2024 Naas Royal Ascot Trials Day Preview

Witch Hunter saved us from a wipeout on Saturday. It’s funny, I was more confident than usual with today’s tips but as often happens when that is the case, most of them ran stinkers. I wasn't too discouraged by Queen Of Mougins though, I think we'll get our money back on her in a fillies' only Listed race. I fancy a couple to run well at double figure odds in Ireland tomorrow, 2024 Naas Ascot Trials Day tips are below.

2.05 – Sole Power Sprint Stakes (Listed)

If she is even 90% fit for her seasonal reappearance, Ano Syra can outrun her odds of 10/1 here. John Feane’s mare came onto my radar last year and we backed her when she placed behind Moss Tucker in the G3 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last August. 

She was only 2.25L behind the winner, she was a nose behind subsequent G3 winner Go Athletico and she beat the 112 rated Commanche Falls by almost 2L.  Dylan Browne McMonagle was on board for that fine run and he gets the leg up for the first time since today

The ground was properly good that day and she flopped the next twice when there was juice in the ground. The daughter of Kodiac is best on a sound surface, just like it was when she finished third behind Art Power on her seasonal reappearance last season at the Curragh in the Greenlands Stakes (6f gd).

Goes Well Fresh

She won on her return to action as a 3yo too, over 6f on good ground at Naas. She has run twice here since, fourth on yielding over 6f in another handicap and then beat 2.75L into fourth in a Listed contest on good ground (6f)..

I think Aesop’s Fables rating of 111 is a bit generous and apart from him, I can’t see any other horses that Ano Syra should be afraid of. This could be the season that Ano Syra finally gets a win at pattern level, hopefully today is the day. At odds of 10/1, she is the each way selection.

2024 Naas Ascot Trials Day Tip: Ano Syra e/w @ 10/1

4.30 – Royal Ascot Trials Day Handicap (0-95)

Jessica Harrington has been firing in winners left, right and centre this season and she runs two here. On jockey bookings, it looks like Raknah is her main hope. Shane Foley rides the daughter of Blue Point but all her best form is on the all-weather. Her two turf runs have been underwhelming and I prefer the chances of Going Remote, who pitches up here off a mark of 77.

By Kodiac, this gelding made his handicap debut over C&D three weeks ago on yielding ground. I’m not too sure that sort of ground suits him and I’m also hoping he may have needed the run. He is of big interest today on the form of his second start over 7f when he ran a cracker in a Naas maiden behind Bright Stripes.

Strong Form

Andy Oliver’s charge was getting 4lbs from Going Remote and he was only 2L behind him and closing at the line. He has since won at Listed level and is rated 100+. Gesture was third and he’s since won twice on the all weather off 72 and by 5L off 76. Goal Exceeded in fifth won a maiden next time out and is now rated mid 80s. Take Me To Church was seventh and she won the Madrid handicap and is now rated 100.

It was an excellent run by Going Remote and this will be the best ground he has encountered since then. It is a bit concerning that Dusty Foley rides his stablemate but Nathan Crosse is 18/136 when riding for Harrington with an eye catching level stakes profit of +165.46 if you had a quid on every ride. 

It looked like a mile would suit when he ran in that 7f maiden here and a mark of 77 looks workable on that form, so, at 25/1, Going Remote is the e/w selection.

2024 Naas Ascot Trials Day Tip: Going Remote e/w @ 25/1 (4 places); 0.5pt e/w double with Ano Syra.

-DaveStevos

2024 York Dante Meeting Thursday Tips

What a disaster Day 1 was. Saratoga Gold ran ok to a point but finished weakly. Lakota Blue looked to be in a decent position early but he never picked up. Commanche Falls ran a rare stinker and we should have gone with Mick Easterby instead of Tim in the 4.15. I am backing just two horses today for small stakes (no NAP or NB), 2024 York Dante Meeting Thursday tips are below.

2.15 – Lindum York Handicap (Class 2)

When I first looked at this race on Tuesday Mondammej was 25/1. Antony Brittain’s quirky son of Lope De Vega is dangerously well handicapped at the moment and he likes it at York. However, he is into 14/1 now and those odds aren’t quite as appealing as the 25s.

Another one that has run well here in the past is Micheal Herrington’s Good Earth. This 7yo son of Acclamation is a bit of a late developer. His mark had hovered around between 68 and 74 up until he was a 5yo but these days, he is capable of running to mid-90s at his best.

Last year he won three times, the last victory coming at Sandown off 89 in August. Conor Planas took off 3lbs that day and he is on board this afternoon. Good Earth won over 6f at York back in July 2022 off 76 and he has twice finished second on the Knavesmire. Those good runs admittedly came over 6f but his last three wins were at 5f, so the trip shouldn’t be an issue.

Good Earth is in off 87 today, 2lbs lower than he was when last winning at Sandown, so at odds of 20/1, he is worth chancing e/w for small stakes.

2024 York Dante Meeting Thursday Tip: Good Earth e/w @ 20/1 (6 places)

2.45 – Hambleton Handicap (Class 2)

More often than not, a low draw has been an advantage in this race over the years. Since 2004, thirteen of the nineteen winners have been drawn 8 or lower, although in the last seven renewals, there’s been four winners drawn 12 or higher.

What’s The Story started right on the outside when he won in 2019 and I am hoping that maybe Bajan Bandit can do something similar today. He’s been put in as the rag here at 66/1 and that is understandable given the form he has shown in two runs this season. However, he may have needed those two outings and if that is the case, he shouldn’t be such a massive price.

