York Dante Festival Day 1 Preview And Tips

Race 1

A very competitive eight runner 12f handicap kicks off what should be a fantastic few days of racing at York and the one I like here at a half decent price is Banksea for Charlie Appleby with James Doyle booked for the ride. Appleby also saddles the current favourite Hamada, the choice of William Buick, but he was well beaten on his sole start on good to firm ground.
 

Charlie Appleby holds a strong hand in the opener.

Banksea, on the other hand, loves to hear his hooves rattle on a quick surface and his three career wins have come on good to firm. His sole visit to York resulted in a close 2nd over a mile and he has been shaping as if in need of further on his last three starts at Meydan over 10f. The 5yo son of Lawman has yet to race beyond 10f but I think the step up to 12f could be just what the doctor ordered, and a big run could be on the cards from Banksea at odds of 8/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: BANKSEA E/W @ 8/1 NB.

Race 2

Things get an awful lot trickier for the second race on the card, a 6f sprint with a total of 19 horses going to post. This will be a proper cavalry charge and over this trip at York a low draw is usually favoured, especially on soft ground. Given it will be good to firm there on Wednesday the draw may not be as important, and from stall 12 I think Classic Seniority will appreciate the track and ground and he also looks handicapped to run a big race.

Marjorie Fife’s 6yo son of Kyllachy shaped nicely on his return to action this season when beaten 3L in 5th off a mark of 92 behind Gin In The Inn at Ripon (6f gd/sft) and he should strip fitter with that run under his belt. He has won 8 of his 38 starts and his last three runs on good to firm have produced form figures of 213. He was beaten just under a length off 93 over 6f (gd/fm) at Thirsk last September and he races off 2lb lower today. He has a win and two places from four runs at York so he clearly handles the track and at odds of 20/1 he could sneak into the frame.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: CLASSIC SENIORITY E/W @ 20/1.

Race 3

One of the most eagerly anticipated races of the week is the Duke Of York Stakes and all eyes will be on Clive Cox’s pride and joy, Harry Angel. This supremely talented sprinter was a dual Group 1 winner last season and he returns to action in this Group 2. With just 7 horses going to post he could easily get loose on the front end and if he does, he could be hard to peg back. Clive Cox has reported that his charge is in rude health and at odds of 4/5 he looks by far the most likely winner.
 

Harry Angel holds all the aces in this Group 2.

However, he does have to carry a 5lb penalty and if he isn’t fully wound up and ready to rock first time out perhaps Sir Dancealot can give him something to think about. David Elsworth’s son of Sir Prancealot ran a cracker first time up when narrowly beaten by Brando at Newmarket (6f gd) and his only previous visit to York resulted in a Listed win. He is best suited by swooping late off a strong pace, and this contest should be run to suit. As a 4yo he could still be on the improve and at odds of 11/1 he is the each way alternative to the favourite.

STEVOS’ SELECTIONS: HARRY ANGEL @ 5/4; SIR DANCEALOT E/W @ 11/1.

Race 4

The fillies take centre stage in the 10.5f Group 3 Musidora Stakes and a total of seven horses have been declared. Ceilidhs Dream and Highgarden are disputing favouritism at odds of 11/4, but they are both taking a massive step up in class and I prefer the chances of Lubinka for Peter Chapple-Hyam and Oisin Murphy. This daughter of Mastercraftsman has some solid 2yo form in the book, including when a staying on 6th of 11 behind Guineas 2nd Laurens in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket at the backend of last season.
 

Lubinka holds strong form claims for Peter Chapple-Hyam.

She was stepped up in trip to 12f at Lingfield on her seasonal return in a weak contest on the all weather and she won doing handstands. She was purchased by Qatar Racing after that victory and she will be having her first run in those silks today. I think she will be fine dropped back in trip to 10.5f and even the form of her 3rd (beaten under 2L) to subsequent Group 3 winner Soliloquy at Ascot (8f gd/sft) is a cut above what the rest of the fillies in this field have achieved. If she hailed from a bigger yard she would be shorter than 7/1 and she is a confident selection.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: LUBINKA @ 7/1 NAP

Race 5

It is always frustrating to see 15 runners in a handicap but thankfully plenty of bookies are offering 4 places for each way bets. The one I like in this contest is handicap debutant Valdolobo for Karl Burke with PJ McDonald in the plate. This 3yo son of Lope De Vega has shaped well on three starts in easy ground novice and maiden races but in saying that, his opening handicap mark of 81 doesn’t exactly look generous.

However, his run on debut when a neck behind White Mocha looks a decent piece of form now with that filly now rated 99 and running in the Musidora earlier on this card. His next start when a beaten favourite at Redcar over 7f (gd/sft) wasn’t quite as good, but he ran well for a long way on his seasonal reappearance at Thirsk (8f gd/sft). I think this fella will appreciate the switch to quick ground as his dam was a winner on a fast surface. The drop back to 7f could well suit him too and at odds of 10/1 he is worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: VALDOLOBO E/W @ 10/1.

Race 6

No bet for me in this Novices’ Race, one to watch with a view to the future.

Race 7

The final race on Day 1 of the York Dante meeting is an ultra competitive 12f handicap that has attracted a full field of 20. As ever, small stakes are the way to go in races of this nature and one at a huge price I think that could outrun her odds is bottom weight Liquid Gold for Richard Fahey and Paddy Mathers. This daughter of Nathaniel’s sole win came on her only start over 10f on good to firm ground off 67 at Beverley and she shaped as though in need of the run back there for her seasonal reappearance.

Liquid Gold could go well at a price for Richard Fahey.

She has shaped like in need of further ever since her 10f win at Beverley and she finally steps up to 12f on decent ground today. Paul Hanagan rode her the last day and he has opted to ride Doctor Cross this time, but that doesn’t worry me too much as Paddy Mathers is a jockey I have a lot of time for. She has to race from 2lb out of the handicap off her mark of 69 (runs off 71) but I think the step up in trip should help her massively, as will the quick ground, and at odds of 33/1 she is worth chancing each way for small stakes.


STEVOS’ SELECTION: LIQUID GOLD E/W @ 33/1.