Hi all,
It was great to see racing back at York. Made even better when you manage to find three winners in the big field handicaps.
The Group 2 Dante Stakes (3:10) is today’s feature race and sees the return of Derby second favourite High Definition. A winner of both juvenile starts. He gets a pacemaker for his return to action. An impressive win here would see him vying for Derby favouritism with stablemate Bolshoi Ballet.
York Dante Festival – Day 2
1:40 – Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
Recent Chester eyecatcher Count D’Orsay heads the betting after his promising 2nd of 9 last week. Needs soft to be in the going description and if he gets his ground and this race doesn’t come to quick will be tough to beat.
Illusionist is shorter in the betting than expected. However, his best two RPR’s have come over C&D. The 4-year-old shaped better than his final finishing position of 8th at Newmarket suggests on his return to action. On a winnable mark.
Muscika wasn’t seen to best advantage at Ripon last time. Twice a course winner the 7-year-old had Illusionist back in third when winning over C&D last October. There shouldn’t be much between the pair again at the revised weights.
Michael Dods is 0-26 in the past 14-days but two of his runners ran well here yesterday. That gives me hope that we can see a good run from Jawwaal. He was a shading disappointing when a beaten favourite on his Beverley return. Better can be expected here and he’s high on the shortlist.
1pt win – Illusionist – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
1pt win – Jawwaal – 9/1 @ Bet365
2:10 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
Chamade’s two career wins have come when she has been able to dictate from the front. There’s a good chance that she might get a solo here and if she does could be hard to pass. Might need softer ground than she’s likely to get here but at around 10/1 she appeals.
1pt win – Chamade – 10/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
2:40 – Matchbook Betting Podcast Hambleton Handicap (Class 2 – 1m
Mathew Flinders looked a valuable mile handicap winner in waiting when 3rd of 16 in Newbury’s Spring Cup last time. His sole poor run last season came here on soft ground last October but that was over an extended 1m 2f. Probably wouldn’t want the ground too testing but shouldn’t be far away for a yard that had a winner here yesterday.
Hartswood won over C&D last summer and was runner-up to Brunch here over C&D at the Ebor Festival. Likely needed his seasonal return in the Thirsk Hunt Cup last time and will strip fitter today.
Brunch beat Hartswood by ½ length in that York handicap but must give his old rival 8lb here. He made a pleasing return to action when runner-up in the Lincoln Handicap. The 4-year-old will likely pop up in one of these races this season.
Shelir had the run of the race when only beaten a short head at Haydock last time. Nudged up 1lb for that effort but shouldn’t be far away again here.
La Trinidad looked a bit rusty on his seasonal return at Ripon. He was only beaten a length into third behind Brunch her last August and meet that one on 9lb better terms here. The stronger the gallop better his chance and he’s got each way claims.
1pt win – Mathew Flinders – 5/1 @ Bet365
1pt win – Hartswood – 7/1 – Gen
1pt win – La Trinidad – 14/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
3:10 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
High Definition looked high-class when winning a Group 2 at the Curragh back In September. This track should really play to his strengths and you would like to think that stablemate Roman Empire is in the race to play the role of pacemaker.
High Definition probably deserves to head the betting but faces a several interesting rivals including, last time out Newbury winner Hurricane Lane and the returning Gear Up. The latter won a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud on his final juvenile start. He looks the biggest rival to the favourite and can improve as a 3-year-old.
Uncle Bryn wasn’t seen to best effect at Epsom on his seasonal return. He’s highly regarded and better run can be expected from here. Although I would be disappointed if he was to prove better than High Definition or Gear Up.
4:50 – Autohorn Handicap (Class 3) – 2m ½ f
Ben Lilly comes into the race in excellent form having won at Wolverhampton & Doncaster before finishing aa ¾ length 3rd of 9 at Hamilton last time. The 3 furlong drop in distance didn’t play to his strengths last time and a return to further will suit. Up 5lb for that last effort but may have another race in him.
Frankenstella was an improving staying handicapper last season winning at Redcar in August and over C&D last September. She likely needed the run when only 4th of 5 at Newcastle last month and she can be competitive if building on her reappearance.
1pt win – Ben Lilly – 4/1 – Gen
Cheers
John