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.
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.
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