Race 1
The opening race on the final day of the Dante meeting at York is a 5f Listed contest for fillies and the one I like here at a big price is Aerosphere. Bryan Smart has made a very good start to the season with his 2yos and this filly won nicely on her debut at Beverley. She travelled into the race strongly and when Graham Lee gave her a couple of smacks a furlong out she quickened up well between horses to score a shade cosily by half a length.
The form of her win has worked out well with the runner up Shumookhi and the 4th home, Signora Cabello (re-opposes here), both going on to win on their next starts. Aerosphere is a daughter of first season sire Gregorian and her dam is a half sister to Group 2 + 3 winning 2yo Illuminate. I think odds of 22/1 look too big and at that price Aerosphere has to be worth chancing each way.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: AEROSPHERE E/W @ 22/1 NB.
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| Dark Rose Angel pushed Laurens all the way last season. |
Race 2
We have another Listed heat for our second race and this mile contest is for 3yo fillies who have yet to score at Group 1 level. Only six fillies have been declared and Threading is the current market leader at odds of 15/8. She was highly tried last season, winning a Group 2 here on good to soft before running creditably in a Group 1 behind Clemmie at Newmarket on similar ground. She is unproven on quick ground though and she ran poorly on her seasonal return.
At a bigger price I am going to suggest a small win bet on Dark Rose Angel. Simon Crisford’s daughter of Dark Angel beat Lubinka comfortably on her second start in a good ground Doncaster maiden and she went down by a head to Guineas runner up Laurens on her next outing. She wasn’t at her best on her last two starts at 9f in Longchamp and 7f at Newmarket but the return to a mile gives cause for optimism and if she can repeat the form of her Group 2 defeat to Laurens she will go very close.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: DARK ROSE ANGEL @ 6/1.
Race 3
The Group 2 Yorkshire Cup is run over a trip of 14f and this looks a pretty open renewal. Wicklow Brave was last sighted chasing home Supasundae in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Punchestown but he is a very useful flat performer on his day too and his form at today’s trip of 14f entitles him to maximum respect here for Willie Mullins and Andrea Atzeni.
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| Wicklow Brave has some serious form at 14f. |
He chased home Litigant over this course and distance off a mark of 102 in the Ebor in 2015 and he ran a cracker behind Quest For More over 2 miles back in 2016 in a Group 2 (gd/fm). He has beaten Order Of St George over 1m 6f and his overall career figures at the trip read 12312442, with the second of those wins coming in Group 1 company. He is proven at the track, he won’t have any issues on the good to firm ground and at odds of 12/1 he has to be worth chancing each way.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: WICKLOW BRAVE E/W @ 12/1.
Race 4
A tricky looking 10.5f handicap is the final televised race of the day on ITV and a case can be made for most of the 12 runner field. Master Carpenter won this easily last year off a higher mark but he is winless on good to firm ground and that has to be a huge worry. Thundering Blue is another that would prefer a bit of juice in the ground. One horse that is sure to appreciate underfoot conditions at York is Banditry for Ian Williams and PJ McDonald.
This 6yo son of Iffraaj has won 4 of his 19 career starts on turf and he has a win and a close 2nd from three starts on good to firm ground. His last five flat wins have come at today’s trip and he made a very pleasing return to action when staying on well for 4th over 9f at Newmarket off 95. He races off the same mark here. He is sure to be suited by the step back up to 10f, his trainer has 2 wins and 2 places from his last 6 runners and at odds of 12/1 he should give each way backers a run for their money.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: BANDITRY E/W @ 12/1.
Race 5
This is yet another race for the girls, a 7f handicap, and 13 horses will go to post. The one I like for each way purposes at an attractive price here is Dark Intention for Laurence Mullaney and Andrea Atzeni. This 5yo daughter of High Chaparral has run really well on her last three visits to this track, finishing 3rd over 9f (gd/fm) before winning over course and distance on good to soft and then finishing 5th behind Shady McCoy beaten 5L off 80 (7f gd).
She has had a run to blow away the cobwebs at Doncaster when beaten 5L over 7f on soft and that outing should have put her cherry ripe for this contest. She is running off a mark of 78 which is 4lb above the mark she won off here last September, but she showed she is capable of being competitive off that rating here behind Shady McCoy in October. Her North Yorkshire based handler would love to have a winner at York and at odds of 14/1 she is the each way pick.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: DARK INTENTION E/W @ 14/1.
Race 6
16 horses will go to post for this 3yo 5f handicap and plenty have something to prove on the forecast good to firm ground. Hayley Turner hit the headlines with her big race win at the weekend and she looks to have another live chance here aboard Joe Tuite’s son of Born To Sea, Kimifive. This fella remains a maiden after 8 starts but his run at Bath last time suggests that his turn may not be far away.
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| Hayley Turner is riding with confidence. |
He was only beaten a short head by Tricky Spirit over 5.5f on good to firm ground off a mark of 76 and he has been hiked to 78 for that run. He has been very consistent when the ground has been good or better and the drop back to 5f should suit. His jockey is riding with confidence, his trainer Joe Tuite has his string in fine fettle and at odds of 10/1 he should be in the first four at the very least.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: KIMIFIVE E/W @ 10/1 NAP
Race 7
The final race on the last day of the Dante meeting at York is a 16 runner class 4 handicap over a trip of 12f. I think Champirisi could possibly be overpriced in this contest for Grant Tuer and Nicola Currie who claims what may be a crucial 5lb. This 3yo daughter of Champs Elysees was a rare 2yo runner for her yard last season and she managed to pick up a maiden win on the all weather at Newcastle.
She made her handicap debut on her seasonal return at Redcar off a mark of 70 (10f gd/fm) and she ran better than her finishing position of 9th suggests. She was denied a clear run at a crucial stage and she had to make her challenge up the inner. She was only beaten around 4L for the win and with Currie’s claim she is effectively running off 7lb lower here. She is bred to stay the trip (dam is out of a half sister to a Leger winner) and at odds of 25/1 she is worth chancing each way for small stakes.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: CHAMPIRISI E/W @ 25/1
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