Hi all,
York Dante Festival – Day 2
1:50 – A 5f Class 2 handicap with a maximum field of 22 set to go to post.
Cowboy Soldier put in a career best when overcoming a wide draw to win at Kempton 26-days ago. The 4-year-old has only had the 8 career starts so could be capable of more improvement.
Copper Knight got involved in a pace dual with a stable mate at Chester last week but still managed to hold on for second. Has returned in great form this season. Has twice won over C&D and on good ground in the past but remains 0 wins from 7 runs 1 place with firm in the going description. The five-year-old.
Justantherbottle won twice last season but ran even better when just touched off in the Goodwood Stewards Cup. He proved there that he stays 6f on quick ground but 5f still seems his optimum trip for me. Ended last season when well down the field on heavy ground in the Ayr Gold Cup. That run can be forgiven he needs a sound surface to be at his best. Granted this is his first start of the season but he did win first time up in 2017 and the trainer has been among the winners. He’s races off the same mark as in the Stewards Cup and looks the sort to win a big sprint handicap this season when he gets a sound surface.
Verdict: I put up Justantherbottle in my Monday Daily punt column at 28/1, so must be a selection. The money has now come in for him too. Of the other pair I just prefer Cowboy Soldier on the quick ground.
Justanotherbottle – 12/1 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – each way – (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Cowboy Soldier – 8/1 @ William Hill & Bet365
3:00 – This year’s Dante Stakes looks a vintage renewal on paper. It’s a big day for top juvenile Too Darn Hot who could go off odds against today. If all eight stand their ground maybe an each-way nibble on the Sir Michael Stoute trained Almania could pay dividends. The son of Australia won at Sandown on his final start as a juvenile and was then put away for the season. Looked one for a 3-year-old career that day. Comes into the race one of the least experienced horses but the trainer has won this race 6 times in his long career. A sporting selection rather than anything else.
Almania – 22/1 – Coral & Ladbrokes – each way
3:35 – A tricky 1 m handicap with plenty of contenders.
Beringer, trained by Alan King, comes into the race in good form after his third placed effort in the Lincoln and win at Newmarket 28-days ago.
Hortzadar has won both his starts this season since joining the David O’Meara stable. Both wins have come on good to firm so there shouldn’t be any issues with underfoot conditions. However, he’s up 10lb now in a a much better race and has stall 18 to contend with.
Trainer Keith Dalgleish had a winner here on Wednesday and he’s got another chance here with What’s The Story. The 5-year-old put in career best when 4th in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last year, off 2lb higher. Returned to action, doing his best work at the finish over 7f at Newcastle 13-days ago. The return to a mile will suit and he will be fitter for his reappearance.
Love Dreams was runner-up in this race last year off 5lb higher and comes into the race after a recent second placed effort at Goodwood.
The most intriguing runner is handicap debutant Mutafani. The 4-year-old comes into the race looking for the hat trick after last seasons wins at Chelmsford & Thirsk. A 338-day absence to overcome here but the colt could be better than a handicapper if he’s recovered for what keep him off the track for almost a year.
Verdict: There could be plenty of pace on here with the likes of Plutonian, Mutafani, Love Dreams, Commander Han & Just Hiss all prominent racers. A strong gallop will suit Beringer although hold up horses are not normally favoured here. What’s The Story has dropped back to a winnable mark and Love Dreams has also dropped to a good mark and was second in last years race.
Beringer – 11/2 @ Bet365
Mutafani – 6/1 @ Ladbrokes & Coral
5:05 – A field of 16 are set to go for this 2m Class 3 handicap.
Waiting For Richie won this race on his seasonal reappearance and returns for the first time since that success off 2lb lower.
Mancini made a satisfactory return to action when 4th at Salisbury 18-days ago over 1m 6f. Twice a winner of a 2m last season the 5-year-old looks on a competitive mark.
Trainer Charlie Fellowes believes Carnwennan is on a winnable mark and the 4-year-old should be all the better for his second placed effort at Doncaster 20-days ago.
October Storm, who over C&D in the 2017 was one place behind the Fellowes horse at Doncaster was having his first start since finishing 5th in this race 12-months ago.
Alan King has booked Ryan Moore for Running Cloud. The 4-year-old step up half a mile in trip after his 3rd of 8 at Windsor 17-days ago. Just 1 win from 20 starts and is 0 from 12 on turf. Needs the step up to 2m bring out more improvement.
Pipes Of Peace is another yet to win on turf. The 5-year-old has been on good form on the all-weather over the winter finishing runner up in the valuable Roseberry Handicap at Kempton two starts back. Showed he can go well on turf when finishing third behind Austrian School over 1m 6f. Did best of the hold up horses that day and shaped like he can stay 2m.
Verdict: Waiting For Ritchie hasn’t raced since winning this race last year but is only 2lb higher this time around. Carnwennan looks on a competitive mark and should be all the better for his recent return. Likewise, Mancini will like the return to 2m and shaped nicely last time. Pipes Of Peace is in great form and a reproduction of his Musselburgh third gives him a great chance is a slightly is easier race.
Pipes Of Peace – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
Mancini – 14/1 @ William Hill – each way (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Recent Eyecatchers Running
York
2:25 – Rawdaa – Potential improver, return to distance will help and worth a go in the grade. Needs Lah Ti Dar under perform.
3:35 – Just Hiss – Surely will need more give in the ground to win Not for me today!
Newmarket
8:35 – The Corporal – Handicap project in progress for new trainer, still has each way claims at around 12/1.
Always check with an odds comparison service like Oddschecker to get the best prices available.
All selections win only unless indicated as each way.
Cheers
John