York selections Wednesday 20th August
Four great days at York kick off with the feature race of the meeting, the International Stakes which looks up to the usual standard with three genuine Group 1 performers battling it out. I have selections for three races.
York 1.50: Bergerac & Azure Angel
Low numbers have generally been favoured at York in recent seasons on the straight track, but there looks to be such an abundance of early pace drawn high in this sprint that higher numbers need to be considered here.
BERGERAC has an excellent record at this track, so whilst he hardly holds any secrets from the handicapper, he still looks worth an each-way wager. His two wins here have both come on fast ground and include victory in this very race back in 2022. He was also sixth from an unfavourable draw last season, winning his group on the near side of the track.
He has maintained his form on the Knavesmire this season with a second in a valuable contest back in May. We last saw him finish a fair third in the Scottish Stewards Cup over 6f. He is probably best at this 5 1/2f trip. Tactically versatile it could well pay to ride him just off the likely furious pace with a handy central draw allowing him to follow either side depending on how the race develops.
AZURE ANGEL is the preferred option in this race. Whilst she has been campaigned over the basic 5f of late, she has winning form over 6f and shapes as if this intermediate trip could be her optimum.
She was made too much use of when third here back in June, but then came from too far back at Ascot last time. Prior to that she had won with ease at Redcar on fast ground, showing a high cruising speed in the process. I believe her pace just has to be harnessed correctly, ridden with enough restraint to leave something for the finish. She has proved she stays further than this in the past, even winning over 7f when with Roger Varian.
York 3.35: Delacroix
Whilst there is plenty to like about some of the opposition, See The Fire is probably just short of the very top level, Daryz will need to improve on his winning form to date and both Danon Decile and his jockey have to prove they can cope with European racing at the top level. The market probably has this about right in having this a match between the first two in the Eclipse and DELACROIX can confirm form from that day.
Plenty went wrong that day for Delacroix, so it it to his credit that he found so much in the final 300 yards to produce a last to first burst and overcome Ombudsman. I think the more galloping track at York should allow the Ballydoyle raider to get into a better early rhythm and the long finishing straight should play to his strengths.
We can probably draw a line through his Derby run, but prior to that he had looked a real machine in winning two contests in the spring at Leopardstown. Ombudsman has a pacemaker to help him settle here, but Delacroix will be quiet happy with a solid gallop too, given how he seemed to outstay his rival at Sandown.
York 4.10: Alphonse le Grande & Artisan Dancer
This staying handicap has been boosted to Heritage status, but despite the grade this does not look the strongest of contests.
ALPHONSE LE GRANDE already has a cracking record in Britain on his raids over from the Tony Martin yard and already has wins in the Chester Plate and the Cesarewitch on his CV from last season. Despite that he is still only rated 93 and could still have more to offer.
He had no chance at Ascot being ridden right out the back so the fact he managed to get within 3l of the winner Ascending was actually to his credit. A strong pace will help this hold up horse, but the longer straight will give William Buick more of chance to bring him through the field.
ARTISAN DANCER is unexposed on turf over 2m and ran well in the Chester Plate when a staying on third back in May. He has continued to run well without winning since and was keeping on in third in the Shergar Cup last week, from an unsuitably slow early pace.
Fast ground seems to suit him well and he is another for whom this galloping track and longer finishing straight can bring out the best in him. His win at Ripon in the spring confirms his aptitude for 2m and this is a horse who only does just enough when hitting the front, so a big field should suit as he can be delivered for a late run.
Recommended bets:
0.5pts each-way – Bergerac – 1.50 York – 14/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Azure Angel– 1.50 York – 12/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt win – Delacroix – 3.35 York – 15/8 general
1pt win – Alphonse le Grande – 4.10 York – 7/2 Bet365
1pt each-way – Artisan Dancer – 4.10 York – 16/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
