Hi all,
The final day of York’s Dante Festival. You can watch the first five races from the Knavesmire live on ITV4 this afternoon. Plus, there’s a bonus race from Newbury.
York Dante Festival – Day 3
No classic clues on show at York today. However, it gives the York crowd another chance to see Stradivarius in action in the Yorkshire Cup (3:35) in what will be his final season before retirement. He faces four rivals in his bid to win the race for a third time.
The opening race on the card is Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (1.50) which has attracted a field of 16 juvenile fillies.
1:50 – Knights Solicitors British EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f
Miami Girl quickened clear of her rivals to win at Newmarket on her racecourse debut. Not sure how strong a race it was but in recent years the winner has proved up to winning in pattern company. She’s handles quick ground and is capable of more improvement and looks a big player. Her owner Amo Racing also saddles Thirsk winner Fix You who was clearly sharp enough to win first time but is also open to further progress. Both fillies are contenders but the owners retained jockey Rossa Ryan opts for Miami Girl.
Yahsat runner-up on Newmarket on her racecourse debut went one better at Pontefract 16-days ago. The daughter of Dandy Man has a bit size about her and should keep on improving physically.
Lost Angel and Pillow Talk were first and second at Nottingham last time. There was just ½ length between them at the line but the winner did have race experience on her side. Pillow Talk she’s sure will improve and should be winning soon and its interesting that trainer Karl Burke, also saddles Yahsat, throws her into pattern company for second start.
2:25 – Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes (The Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ Stakes) (Listed Race) – 1m
Favourite Grande Dame overcame experience to win at Ascot on her racecourse debut last month. Open to plenty of improvement and has a Group 1 Coronation Stakes entry which shows she highly regarded by the Gosden yard. However, she does face some interesting rivals.
Fonteyn ran a useful filly in Crenelle to a neck at Newmarket on her seasonal return. She clearly has ability and can win races.
Girl On Film won on her juvenile debut on Newmarket’s July Course last September and improved again when finishing a 5 ¼ length 5th of 9 to Hello You in the Group 3 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. She was just over 4 lengths behind 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet that day so the form is good and she remains capable of better in her second season.
Rolling Dice had some good form as a juvenile posting a career best on RPR’s when a 5 ½ length 3rd of 6 to Inspiral in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Seasonal reappearance and if she’s trained on from two to three can out run her odds.
3:00 – Paddy Power “I Love Steak” Stakes (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
Parachute has become frustrating but he’s got ability and the first-time blinkers could have the desired effect as he looked like he would benefit from headgear.
Rogue Bear is a more solid, consistent handicapper. Third of 22 in the Lincoln Handicap on his seasonal reappearance, doing best of those drawn high. He did even better on his next start when a ½ length 3rd of 17 in the Newbury Spring Cup. He’s been nudged up 2lb but the step up to 1m 2f looks worth a try and he looks a worthy favourite
Belloccio returned to winning ways at Kempton last month. Unbeaten on his two juvenile starts he struggled in pattern company as a 3-year-old but appreciated the drop back into handicap company at Kempton. He’s been raised 5lb for his latest success and the top-weight must prove he’s as good on quick turf.
Cockalorum’s best two RPR’s have come over C&D, finishing a head 2nd off 22 in the John Smith’s Cup and a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 13 to Migration at the Ebor Festival. He’s handicapped to be competitive but would likely prefer less pace pressure out in front.
3:35 – Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 6f
Stradivarius must give away weight to his rivals here which means he isn’t the highest rated on RPR’s. He’s 5-7 on his seasonal reappearance and a perfect 5-5 here at York. Two of his main market rivals Search For A Song and Tashkhan have had a run this season. The former finished runner-up to Kyprios at Navan 20-days ago and won here over 1m 4f in 2019. The ground will suit the mare but Tashkhan may prefer softer ground dropped back to 1m 6f.
Max Vega a useful juvenile on rain softened ground failed to win as a 3-year-old or 4-year-old although he did run very well to finish a 5-length 5th of 20 in the Ebor Handicap over C&D. He might have got closer that day if he had got a clearer run 2f out. He also ended last season finishing runner-up in a Group 3 at Newbury. He put in a career best to win back at that venue in a Group 3 back last month and can go close, if in the same form today.
4:10 – Paddy Power “Fill Thi Boots” Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 4f
The first of there tricky handicaps that conclude the Dante meeting. The Godolphin colt Wild Crusade bids for the hat trick after two wins at Kempton. He’s only up 5lb for the latest of those wins which seems lenient. First run on grass for the 3-year-old and if he’s as good grass will take the beating here
Speycaster finished 4 lengths behind Al Qareem at Nottingham on his seasonal return. However, he gets 8lb from that one here and was conceding race fitness that day. He’s open to further improvement for the step up to 1m 4f. He looks the value play here against the likely favourite Wild Crusade.
4:45 – Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap (Class 4) – 7f
Il Bandito back down to 7f and confirmed the promise of his seasonal reappearance to get off the mark for his new yard at Redcar last month. He only won by a nose that day but that means he’s only been raised 1lb for that win and he should be competitive again if effective on quicker ground. Mossbawn was ½ length behind third but he was conceding race fitness to the two who finished in front of him. This is his trip and he can be placed to win a race or two this season.
Admirality ended a near 3-year losing run when beating three rivals at Thirsk last time. He’s record suggests he wouldn’t be one to follow up but he’s gone close over C&D in the past and can’t be totally dismissed.
Challet won over C&D last September, off 4lb lower and his form figures at York are 113. Looked as good as ever when a ¾-length 2nd of 9 at Ripon last month and he’s not out of this even off 3lb higher mark today. Danzan close-up 3rd of 22 in Ayr’s Bronze Cup before finishing a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 12 to Challet over C&D last September. He’s got a 9lb pull in the weights and is entitled to go close if reproducing that performance today. Plenty to like about his 2 ¾ length 4th of 10 to Gweedore at Musselburgh on his seasonal return last month. He’s on long losing run though and does remain 0-9 over the distance which is a slight concern.
5:20 – Longines Irish Champions Weekend Handicap (Class 3) – 5f
Catch Cunningham made an encouraging return to action when a short-head 2nd of 9 at Thirsk last month. The gelding operation that he had at the end of last season looks to done the trick. With the 4-year-old going through the race like he’s on a good mark.
Korker, a ½ length 2nd of 12 here last October, with Catch Cunningham back in 4th, made a solid enough return to action when a 5 ½ length 5th of 9 to Live In The Dream at Sandown last time. He looked a bit rusty that day and the Karl Burke yard is among the winners this week.
Josie’s Kid put in a career best effort when a ½ length 3rd of 6 at Goodwood 13-days ago. The first time cheekpieces he wore last time are retained here. He beat Korker here last October and is now 9lb worse off with that one.
Crush And Run showed he’s as effective on the grass as the synthetics when head 2nd of 7 at Nottingham last time. He gets the first-time blinkers and must be respected if the headgear works.
Meredif quickened clear of 15 rivals to win at Nottingham on her final juvenile start. Handicap debut and seasonal return. She’s open to further improvement and is respected off what looks a workable mark. If this 5f doesn’t prove to sharp she won’t be far away.
Betting Advice:
1:50 – 1pt win – Fix You – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportbook
2:25 – 1pt win – Girl On Film – 13/2 @ Bet365
4:10 – 1pt win – Speycaster – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:45 – 1pt win – Challet – 15/2 @ Bet365
5:20 – 1pt win – Josies Kid – 10/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Meredif – 4/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John