Hi all,
It was a tough first day at the Ebor Festival but at least Cairn Island saved the day by winning the ‘lucky’ last.
Onto today’s action. York’s feature race is the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Double classic winner Love comes over from Ireland to face five rivals. Despite the easing ground she still looks likely to be sent off the odds-on favourite.
Like yesterday, I’m concentrating on the handicaps on the seven-race card. I also have selections from Chester and Killarney.
York
2:45 – Clipper Logistics Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m
Nineteen are declared to go to post and it’s clearly the most competitive race of the day.
Montatham has looked an improved handicapper this season with two wins with a second placed effort in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in between. Up 4lb for his last win and there could be more to come from the 4-year-old.
Prompting is another improving handicapper. He’s won all three of this season’s starts and last time out showed a decent change of gear to win the Golden Mile at Goodwood. Now 6lb higher he needs to improve again to defy his new mark but that’s possible.
Top Rank is lightly raced for a 4-year-old. He’s won all four of his starts and put in career best effort when beating 11 rivals on his seasonal return at Thirsk 22-days ago. Up in class and 12lb higher but he probably hasn’t reached his class ceiling just yet and could be the proverbial Group horse in a handicap.
Walhaan missed all last season and has since switched from France to the Ian Williams yard. Two low key runs were followed by an eyecatching effort when 2nd of 12 at Ascot 25-days ago. That was over 7f but he was doing his best work at the finish and could well have gone to win if he had got a clearer passage a furlong out. The handicapper has nudged him up 2lb for that effort but he remains on a winnable mark. Should stay the mile around and a strongly run race will suit.
Verdict: I will be surprised if the improving Montatham or Top Rank don’t win this. At the prices I have a slight preference for the former. Walhaan has each way claims if building on his recent Ascot run.
1pt win – Montatham – 15/2 @ Bet365
0.5pts each way – Walhaan – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
4:20 – Sky Bet EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
Mayaas, trained by Mark Johnston, was sent off favourite for racecourse debut at Haydock but was to green to himself justice. He put that experience to good use when 3rd of 9 at Ascot last month, Today’s extra furlong should suit and he’s a strong contender.
Rhoscolyn put his experience to good use when making all to win at Haydock (good to firm) 17-days ago. Not certain to get an uncontested lead here but Ryan Moore has been booked and big run can be expected on his nursery debut.
Bonnyrigg won a 6f maiden on his second career start at Newmarket (good to firm) 55-days ago. Needed every yard of the 6f to win last time and on pedigree will be suited by 7f. Looks on a workable mark off 77 for his nursery debut and is open to further progress if he handles today’s likely going.
Verdict: Plenty of juveniles capable of more improvement. Mayaas has a favourites chance but preference is for Bonnyrigg who should relish today’s extra furlong.
1pt win – Bonnyrigg – 5/1 @ Paddy Power
4:50 – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
Another tricky handicap to concludes today’s card.
Excellent Times caused a shock when winning this race at 66/1 last season. She’s just 1lb higher this time around and won off 2lb higher at Thirsk on her next start. The 5-year-old’s three runs this season have been poor but she didn’t come into last year’s race in sparking form either. Each way claims if bouncing back to form.
Dancing Vega looked a smart prospectwhen winning on her juvenile debut Ran well below form in the Fred Darling on 3-year-old reappearance when sent off 3/1 favourite. Switched to the USA for a couple of underwhelming efforts. Returned to former trainer Ralph Beckett she ran a cracker to finish 2nd of 12 over C&D last month. She was only beaten a short head that day and although she’s been raised 4lb she remains on a winnable mark if reproducing that effort.
Lawahed, trained by William Haggas, is the bookies early bird favourite. The 3-year-old won a Haydock maiden (good to soft) last month. Bred to be much better than an 85 rated filly, her dam won a Group 1 at Meydan, and she’s got plenty of scope for improvement on her handicap debut.
Odyssey Girl comes into the race in good form having finished runner-up on her last two starts. The first-time visor replaces the cheekpieces and could eke out the improvement needed to defy here mark.
Verdict: Lawahedshould be better than her initial handicap mark bur she looks plenty short enough here. Dancing Vega got chinned on the line over C&D last time and remains on a winnable mark. Excellent Times has each way claims if bouncing back to her best after three low key runs so far this season.
1pt win – Dancing Vega – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Besides York there’s also some good racing at Chester and Killarney and I have selections from both meetings.
Killarney
5:15 – Born By The Sea is a consistent performer on the flat and over hurdles. His sole career win came in a C&D maiden hurdle 12 months ago. Ran three good races at the recent Galway Festival, two on the level and one over hurdles. Was beaten just a neck in the handicap hurdle and has been raised 3lb. He deserves to win a race like this and shouldn’t be far away at the finish. Sole win came on good ground but he showed he could be effective on soft ground at Galway.
1pt win – Born By The Sea – 10/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Chester
6:30 – I’m giving another chance to Recon Mission here. The 4-year-old lost any chance when stumbling at the start at Goodwood last time. He’s dropped down to his last winning mark, is suited by some juice in the ground and sharp 6f looks his optimum trip. Stall six could be worse for a prominent runner but if he can get to the front won’t be easy to pass.
1pt win – Recon Mission – 17/2 @ Paddy Power
Cheers
John