Hi all,
It’s the final day of York’s Dante meeting with the highlight of a seven race card being the Group 2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup (3.35).
I was at York yesterday, so I didn’t have a chance to get out Friday’ preview last evening.
I have looked at all seven races on the York card. Plus, there’s a bonus preview of the Newbury race which is live on ITV4 this afternoon.
York Dante Festival – Final Day
Despite my love for the Dante Meeting, I have to say that the final day is an underwhelming one.
1:50 – EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f
Persian Dreamer looked a Royal Ascot filly when winning on racecourse debut at Newmarket last month. A likely strong favourite and she’s the one to beat.
Karl Burke saddled the winner last year and he has couple of contenders in Got To Love A Grey & Dorothy Lawrence. The first named was very professional when winning on her racecourse debut at Nottingham (soft) last month. On the other hand, Dorothy Lawrence shaped like she would benefit from the run when a 3 ¼ length 2nd of 9 to Persian Dreamer on debut. Ryan Moore has been booked and she can finish closer to the favourite.
Verdict: I think Persian Dreamer will follow up her Newmarket win, but I expect. Dorothy Lawrence to get much closer and she’s a bit of value against the favourite with Ryan Moore booked.
2:25 – Oaks Farm Stables Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m
Six of the ten runners are open to further improvement. Silver Lady was an impressive winner on racecourse debut of a Newmarket maiden (1m) last month. After the race her trainer Charlie Appleby suggested that the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot would be her. If she’s to be an Coronation filly she would have to win her. The bookies early bird favourite and she will have to be smart to win.
Stormy Sea, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, ran out a comfortable winner of a Haydock novice 20 days ago. A half-sister to Bay Bridge she should stay further than a mile but as she showed at Haydock, she’s not devoid of pace. Looks a worthy rival to the favourite.
Queen For You looked a smart prospect when winning on racecourse debut at Ascot 16 days ago. Open to further improvement and very much in the mix.
Orchid Bloom looked a useful filly when making a winning racecourse debut at Newmarket last October. However, its was soft ground that day and quick ground would be an unknown.
Juliet Sierra has some high class juvenile form to her name. A winner of a Group 3 at Salisbury in September before finishing a good 4 ½ lengths 5th of 10 to Lezoo in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Her stamina for a mile must be proven and she must give 5lb to some improving fillies.
Verdict: Juliet Sierra has the form in the book has to give weight to three potentially progressive fillies in Silver Lady, Stormy Sea and Queen For You.
3:00 – Knights Solicitors Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
We haven’t seen previous C&D winner Aramaic for 608 days but if he’s ready to roll after his long absence he’s on a winnable mark.
Spirit Dancer is another previous C&D winner with three of his best four RPR’s coming over C&D. Starts the new season 4lb above his last winning mark but should be in the shake up if fit enough.
Eeetee produced a career best when winning over the distance at Haydock 20 days ago. He’s up 4lb for his latest success and in a much deeper race but he’s a previous C&D winner and remains on a competitive mark.
Nobel is the least exposed of the 13 runners. The 4-year-old has only had three career starts. He’s had wind surgery since last of 8 in a Listed race at Newmarket last October and gets the first time tongue tie for his handicap debut. A clearly a strong contender but at 9/2 I can look elsewhere.
Kevin Ryan has booked William Buick for Marhaba the Champ. The 4-year-old looked an improver when winning at Hamilton on his handicap debut last September. But he failed to give his running at Nottingham on soft ground 16-days later. He’s had wind surgery since and is the type to do better as 4-year-old.
Verdict: Aramaic is on a good mark on his return from a long layoff. Spirit Dancer has plenty of C&D form that makes him of plenty of interest on seasonal debut. Recent Haydock scorer Eeetee remains on a competitive mark and Marhaba the Champ can do better as a 4-year-old.
3:35 – Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 6f
Sisknay was caught close home by Broome in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (2m) at Meydan on World Cup Night. He travelled better than anything that day but found is stamina running out close to home. This is more his trip and I think he can reverse placings with Broome especially as he gets 3lb from the Aidan O’Brien horse.
