Race 1
The girls take centre stage in the opening race on Day 2 at York in the Lowther, a Group 2 contest for juvenile fillies run over 6f. Aidan O’Brien sends Fairyland across the pond and plenty fancy her to get back to winning ways after a fine effort behind Main Edition at Royal Ascot. She is undoubtedly a talented filly, but nagging doubts remain about the wellbeing of the Ballydoyle string and I wouldn’t be steaming in at just 2/1.
At a decent price, I think Queen Jo Jo is an interesting contender for Kevin Ryan and Danny Tudhope. This daughter of Gregorian won in impressive fashion last time at Beverley (5f gd/fm), showing progression from her debut effort when beaten at the same track. The manner of her win suggested that 6f would be no issue, and herself and the runner up pulled well clear of the rest.
From 7 rides on 2yos for Kevin Ryan, Tudhope has had 2 winners and he has yet to finish out of the first 4 on a Ryan juvenile. Ryan has his string in excellent form at the minute too with 4 winners and 13 placed horses in the past fortnight. At odds of 16/1 I think there are enough positives to justify a small e/w bet on Queen Jo Jo.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: QUEEN JO JO E/W @ 16/1
Race 2
There is nearly £150k up for grabs for the winner of the Premier Yearling Stakes, an ultra competitive contest for 2yos over 6f. Richard Hannon has won the last two renewals so his entries are an obvious starting point, but Tim Easterby won this race back in 2009 with Midnight Martini and at massive odds I think that Dream Of Honour could give each way players a run for their money.
This son of Dream Ahead ran a cracker here on debut despite being green as grass, beaten just under a length in 3rd. He was still immature when reappearing at Thirsk next time over 5f but he stayed on well for 2nd again beaten just under a length. He was the bridesmaid again at Ayr on his first try at 6f last time, keeping on well but failing to reel in the winner.
Dream Of Honour has been handed a mark of 80 for those three efforts, and he needs to find a fair bit on the figures with some of the more fancied horses. However, I suspect this race may have been the plan since that taking debut at York and he should be suited by a strongly run 6f back on the Knavesmire. He has a nice draw in stall 8 so David Allan will have options, and at odds of 40/1 he is the each way pick.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: DREAM OF HONOUR E/W @ 40/1
 |
| Silver Line deserves another chance back down to a mile. |
The third race of the day at York is an extremely tricky looking 8f handicap and a case can be made for a whole host of horses. As always, small stakes at big prices make sense in races of this nature and at odds of 22/1 I think Saeed Bin Suroor’s 4yo son of Dark Angel, Silver Line, could go well off a mark of 98 with Pat Cosgrave in the plate. This fella was below par on his last start when upped to 10f at Goodwood, but he ran a cracker on his last outing over a mile.
That run came at Sandown (8f gd/fm) and Silver Line was a bit unlucky not to finish closer to the winner, Via Serendipity. Lewis Edmunds didn’t get the clearest of runs, but when the gap eventually came Silver Line finished with a wet sail for 3rd, beaten just over a length. Via Serendipity has since won off a 5lb higher mark so the form looks decent, and with senior jockey Pat Cosgrave taking over in the saddle, I think a big run could be forthcoming at odds of 22/1.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: SILVER LINE E/W @ 22/1 NAP
 |
| Coronet looks a rock solid e/w bet in the Yorkshire Oaks. |
The feature race of the day at York is the Group 1 12f Yorkshire Oaks and Sea Of Class is a short price to complete the four timer. However, she won’t have it all her own way with the likes of Laurens and Coronet in the field. I am a big fan of Coronet, and though she has to give weight away to her two younger rivals, I think she has the ability to put it up to both of them.
She just failed to beat Waldgeist over this trip on good to soft in the Group 1 Grand Prix Saint-Cloud, missing out in a head bobbing finish by a nose. She was no match for the Michael Stoute pair last time at Royal Ascot, but she will appreciate running against her own sex this time. She won the Group 2 Middleton Stakes here back in May over 10f (gd/fm) so she has course form in the book and 12f is her optimum trip. Frankie rides, Gosden’s horses are flying and at 6/1 I can’t see Coronet finishing out of the first three.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: CORONET E/W @ 6/1 NB
No comments:
Post a Comment