With Royal Ascot getting underway next week, we try and land the Placepot at the track which hosted the royal meeting during Ascot’s closure: York.
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Leg 1: 1.50pm
Leg 1 Selections: (6) Lord Melbourne, (7) Toshizou
A big field for this opening handicap, exclusive to female amateur jockeys. Two selections are worthwhile here in a competitive race, with one based on their recent effort at Epsom, and another in the hope this course and distance will revitalise him.
The former category is represented by LORD MELBOURNE who received a poor ride at Epsom when steaming home for fifth in a useful handicap over 1m2f, and whose finishing effort suggested another go at 1m4f is worthwhile. Trainer Ralph Beckett may well be bringing about some improvement in him.
The other worth siding with is TOSHIZOU, whose form has been indifferent this year, but who has had two promising thirds in that time, including over course and distance in May. His prominent running style suits this track, and he was also second here off 6lb higher last October. If Amy Collier can get him in a good rhythm up top then he may well hang around the places.
Leg 2: 2.25pm
Leg 2 Selections: (7) New Image
Despite this race having a 20-strong field, making it much more subscribed than in recent years, there are plenty who do not appeal either on form or by virtue of having recently changed yards. One who is very much a form pick therefore is NEW IMAGE, who is both up 4lb and up in class, but who won with something in hand at Musselburgh over 7f last time out. He had previously been an unlucky loser at Thirsk over the same trip, that on the back of another victory at Southwell, and he looks to be progressing at a fair rate for David O’Meara.
Leg 3: 3.00pm
Leg 3 Selections: (3) Real Dream
There are a few promising stayers in this field, but none more so than the five-year-old REAL DREAM, who may be slightly older than all but one of his rivals, but who represents a stable which is superb at bringing horses along at the required rate. He was a talented enough four-year-old, winning two handicaps in fine style and rising 13lb in the ratings, but he reappeared with a good second at Newmarket off his highest mark, which suggested further improvement is to come.
He beat Relentless Voyager in receipt of 2lb that day, and while that horse opposes here off the back of an impressive victory, Real Dream need only step forward from his return to be able to best him again off level weights.
Leg 4: 3.35pm
Leg 4 Selections: (5) Tropical Island, (18) The Coffee Pod
This looks a very difficult betting heat to call, with unexposed types to the fore in the market. However, there is something to be said for having shown ability as a juvenile too and TROPICAL ISLAND represents the bang in-form Richard Fahey yard. He won a nursery over course and distance in good style, and was not disgraced at Listed level on ground too soft for him. He won on his debut, so should be fine running here fresh and could prove upwardly mobile.
The other to have onside is one of the other two course and distance winners in THE COFFEE POD. He won a novice event here last season and his disappointments over 6f this term have come on his seasonal debut and when pulling Hollie Doyle’s arms out at Newmarket. If he can settle in behind runners, he does get this trip and his ninth in Epsom’s 3YO Dash was respectable on the weaker side of the track. His mark is tumbling to one that looks attractive.
Leg 5: 4.10pm
Leg 5 Selections: (11) U Sure Do
It is possible one of the newcomers will prove useful, but U SURE DO belied odds of 125/1 to go down by just a nose on his debut at Haydock in which he was two lengths in front of Tiger Mask. Neither were fancied in the betting, but Tim Easterby’s charge came from even further back with as little luck in running to nearly win. He must have ability, and there does not seem to be any reason he would not develop from his debut like any other juvenile.
Leg 6: 4.45pm
Leg 6 Selections: (2) Titan Rock, (5) Theme Park
The Placepot does not get any easier in the last race, with another handicap boasting 17 runners. John and Sean Quinn’s TITAN ROCK has never run beyond 1m before, but is probably worth a go on breeding, especially as he needed to dig deep into his reserves to get home over 1m at Thirsk latest. That form looks solid enough and he is only up 3lb, so could go in again.
The other of note is THEME PARK who had been aimed well at a handicap over 1m2½f here in May only to bump into the very progressive Botanical. However, his fifth that day was solid and he is down another 1lb to what might be his best trip this time. In a weaker contest that is unlikely to unearth a handicap blot, he might now take advantage.
Placepot Selections For York On Saturday 15th June
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