I have to say that I was impressed with Broome at Meydan. He looked well suited by the step up to 2m that day and I like him for the Ascot Gold Cup. I wouldn’t be surprised if he won again but giving 3lb to Siskany will be no easy task back down in trip.
Quickthorn completed a front running hat trick when winning the Lonsdale Cup (2m) here at the Ebor Festival. Not suited by softer ground on his final two starts of last season and wasn’t able to dominate when only 7th in the Dubai Gold Cup. Suited by a sound surface he should get an uncontested lead and his rivals can’t afford to get allow him to get loose out in front like they did last August.
Elder Eldarov won last season’s St Leger before disappointing 7th of 8 in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day. It was a weak St Leger he won but he wasn’t right last time and still has the potential to be Cup horse this year.
Verdict: Sisknay can reverse Meydan placings with Broome on 3lb better terms today.
4:10 – Darley Novice Stakes (Class 2) – 1m
Yes, a potentially informative race but it’s not a race that should be on ITV. Especially as there are two twenty runner handicaps that complete the day’s racing.
Mostabshir won a Kempton maiden on his racecourse debut last November. However, he found the Craven Stakes to hot a race on seasonal return. He will no doubt bounce back, but he does face several potentially progressive rivals. They include his stablemate Kathab who will be ridden by Jim Crowley would have had the choice of mounts. Kathab finished a 3 length 2nd of 8 to Passenger in the Wood Ditton Newmarket on his racecourse debut and is capable of better.
New Business was a 4 ½ length third to Passenger in the Wood Ditton. He was sent off the 5/4 favourite that day so clearly had been showing up well on the gallops. He seems likely to get his own way out in front and that makes him of interest.
Ziryab shaped with plenty of promise when a 2 length 4th of 8 at Yarmouth (soft) on his racecourse debut last month. He ran green when asked for his effort but finished his race off strongly. The son of Kingman should like the better ground, is open further improvement and will win races this season.
Verdict: Ziryab and Kathab are open to the most improvement, but the former is the pick.
4:45 – Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap (Class 4) – 7f
It Just Takes Two, a four time winner, including over C&D during a busy 2022, was back to winning ways when running out an easy winner at Thirsk 8 days ago. Has a 5lb penalty to carry for his Thirsk win but Jonny Peate takes off 5lb which negates the weight rise. The top weight must be high on the shortlist.
Titan Rock was back to winning ways at Wolverhampton (7f) in March. Only 2lb higher for a return to turf but won off 5lb higher at Ayr in September 2021. Goes well on a sound surface and 7f is his trip. Likely to go well once more with William Buick an eyecatching jockey booking.
Tiempo Star returned from a 9 month absence to win at Chelmsford 22-days ago. Yet to win on turf (0-6) but he’s only had eight career starts so is less exposed than most of his rivals and respected.
Golden Apollo will strip fitter for his 5 lengths 5th of 13 at Thirsk (6f) 12 days ago. Not the easiest to predict but he’s likely to be competitive if on a going day and he proved his stamina for 7f when winning at Haydock last summer.
Gioia Cieca, looked progressive as 3-year -old on quick ground, mostly failed to produce his best last season. However, there was more to like about his 2 ¾ length 3rd of 11 to Gweedore at Musselburgh on his seasonal return. Not well placed after a slow start when 5th of 12 back at that venue 19-days. He’s slipped down to handy mark and the return to a quickish ground would be a positive.
David O’Meara pair of Ascot Adventure and Riot have claims. The former is now 3lb below his last winning mark and was a respectable 5th of 12 at Doncaster on his seasonal/stable debut last month. Riot returned from a 6 month layoff to win at Chelmsford 15- days ago. Doesn’t have the most consistent of profiles so not certain to back up his last time performance, but Osin Murphy has been booked.
