling a cart. A 6lbs penalty won’t stop her if she is in the same frame of mind.

Bogart 1.55 at 16-1 Stan James

Basateen 2.30 at 5-2 BetVictor

Dutch Connection (each-way) at 14-1 William Hill

Kingston Hill 3.05 at 6-4 Bet365

Australia 3.40 at 4-6 Skybet

Bantam 4.20 at 8-1 Paddy Power

Prize Exhibit 4.55 at 9-1 Bet365

Racing Preview Saturday 12th July

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I don’t know what is going on at the Race Planning Committee these days? We’ve had a couple of weekends recently where there has been very little racing to get excited about, then suddenly we get Newmarket, York and Ascot all on the same day? I did not even get time to give serious attention to the York and Ascot cards on Friday and it will be the same tomorrow.

The rain continued to hang over Newmarket’s July meeting on Friday, leaving the going soft and sweeping away my selections. Having said that, I think that Ryan Moore’s riding probably had more to do with it than the weather. He stole the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on Arabian Queen while Monsieur Guyon was holding up the odds-on favourite High Celebrity. Newmarket is a deceptively difficult course to peg back the leaders, only becoming clear when you realise the steep rise at the finish. Asking horses to make up ground on horses that are still quickening is a recipe for disaster.

I then felt like ripping up my ticket for Rizeena in the Falmouth Stakes after they had travelled a furlong. She wasn’t settled for Olivier Peslier and he gave up the ghost and sent her to the front before halfway. This, after I had written in detail about her tendency to idle in front. Needless to say, Ryan Moore was in the right place on Integral and picked her off in the closing stages.

The opening handicap at Newmarket on Saturday can go the way of You’re Fired who overcame trouble in running to win last time and is still nicely weighted. Unlike many of these, he handles a bit of cut and should give us a run for our money.

Abseil never settled in the Hunt Cup and should be suited by the faster pace in the Bunbury Cup. I am concerned about the draw, not least because jockeys never do what you expect them to! James Doyle should be looking to bring him down the middle on today’s evidence because horses drawn high were doomed if they tacked over to the far rail.

My old friends Aljamaaheer and Gregorian look out of place in the July Cup and conditions seem to favour Slade Power. The Spanish horse ran well in the Guineas but now looks short enough at around 5-1.

The feature race at York is the Magnet Cup and Her Majesty The Queen could lift this prize with Bold Sniper. The half furlong extra should suit him better than Ascot and Moore will have him handy enough. I thought that Farraaj was very impressive at Epsom but I’m worried by a 9lbs weights rise. He probably deserves it so each-way is the advice.

You’re Fired 2.05 Newmarket at 7-1 Paddy Power

Abseil 3.15 Newmarket at 8-1 Ladbrokes, Totesport

Slade Power 3.50 Newmarket at 5-2 Bet365

Farraaj 2.55 York at 12-1 Bet Victor (each-way)

Bold Sniper 2.55 York at 5-1 Betfair

York Saturday Preview

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Winners may be hard to find at York on Saturday with some typically competitive racing. It is hardly the sort of meeting you want to see when you are looking for some extra pounds for Royal Ascot!

The good news is that one winner will probably cover your day’s betting and Fury can give us a good run for our money in the 2.40. The grey has been gradually coming down the handicap and now appears to be on a more reasonable mark.

He last ran at the Epsom Derby meeting when noted making late progress behind Sir Michael Stoute’s Abseil. He is a previous winner of the Listed Hambleton Stakes at York and should have everything in his favour on Saturday. Frankie Dettori takes the ride and he looks a good bet at around 5-1.

The 3.15 is a tricky little contest in which a case can be made for Lockwood, Fencing or Guest Of Honour. Lockwood did not really hit form until late summer last year but didn’t run badly at Haydock first time out. He has yet to win over a mile but there seems no reason why he won’t get it. Kieren Fallon did not cover himself in glory with his Derby and Oaks rides but can drive this one home ahead of the frustrating Fencing.

The six-furlong three-year-old handicap is the feature race and I make no apologies for picking two in this race! Ironically they are drawn 1 and 2 so I hope they can bounce out quickly and hold a good position.

Betimes is the John Gosden runner and he must hold her in high regard to have run her in the 1000 Guineas first time out. She got impeded soon after the start and was always too buzzy thereafter, weakening out of contention. She dropped back to six furlongs at Haydock and was restrained before running on late to finish second to Aeolus.

The other one I like is Charles Molson who got no run at all in a similarly competitive sprint at Newmarket. He finished full of running in fifth place and you’d have to give him an each-way chance here. Henry Candy is a fine trainer of sprinters and Fergus Sweeney can take advantage of his low draw.

Fury 2.40 York at 5-1 Coral

Lockwood 3.15 York at 7-2 Paddy Power

Charles Molson 3.50 York at 9-1 Bet365

Betimes 3.50 York at 11-1 BetVictor