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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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