Verdict: Golden Apollo could pop up on a going day. The return to a sounder surface will suit Gioia Cieca who’s down to a good mark. Wolverhampton scorer Titan Rock is handicapped to go close. Whilst top weight It Just Takes Two must be high on the shortlist.
5:15 – Irish Champions Festival Handicap – (Class 3) – 5f
The concluding race of this year’s Dante Festival. Most of the pace seems to be low to middle but the horses I fancy are drawn middle to high.
Rhythm N Hooves bids for a hat trick on turf/handicap debut. He’s open to further progress if replicating his all-weather from on grass.
Spartan Arrow got off the mark at the third attempt when winning a Brighton maiden (5 ½ f) 17 days ago. He’s got potential to do better on handicap debut.
Winter Crown built on the promise of his Musselburgh handicap debut with an excellent ½-length 2nd of 11 to Radio Goo Goo at Chester (6f) last week. He was drawn out widest last time, so it was a cracking effort in the circumstances. Both this season starts have come on rain softened ground but there’s no reason on pedigree why he can’t be equally as effective on better ground.
Miss Brazen proved her ground versatility when comfortably winning a Beverley handicap (5f) on soft ground 18-days ago. The handicapper has hiked her up 10lb for her 4 length success, but she likely remains on a workable mark and can win more races.
Northcliff is a nine race maiden but he ran well on all three starts at York last season including a personal best when a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 19 in a valuable sales race over 6f at the Ebor Festival. Came up against a pair of progressive 3-year-olds when 1 ¾ length 3rd of 6 at Hamilton 12 days ago. Back in handicap company here and interesting on a sounder surface.
Clearpoint looked a useful juvenile prospect when winning first two starts last season. However, he ran poorly on his next two starts in group/Listed company. There was more encouragement to be taken from last month’s 3 ½ lengths 5th of 13 at Thirsk on seasonal/handicap debut. Probably not one to give up on just yet, especially with the cheekpieces added for the first time. d
Verdict: Winter Crown has a race like this in him but stall 22 is a concern. Clearpoint is arguably the best drawn on my shortlist in 11. Northcliff might be a maiden but has a handicap in him and recent Beverley scorer Miss Brazen looks capable of adding to her three career wins.
There’s a competitive handicap at Newbury on ITV4 this afternoon.
Newbury
2:05 – Mustazeed made a winning seasonal reappearance/ stable debut for Harry Eustace over C&D (soft) 27 days ago with Time Interval ¾ length back in second and Tuxedo Junction a further 2 lengths back in third. The ground will be different today, but Mustazeed has won on good to firm in the past and he seems likely to get to the run of the race
Time Interval has since gone onto win at Goodwood (heavy) but won’t get his own way out in front like he did last time.
Tuxedo Junction shaped with promise behind Mustazeed on his seasonal return. That was his first start since a gelding operation, and it looks like the procedure has had the desired effect. A winner at Ffos Las on good ground last summer the drying ground will suit and he’s 7lb better off at the weights with Mustazeed.
Top weight Sun King is likely better than he’s been able to show on two starts since joining George Boughey and quicker should see him a better light. Wisper looked better than ever when winning at Brighton 17 days ago but five of her six career wins have come at that downhill track.
Betting Advice:
York
1:50 – Dorothy Lawrence – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
3:00 – Aramaic – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral & Betfair Sportsbook and Marhaba the Champ – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:45 – Titan Rock – 1pt win – Coral & Ladbrokes
5:15 – Northcliff – 1pt win – 20/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Clearpoint – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Newbury
2:05 – Tuxedo Junction – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral & Paddy Power.
Cheers
John
Hi
Love the tips and write ups, I also get your free email each day, and can i ask why sometimes your tip in there is not in your paid for email, strange as some good winners have come with the free one.
all the best
Gary Lewis
Hi Gary,
Thanks for the kind words.
The Victor Value service tends to concentrate on the big races: Saturday’s and festival’s etc. The two big priced winners that I put up in the Daily Punt this week were both sent to Consistent Profits subscribers as well so everyone’s a winner. 🙂
Cheers
John