It’s Day One of York’s May Meeting and top tipster Andrew Mount has seven bets across five races
STRAIT OF HORMUZ – (1.40 York, 1pt – 12/1)
STRAIT OF HORMUZ disappointed at Newmarket in October on his first attempt at this 1m4f trip but it’s likely that the track, rather than the distance, beat him that day. That effort took his record on right-handed or straight tracks to 959 (0-3), compared to 21121 (3-5) at left-handed venues.
The first defeat came by one length at Chelmsford when poorly drawn in stall 10 of 11 over an inadequate 7f trip and the other by a neck at Chester when not quite able to reel-in the all-the-way winner. He has form when fresh, won’t mind the recent rain and, at a double-figure price, it’s worth taking a chance on his stamina.
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MAGICAL SPIRIT – (2.10 York, 1pt each-way – 12/1)
The GoingStick suggests the ground at York is marginally quicker down the centre of the track and it could pay to side with prominent racers from middle draws. MAGICAL SPIRIT (stall 11 of 19, once adjusted for non-runner) looks perfectly positioned and can mall all. Kevin Ryan’s five-year-old shaped as though the run were needed when an 11-1 third of six at Doncaster 11 days ago – his first outing for seven months and his first since another bout of wind surgery (his third).
Last year, he won the Ayr Silver Cup on his second start following a wind operation before a fine fourth of 21 over course and distance when doing second best of those to race down the nearside from a poor draw in stall 19. Third-placed Desert Safari, best of the nearside bunch, has won twice since and is now rated 7lb higher whereas Magical Spirit races off a 2lb lower mark. The badly-drawn 14th and 16th from that October course and distance race have also won since.
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MOLATHAM – (2.40 York, 1pt win – 7/1)
MOLATHAM is a fascinating runner now returned to sprinting. He raced exclusively over 7f-1m after finishing a neck second to Mums Tipple over today’s trip at Ascot on his two-year-old debut, winning three times over 7f. He again failed to stay 1m when beating only a couple home at Ascot in Group 1 company on his final outing and won first time up last year.
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LADY IN FRANCE – 2.40 York, 0.5pt each-way – 33/1)
LADY IN FRANCE goes well when fresh, recording form figures of 121861 (3-6) when rested for at least five weeks. She’d only been off the track for three weeks when a fine 29-1 fourth in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longhchamp on her final 2020 outing, doing well to finish so close from a poor high draw (first four drawn 2, 10, 4 and 8 of 11).
The stall 10 runner was 17-10 favourite Glass Slippers who went on to score at the Breeders Cup. She needs to prove her stamina for this 6f trip but she won over 5f110y at Ayr as a juvenile and is 1-1 at York. Stall 12 is perhaps not ideal but there’s compensation in offers of 25+ with the four places firms.
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NOON STAR – (3.10 York, 1pt win – 13/8)
NOON STAR clocked a fast time when winning a fillies’ novice contest at Wetherby last time and that was certainly competitive for a race worth £2800 to the winner, with 15 runners and numerous top yards represented. Fourth-home Sherbet Lemon franked the form when landing the Oaks Trial at Lingfield last Saturday where she reversed the form with the Wetherby runner-up Loving Dream who was fifth.
The forecast rain won’t trouble her – she won well on soft ground at Nottingham on her second of two juvenile outings – and she’d be clear favourite in my tissue. Monday’s 3-1 has long gone but she’s still worth a small interest.
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SENITA – (3:10pm York, 1pt win – 18/1)
I also want back SENITA despite her finishing last of seven at Newbury on her return to action. She failed to settle that day, as she had done when winning a small race on soft ground at Redcar in October, but the first-time hood could help in that regard. The Gosden yard is 16-45 with turf runners in this headgear since 2014 for a profit of £90.31 to a £1 level stake at SP.
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ANDALEEP – 4.50 York, 1pt each-way – 28/1)
ANDALEEP needs a strong pace to chase and didn’t have the race run to suit when sixth at Nottingham last September. He’s run with credit over hurdles and on the all-weather since and could go well at a juicy price. His Flat turf record in fields of 12 or more runners stands at 311 (2-3), with the defeat at 16-1 in maiden company.
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Today’s Best Bets
Strait Of Hormuz – 1pt win – 1.40 York (14-1 bet365, 12-1 generally)
Magical Spirit – 1pt each-way – 2.10 York (12-1 bet365, 11-1 generally, 10-1 Sky Bet, seven places)
Molatham – 1pt win – 2.40 York (7-1 bet365, 13-2 generally)
Lady In France – 0.5pt each-way – 2.40 York (33-1 BetVictor, 28-1 generally, Betfair and Sky Bet paying four places)
Noon Star – 1pt win – 3.10 York (13-8 generally)
Senita – 1pt win – 3.10 York (18-1 William Hill, 16-1 generally)
Andaleep – 1pt each-way – 4.50 York (28-1 BetVictor, 25-1 Sky Bet six places)
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