After a brilliant punting day yesterday, we are hoping for a repeat on the final day with the feature being the Ebor. It looks an incredibly competitive card and we are going with bets in 3 races.
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2.25 York: Melrose Handicap
19 runners for this 1 mile 6 furlong handicap for 3 year olds, featuring horses that will likely go on to run in the St Leger. To highlight the competitive nature, bookies are going 15/2 the field with Sir Michael Stoute’s Intellect the current favourite.
I’m not straying too far from the market leaders here and am siding with Secret Advisor. This son of Dubawi has been out 5 times this year, winning only once on his debut in a Thirsk maiden. Since then, there’s plenty of promise and enough to suggest he’s the bet here.
A couple of runner up places in lower grade handicaps were decent but then he ran a super race in finishing 3rd in the Queens Vase over this trip. He seemed to relish the staying trip and came from last off the bend at Ascot so this longer straight at York will definitely appeal. He was only 2 lengths behind the winner that day who has since gone on to land the Goodwood Cup so the form is as solid as it comes. The only disappointment is last time out when finishing 5th at Glorious Goodwood after being made favourite for a 12 furlong handicap. He held every chance 2 furlongs out but quickly faded; I’m sure that was due to the very soft ground as he’d already proven his stamina the time before.
Tips
WON – Back Secret Advisor (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 with Coral (⅕ odds 1-5 BOG)
Back it here:
3.00 York: Gimcrack Stakes
5 furlong Group 2 sprint for 2 year olds with the market leaders all having proven themselves in this grade. However, I’m heading down the market for a speculative punt on one.
The horse in question is Sands Of Mali, currently available at 14/1. He’s seen the race track just twice but is definitely on the upgrade with the one big question mark in my eyes being whether or not he needs soft ground. If he doesn’t, this price looks huge.
He ran down the field on his debut which was over this course and distance. However, that’s an easy run to forgive as all 6 in front of him that day had already had a run under their belt. It was his 2nd and last run that makes him a bet here though. He absolutely bolted up by over 3 lengths at Leicester over this trip but that was on soft ground. He beat Eirene into 2nd, a horse that has since come out and won a Listed race at Newbury. The pair were well over 10 lengths clear of 3rd that day. His trainer clearly likes him and he holds some decent entries later in the season. He’s not without a chance in an open race.
Tips
WON – Back Sands Of Mali (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 15.00 Ladbrokes (⅕ odds 1-3 BOG)
Back it here:
3.35 York: Ebor
One of the very best handicaps of the entire season and this year is no different. First up, let’s bury the myth that says a wide draw is a disadvantage. I’d say that on previous runnings, anything in a double figure stall has to have their chance marked up as they’ll slot in, sit off a likely breakneck pace and come with a sustained run in the long straight. That’s the approach I’m taking with my 2 bets here.
Last year’s 4th Battersea is our first bet. He ran really well to finish in the places off a mark of 107 and today he gets in off 105 with a good claimer taking a further 5lb off his back. That makes me incredibly well handicapped in my eyes. He’s been laid out for the race and has only been out once this term, finishing 6th of 7 in an Ascot Group 3. That run is easily forgiven; it was his seasonal reappearance, it was run at a very slow pace and probably stretched his stamina. The conditions of the Ebor will suit much better. It’s interesting that the hood comes off today and that, combined with drying ground, should further enhance his chances.
Our 2nd bet is Wild Hacked, who is drawn in stall 14. An improving horse that is thriving as a 4 year old, he’s probably one that will love the step up to this trip for the first time. He won the Betway Handicap on the all weather earlier this season off a mark of 101 before running below par in 2 runs on turf. However, there were excuses; he was caught out wide at Ascot and despite staying on, he’s a horse that doesn’t do anything too quickly so was never a serious contender. Then, he ran in an Italian Group 2 and may just have been outclassed. He gets in here off a mark of just 102 and with a good jockey booking, he seems to hold every chance.
Tips
Back Battersea (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Betfred (¼ odds 1-5 BOG)
Back Wild Hacked (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 Betfred (¼ odds 1-5 BOG)
Back them here:
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