York selections Saturday 23rd August
The fourth and final – and surely best day on the Knavesmire with an absolutely cracking card to enjoy, highlighted by a vintage renewal of the Ebor with any number of quality horses that can be given a chance. Due to its openness, I am having three cracks at the big race. I also have selections for the three other handicaps. Fifth Column got us off the mark in the finale yesterday (advised 9/2).
York 2.25: Talismans Time & Novelista
Two horses who have got in with lightweights are fancied for the Melrose.
In truth it is very difficult to weigh up TALISMANS TIME, who has raced just twice this season, winning four and five runner fields at Hamilton. That form is worth very little, but it could just be that the horse has been let in lightly as a result.
More can probably be taken from his handicap debut last month, where he travelled sweetly behind the leader, and then put the race to bed very quickly 2f out without his jockey needing recourse to the whip. He has only been given a 5lb rise for that so 85 could under-estimate his true value. He only has an extra furlong to cover here, has proven himself on fast ground and hopefully he can take the step up in class in his stride.
NOVELISTA has had a few more runs than would normally be expected of a Melrose winner, but he remains unexposed at this distance, whilst being a proven stayer at it. He has suffered two photo finish defeats in both attempts at the trip, both in valuable handicaps.
He was then unsurprisingly targeted at Glorious Goodwood, a meeting the Johnston’s always send as many runners as possible at. However that meant stepping back to 12f where he just lacked the natural pace of the front three. Nevertheless a staying on fourth was a decent effort and back up in trip over a more galloping track, he is still at the right end of the handicap and is fully battle hardened now.
York 3.35: London City, Shadow Dance & Ascending
This looks so tough that three attempts are needed.
I am surprised that Ryan Moore has overlooked LONDON CITY of the Ballydoyle pair and Sean Levey looks to have picked up a live outsider here. He was sent over for the Dante meeting here last season, winning a 12f handicap and finding plenty for pressure.
He folded up in a listed race at Limerick last time, but presumably met with a setback as we did not see him again for fully 12 months. When he returned he looked in need of the run at the Curragh and was an unconsidered outsider for a Group 2 there last time out. He was not disgraced only 7l behind Al Riffa, and that run will surely have brought him to peak fitness for today.
First choice would probably be SHADOW DANCE, a winner here over 12f at this meeting twelve months ago. Off the bridle some way out that day, he had the class to get to the front late on but shaped as if he would have more to offer at 14f.
He did not quite get home over the extended 14f at Doncaster next time, but had slower ground to contend with that time. He has had an even more belated start to the season, only being seen the once at Glorious Goodwood over an inadequate 10f. I thought that was a really encouraging start as he was making good ground up late and we know he will be better suited by this track and distance.
ASCENDING drops back 6f in distance after winning the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting. I think he won that day through his class and despite the distance as I thought on breeding he was unlikely to stay that far. It was something of an accident that he ran in that race as he was being aimed for the 14f handicap but was balloted out.
So I don’t think the drop in trip will be a problem at all. He was quick enough to win a good 12f handicap at Cork on his previous start. He has only been given a 3lb rise for Ascot and has been kept back for this since by trainer Henry de Bromhead who saddled the winner of this last season.
York 4.10: Northern Ticker & Twilight Calls
Two sprinters at the opposite ends of their careers are fancied here.
NORTHERN TICKER travels like a dream in his races and shapes like a group horse in the making. The problem is he has not always found at the business end of the race. However perhaps he has not quite been right this season, as a lot of the Dods horses have. The fact though the yard is really in full gear now provides plenty of hope.
He cruised through the big 3yo handicap here in June before fading on his first start. He kept going far better at Hamilton for the Scottish Stewards Cup where an unfavoured low draw was no help. However he ran on well up the hill and on only his third start of this campaign ought to be cherry ripe for now.
TWILIGHT CALLS has been highly tried throughout his career and was even in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot this season. He is probably not at that level any more but showed when finishing fifth in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood, winning the race on his side of the track that the fire still burns.
A more convenient middle draw is provided today and I think a sharp 6f like this will be his optimum now. He has actually been dropped a pound since Goodwood leaving him on his lowest mark since winning a Newmarket handicap off 94 back in early 2022.
York 5.20: Greek Order
Just the one selection for the last where I am hoping the switch back up to 10f will do the trick for GREEK ORDER.
This horse was very progressive for the Charltons in 2023, winning the Esher Cup over a mile and then following up over this trip with ease at Newbury. His reputation was enhanced by a second place in the Cambridgeshire on fast ground. He as then shipped out to race in America for last season, but that did not go so well.
Sold and brought back to the UK for new connections this season, he has run some cracking races in defeat. He has made the first four in all three races, the Hunt Cup the Coral Challenge at Sandown and the Golden Mile at Goodwood. He has only gone up 2lbs in total for all those good efforts and proven at this longer distance he can gain a well deserved success in the final race of the York fixture.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Talismans Time – 2.25 York – 10/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Novelista – 2.25 York – 9/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
0.5pts each-way – London City – 3.35 York – 22/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Shadow Dance – 3.35 York – 8/1 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Ascending – 3.35 York – 12/1 Bet365, Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 6)
0.5pts each-way – Twilight Calls – 4.10 York – 16/1 Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Northern Ticker – 4.10 York – 14/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Greek Order – 5.20 York – 5/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
