York’s card on Saturday provides an excellent accompaniment to the Group 1 action at Ascot. Among some high quality contests, Joe Napier has three best bets on the Knavesmire, including one to take on the York Stakes favourite with…
2.00 York – Sky Bet Dash Handicap
Pocklington caught the eye at this track last season and is drawn significantly better this time around. There remains just a nagging doubt about his form on turf though and JUBILEE WALK could be way ahead of his mark under these conditions.
The selection was a taking winner over 5f at this track last season, with that form working out supremely well afterwards. He failed to follow that up at Royal Ascot in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes, but he was second of his small group in that race, with only recent Group 1 winner No Half Measures beating him on the far side.
James Ferguson took him to Bahrain for the winter, which did not work out, but the return to these shores saw him finish third at Chester from a wide draw off a reduced rating. His mark of 92 is now only 2lb above his winning mark from last term and his berth in stall 5 looks a positive as well here. He has every chance of getting back to winning ways.
2.40 – Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2)
Almaqam will be very difficult to beat if stepping up from his Brigadier Gerard Stakes success, in which he beat subsequent Group 1 winner and Eclipse runner-up Ombudsman. However, with the exception of that rival, who was conceding 3lb and probably needed the run, that race was there for the taking and his odds are skinny enough against a trio of three-year-olds with high potential at this trip.
Green Impact reverts to this distance after only finishing sixth in the Irish Derby, while Stanhope Gardens was fifth at Epsom, with his effort easy to upgrade. Both have ability, but so does BAY CITY ROLLER, who gets the verdict ahead of them.
He was second at Saint-Cloud last time out when trying this distance for the first time. The winner that day, Daryz, is unbeaten and now a joint favourite for the Arc, so there was no disgrace in that, while the ground may have been soft enough. His second in Listed company under a 5lb penalty the time before was very respectable for his seasonal return and he looks worth a chance as an unexposed, prominent racer.
3.50 York – Sky Bet, For The Fans Handicap
Kildare Legend and L’Eagle Aid arrive bang in form, but the intriguing runner, who could well have more to offer after a stop-start career to date is ALBANY for Ralph Beckett.
The five-year-old has only raced eight times so far, with both coming on ground with “soft” in the description. That is likely to vanish by Saturday, but the going should not be rattling quick, while she still managed a nose second on good ground at Windsor in maiden company.
Her easy win off 83 at Nottingham suggested she could be close enough to Pattern quality, as evidenced by her next start coming in Listed company. She was only sixth at Chantilly that day, but that was on the all-weather and she may have needed her return at Haydock. 2lb lower again, to a rating of 91, she may have more to offer.
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