The flat racing season continues on Thursday with a number of meetings over and across the UK and Ireland but much like Wednesday, the attention is on the Knavesmire where the Dante Meeting continues at York.
It was a good day of racing to begin the meeting on Wednesday and Thursday looks like being similarly good. The Dante itself is the headline race on Thursday but our bet comes in the race before that.
3.00 York
Preview
The Hambleton is always one of most competitive one mile handicaps run on turf all season & this appears to be no exception. We have a maximum field of 20 including last year’s 1-2 in the shape of Cruyff Turn and Brunch. The former hasn’t been as good since but has been freshened up with a pipe opener and is 1lb below last year’s mark. The latter has actually finished runner up in the last 2 runnings of this, the big concern this time is that the ground continues to quicken up which is a big negative. The favourite is unexposed Stoute/Moore hope, Assessment, who is a winner of his handicap to date when getting the job done nicely at Kempton on the all weather. This is a different test and it’s how much potential remains that will determine whether he can defy a 6lbs higher mark. Northern Express goes well at the track and was a last time out winner when landing the Thirsk Hunt Cup. He’s not been unduly punished with a 3lbs penalty but this quicker ground won’t suit him as much as others. At bigger prices, I would not put anyone off Blue For You if he’s primed first time up whilst The Turpinator also has a squeak.
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Betting
Tropez Power – Talking of big prices, the selection appears overpriced to me. Admittedly, he hasn’t pulled up any trees on turf for his previous yard but since moving north, he’s been a different animal completely. In 5 runs on the all weather, he’s recorded finishes of 1-3-2-1-2, his most recent win off a mark just 1lb lower than he races off today. He then ran in the Spring Cup on horrid ground and actually ran much better than the result suggests. He was held up, which will be a positive here as there is tonnes of pace, and then made eyecatching headway before the ground eventually took its toll. To be fair, he was tenderly handled by his jockey so the losing margin was perhaps exaggerated. Back on better ground, with a 2lbs ease in mark and with a good low draw in 7 which should help with an early pitch, I fancy him to run a big race.
Tips
Back Tropez Power (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
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