It is the opening day of York’s Dante meeting, another of the key stopping points en route to the Epsom Derby. It is the turn of the fillies’ trial in the Musidora Stakes on Wednesday though, and our man Andrew Mount has three best bets at York and across the cards.
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Posted: 12:25pm, Tuesday, May 14th
2.45 York – HISPANIC (1pt win – 33/1 Betfair, Paddy Power)
2.45 York – MAKANAH (1pt ew – 12/1 generally with the firms paying six places)
Mick Appleby has done extremely well at the first time of asking with horses he takes over from other yards, scoring with 102 of the 578 qualifiers (17.7% strike-rate) for a huge profit of £312.02 to a £1 level stake at SP. So far in 2024, the score is four from 15 (+£2.75) and I can’t resist a small interest on the ex-Aidan O’Brien inmate HISPANIC, who looks well drawn in stall 8 of 22. The four-year-old lacks the blinkers that he wore for both his wins for his old yard, but I like the booking of Rossa Ryan, who is three from eight on stable switchers for Appleby, including three of the last four. His new yard has done well with new acquisitions in the Mrs Elisabeth Cash colours – Eponina won several times and Larado has scored twice – and while we might be getting there a race too soon there’s compensation in the price.
The Julie Camacho yard has still not hit top gear this season, but I still want an each-way interest on MAKANAH, who caught the eye when keeping on from off the pace to finish a 12-1 fourth of 14 to Tees Spirit in a 5f handicap at Newmarket’s Craven meeting on his reappearance last month. The tailwind made life difficult for hold-up performers that day and Isle Of Lismore, the patiently-ridden third, went two places better at Ascot next time. Dream Composer, six lengths behind the winner in 11th place after coming from the rear, went close at Goodwood next time and the veteran often reaches a place in York handicaps, recording the following form figures…
4th of 22 (40-1)
4th of 13 (5-1)
4th of 12 (16-1)
2nd of 22 (beaten by a head at 16-1 in this race two years ago)
5th of 22 (15-2)
5th of 21 (28-1, this race last year)
4th of 20 (18-1)
If you could pick his trip, you’d go for 5.5f rather than today’s 6f but stall 22 might actually help given that he needs room in his races and, with several firms paying six or seven places, he’s worth a punt. At the time he was a best-priced 12-1 with the six/seven places, mob (14-1 with those paying five places) but 21-1 on the exchanges, so it might be worth waiting until the morning to see if he drifts to 14-1 or 16-1 before taking a price.
3.15 York – SHOULDVEBEENARING (1pt ew – 16/1 William Hill)
The Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes is an absolute belter of a race and, having bet SHOULDVEBEENARING each-way at 12-1 on Monday when the prices came out, I have to make him a bet now that he’s drifted. Richard Hannon’s four-year-old had little chance after a slow start in the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month when his patient style was at a huge disadvantage thanks to the nature of the track and the tailwind. He was in fantastic form in Group 1 company on his final two starts last year, going down by a neck at 50-1 on the Sprint Cup at Haydock before his 35-1 third to Kelina in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp. His running style isn’t always ideal for York but there’s stacks of early pace among his rivals and his only sprint run here produced a 6f win from Washington Heights in a 19-runner handicap. Originally, I had planned to bet SWINGALONG too, as she’s two from two at this venue. However, she’s short enough in the betting (7-1) and she has yet to win when taking on male opponents.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
2.45 York – HISPANIC (1pt win – 33/1 Betfair, Paddy Power)
2.45 York – MAKANAH (1pt ew – 12/1 generally with the firms paying six places)
3.15 York – SHOULDVEBEENARING (1pt ew – 16/1 William Hill)
Andrew Mount’s tips for Wednesday, 15th May 2024.
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