York Day 2 Preview

A shocking day for the blog yesterday with not one of the selections managing to hit the frame. Golden Horn's defeat will be the major talking point of the day, but in reality the rain softened ground wasn't ideal for the Derby hero, and he should not be too harshly judged. Tomorrow sees yet more top class pattern and handicap action, and below are my selections for what should be an exciting days racing with the forecast rain likely to ensure a few surprise results.

1.55 York  Premier Yearling Stakes (6F)

Only three favourites have won this since 2005, and none has obliged since Wootton Bassett back in 2010. William Haggas has won the last two, and he supplies the 7/4 shot Tasleet, who already has a Listed win and a Group 2 place to his name, He is the clear form pick and should prove hard to beat.

At a bigger price the sole filly in the field makes some appeal. Encantar is trained by Ann Duffield and gets a handy 3lb from her rivals. She has had four starts, almost causing a 50/1 shock on her 2nd one when dropped to this trip. She has won her last two, and in a handicap at Carlisle last time out she was value for more than the winning margin suggests having been forced to switch widest to challenge. When she found her stride after a smack of the whip she ate up the ground, and  the furious pace that will be on here should enable her to travel better for longer. At her current odds of 33/1 she could well run into a place.

Stevos' Selections: Tasleet (7/4)   Encantar (33/1) e/w.

2.30 York Lowther Stakes (Group 2) 6F

Detailed preview below.

3.05 York Clipper Handicap (8F)

Just one favourite winning since 2005 illustrates how tricky a puzzle this race is to solve, and stakes should be kept to a minimum. One that interests me near the foot of the handicap is Melvin The Grate, a horse that has seemingly been in the doldrums since a couple of impressive victories at the end of last season, including a decent class 3 handicap at Haydock on soft ground.

He is very well bred, being a full brother to the likes of Misu Bond and Air Force Marshall and whilst most of his wins have come on the all weather, on turf he seems to relish a bit of cut in the ground. The rain that is scheduled to fall will suit this horse, and off a feather weight he could well make the frame at his huge odds of 33/1.

Stevos' Selection: Melvin The Grate (33/1) e/w

3.40 York Yorkshire Oaks (12F)

A very open race this year, and Aidan O'Brien has three wins in the last decade. He is doubly represented today, and unusually neither horse is seemingly fancied according to the prices. Outstanding looks the more interesting of the two given his affinity for slow ground, and at 20/1 he makes each way appeal.
However, the selection for the win is another Irish raider, Pleascach,which translates as the Gaelic for explosive. The Irish 1000 Guineas winner lived up to her name that day, but she was beaten by Curvy next time out in the Ribblesdale (12F) at very short odds. She was dropped back to 10F next time out, and came home in 5th behind Diamondsandrubies and Legatisssimo at the Curragh, another relatively disappointing run given the regard she is held in by connections.
However, I don't think she gave her true running on either occasion when she was beaten, and she has been freshened up since the Curragh effort. The step back up to 12F should suit, and she is a great price at 7/1.

Selections: Pleascach (7/1), Outstanding (20/1) e/w.

4.20 York Listed Galtres Stakes (12F)

A very tricky race for the girls, and the one I like at a price is Irish raider Hot Sauce, who comes here on the back of a couple of decent runs at Group level. He wasn't beaten all that far, particularly on the second occasion behind Zannda down in Cork, and indeed she went very close on her last run in Listed company at Newbury (10F good to firm) when less than a length behind Speedy Boarding.

She has run well with cut in the ground and is a well bred daughter of Peintre Celebre and her dam is a Kings Best half sister to Group 1 winner Prohibit, as well as another couple of black type performers. She is priced up at 20/1, and back at Listed level over this trip she could well outrun those long odds. It is also interesting to note that connections saw her as a potential Group 1 filly after she won at Gowran back in April.

Stevos' Selection: Hot Sauce (20/1) e/w.

4.55 York Fillies Handicap (7F)

Secret Hint is the tentative selection here. She is from an illustrious family, her dam being a half sister to Sleeping Indian and Aiken. She is by Oasis Dream, and she hast yet to race beyond 6F. The step up in trip ought to suit,as her full sister Timba has won over a mile, and her dam also won over 12F. She has shaped as if the step up in trip would suit too on a couple of occasions, and with soft ground winners in her pedigree she should be fine if it rains.
Another horse that will enjoy the underfoot conditions if they deteriorate is Giles Bravery's mare Subtle Knife. She is at her best with plenty of cut, and she demonstrated her liking for bad ground with a facile victory on heavy at Lingfield last time out. She is up to a high mark now, and it may well stop her, but if it turns heavy she will relish it, and could well stay on late for a place at a track she has run well at before.

Stevos' Selections: Secret Hint (12/1) Subtle Knife (If Ground is soft or worse) 14/1.