Grant Tuer’s charge enjoyed a fine 3yo campaign last year. He ran three times at York and those runs returned form figures of 134. The win came over 7f off 80 but his run here in August off 87 was even better, beat just 0.75l over C&D.

Catch The Paddy (22s here) was a nose in front of him in 2nd running off 89, Bajan Bandit is 5lbs better off with that rival today (and 6lbs better off for a 1.25L defeat to the same rival at Newmarket in September).

Adam Farragher rides Bajan Bandit for the first time and he is 2/4 when riding for Grant Tuer. Now obviously, it is impossible to be overly confident given his last two runs but he has run blinders on all three previous visits to York. Hopefully, the return to the Knavesmire sparks Bajan Bandit back to form at odds of 66/1.

2024 York Dante Meeting Thursday Tip: Bajan Bandit e/w @ 66/1 (6 places)

-DaveStevos

2024 York Dante Meeting Wednesday

 Well, here we are back on my old blog. I’ve been redeployed to so some other work for TXMarkets but I’ll still be posting a Saturday preview on that blog every weekend. I’ll cover the midweek meetings here, will post my ante-post tips too and I'll also cover any Irish weekend racing if something takes my eye. This week, we return to the Knavesmire and I fancy a couple at nice odds, 2024 York Dante Meeting Wednesday tips are below.

2.15 – Jorvik Handicap (Class 2)

Last year Scampi ended a dreadful run for us by winning this race at 16/1. I watched the race in a fishing boat in Lough Corrib and I probably spooked every trout within a two mile radius with a roar of joy and relief when he came home in front. Thankfully, this year has gone much better so far and there isn’t as much pressure heading into this meeting.

This year, the one I’ll take a punt on at 33/1 is Saratoga Gold. Now trained by Kevin Frost, this 6yo son of Mayson knows where the winning line is. He won eight times from 31 starts for Charlie Hills and he gets in here off 88. He was running off 89 when he hosed up in a Kempton handicap (12f) last July by 7L and he finished upsides some decent horses when beat 12L in the Ebor here over 14f three runs later off 95.

On his first start for Frost he ran a grand race to finish fifth at Epsom off 89. It was a pleasing seasonal reappearance and Clifford Lee retains the ride. He’s 6/67 with 18 top 4s when riding for Frost and he knows his way around York.

There’s certainly some 4yos in here with ‘sexier’ profiles but if this lad can reproduce his Ebor effort over this more suitable trip on ground he relishes, he can hopefully run into the money. At 33/1, Saratoga Gold is the e/w selection.

2024 York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tip: Saratoga Gold e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)

2.45 – Churchill Tyres Handicap (Class 2)

There is no point in getting too hung up on the draw in these sprints at York. The last three winners were drawn 14, 15 and 21 but the previous four were drawn 5, 8, 5 and 3. It is probably more important to be close to some early pace and I am going to side with Lakota Blue.

Trained by Nigel Tinkler, this horse ran a cracker on his sole handicap start here over 5f. He finished 5th of 17 on good ground off 87, beat 3.5L, and he pitches up off 4lbs lower today. In that contest it looked like Lakota Blue was crying out for 6f and indeed, his last three wins have come at that trip.

In April of last year, on his second start of the season, he won off 83 at Ripon (6f sft). This is his second start of 2024 and he’s in off 83 again. There was plenty of encouragement to take from his seasonal return at Beverley (5f sft) and that will hopefully have left him spot on for this far more valuable race. 

Abate, drawn beside him, should give the son of Sioux Nation a decent target to aim at so at 25/1, Lakota Blue is the e/w selection.

2024 York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tip: Lakota Blue e/w @ 25/1 (6 places) NAP

3.15 – Duke Of York Clipper Stakes (Group 2)

Commanche Falls 25/1? That is a crazy price. He was second in this last year (we were on), he won a Listed race here later in the season and he won the Stewards’ Cup for us at Goodwood in 2022 at 33/1. He owes us nothing, he had a nice pipe opener at Newmarket and he loves York. At those odds, he is the e/w selection.

2024 York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tip: Commanche Falls e/w @ 25/1 (4 places) NB

3.45 – Musidora Stakes (Group 3)

Just seven runners and only two places on offer. Francophone could be a shade too big at 9/1 but I am happy to leave this race alone. No bet.

2024 York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tip: No Bet

4.15 – Conundrum Handicap (Class 3)

Tim Easterby rarely leaves York without a winner and his horses have been in great form. He relies on Ribble Radiant in this 3yo handicap and even though she is a pound wrong at the weights, it would be no surprise if she showed up well here.

By Ribchester, she won impressively on debut at Beverley last June (7.5f gd/fm). 2.5l back in fourth was Carolina Reaper, now rated 95. The third, Beveragino, has since won a maiden and is now rated 75 so on that form, 76 looks a pretty fair rating.

This filly didn’t see the track again until October and she finished third on good to soft ground in a Catterick Novice. She made her handicap debut at Newcastle (7f) four weeks later and was a no show, but that was a mickey mouse race.

This will be her first run on good to firm ground since and it could be that first time up is the time to catch her. A word of warning though, Easterby has a poor record in this race so there is every chance she could bomb out. However, at 50/1 with the yard’s horses in such fine form, Ribble Radiant is worth a few pennies e/w.

2024 York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tip: Ribble Radiant e/w @ 50/1 (4 places)

-DaveStevos