For this meeting at least, the Knavesmire concludes its racing on Friday. With plenty of value still to be had, Matty Sutcliffe picks out a whopping five best bets for you to follow on day three of the Dante meeting.
2:10 York – Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (2yo) – Saucy Jane 6/1 1pt EW 3 places
Lope Y Fernandez filly SAUCY JANE was well backed into 7/4F on debut at Pontefract last month, but a combination of a wide draw and a hold up ride couldn’t quite see her reward favourite backers, for all she looked miles the best horse in the contest.
The form’s starting to work out well, with the fourth winning next time out beating the fifth by two lengths, and he was only beaten three lengths in the 21k novice at York on Wednesday, with Bravo Hotel, who was a nose behind Saucy Jane, finishing a length ahead of Under The Radar at York.
Though Saucy Jane was friendless in the betting next time out, she showed the benefit of experience when bolting up at Beverley from the widest draw to make all impressively under Sam James, with the second backing up her effort next time out to be beaten a length by connections’ Artista in a competitive looking race.
Ascot is already on the agenda for this filly, and she’s favourably birthed in stall two if attempting to make all again.
2:42 York – Knights Solicitors Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) – Zain Blue 14/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
A chance is taken on ZAIN BLUE, who was missing the cheekpieces successfully used on his final outing last season when shaping as if badly in need of the run at Newmarket last time out having weakened markedly late on.
The cheek-pieces return which hopefully signals some intent for the yard whose record here over the last five seasons reads 20-5-6 (£56.00+). The Blue Point gelding does admittedly require a leap of faith after that, but he may be happier on this more conventional track where he was a game winner at last season off a 2lbs lower mark, shaping as if this extra two furlongs is within reach given how outpaced he looked at one stage.
The third and sixth have franked that form since, and he was also an eye-catching second in the competitive Convivial Maiden here as a two year old. He rallied well to finish a six length fifth in a 51k handicap here at the Ebor meeting with the second franking the form by winning the Challenge Cup at Ascot.
He’s a half brother to multiple winners beyond a mile, so provided he can overcome that blip at Newmarket last time out then it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him progress further for this trip and return to winning ways for a yard among the winners.
3:13 York – Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) (Registered As The Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ Stakes) (Class 1) (3yo) – Elsie’s Ruan 16/1 1pt EW 3 places
Ulysses filly Elsie’s Ruan looked the archetypal sort to improve from two to three, and she also looked something out of the ordinary when gamely fending off the 11/10F here on debut over seven furlongs, having won in spite of in-running trouble.
It was a big ask to step up in to the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket next time out, but she ran creditably to be beaten three lengths into third by Lake Victoria, who franked the form in abundance that season to land the G1 Moyglare, G1 Cheveley Park and the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. The 103-rated second, Mountain Breeze, has also franked the form since with a win in the Meydan 1000 Guineas, and the fourth has since won a Listed race and placed twice in Group company.
She failed to build on that effort in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster but she was a drifter and didn’t look particularly ready, and now may be the time to catch her given how well she won fresh last season.
4:15 York – Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap (Class 3) (3yo 0-90) – Sudden Flight 15/2 1pt WIN
SUDDEN FLIGHT is out of an eight time winner on turf so he should have no issues with this switch from the all-weather and the first time booking of William Buick catches the eye who has a 19% strike rate for a yard whose sole runner won here on Wednesday.
The Aclaim gelding only made his debut in February but he ran well to finish third behind a subsequent winner and one now rated 93. He was dropped in trip next time out at Southwell and beat the evens favourite by a head (pair pulled six lengths clear), who’s franked that form healthy since with a hat trick of wins now rated 100 after bolting at Chester last week.
He lost little in defeat when beaten half a length by the 8/13F at Wolverhampton next time out, and while his opening mark is no gift, three of the last four renewals of this race have gone to a horses in the top three of the weights and if improving for this switch to turf, then on a line through the Hammer The Hammer form then it may not be beyond him.
5:30 York – Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-85) – Master Richard 11/1 1pt WIN
Course winner MASTER RICHARD took the 52k Mile Handicap here at the Ebor meeting three years ago from a 3lbs higher mark under David Egan, and while he hasn’t won for two years, he’s perhaps struggled from a higher mark and he’s now 10lbs lower than what he was at the start of last season.
He ran a good race from the front in the Thirsk Hunt Cup when beaten six lengths into fourth from his first start after a wind surgery, and if coming on for that effort/operation then he’s on a workable mark to return to the winners enclosure here from a favourable single figure draw.
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