York, Sandown & Chester selections Saturday 13th June
Plenty of decent racing across the country today so I am spreading my selections across the big three British flat racing fixtures with the best actions coming from the traditional charity raceday at York. Arklow Lad landed us the Epsom Dash last week (advised 9/1).
Chester 1.35: Miraculous
If he can handle the softest ground he has ever raced on, MIRACULOUS has huge claims around a track he has excelled at in the past. A drying day will surely help his cause.
We last saw him on the Roodee at the big May meeting where he would have gone close but for meeting trouble in running in the final furlong. Since then he has raced two respectable races away from Chester but has dropped 4lbs since that last run here when he looked well enough handicapped even then.
Last season he appeared twice at Chester, winning on the first occasion and then finishing second on the latter occasion, both over this 6f trip. He was a full 10lbs higher when taking that second place last August and stall 6 looks a decent enough draw today.
York 1.50: Arqoob
One of the principal amateur races remaining in the flat race calendar, the Queen Mother Cup at York takes place today and as usual the benefit of an experienced pilot has to be taken into account. There is no better rider in the race then Brodie Hampson and her presence on ARQOOB can make the difference here.
The 8yo ran as well as could be expected on his seasonal debut when fifth at Newmarket last month and that will have served its purpose as a nice warm up for this race which was presumably the real target. This dual purpose horse had been on the go for a long while, mixing flat and hurdles races, but a winter off could have done him could and this race could set up well.
Generally a hold up performer, Arqoob seems to perform best on tracks with a long finishing straight, gaining his last win at Newmarket last summer. Although there is a smaller than usual field today, I expect a decent gallop and Hampson has the experience to wait and deliver her mount for a late run.
Sandown 3.17: Raammee
If he is able to settle better today, RAAMMEE is surely good enough to win a race of this type and having blown away the cobwebs of his seasonal return here two weeks ago, and with the application of a hood to help him settle, Roger Varian’s 4yo can see this out today.
He has always been a keen sort, but made no mistake in two novice races on the All Weather in late summer, having made a belated track debut. He came from miles back on the first run having been clueless early on, but made all on the second outing.
He showed his ability on turf and in handicap company when finishing fourth here on his return to the track but did himself no favours by pulling too hard and then chasing the fast pace set by Nostrum. He still held every chance 1f out before fading up the hill, but hopefully a combination of the headgear and the extra experience gained in that last run will see him settle better today. If so he looks very much the one to beat.
York 3.35: Man of Vision & Red Spells Danger
Two against the field for this always ultra competitive 3yo sprint.
MAN OF VISION showed ability as a juvenile in two runs on turf, including one at Newmarket. However he also showed signs of temperament, playing up at the start. As a result he was gelded in the autumn and showed immediate benefits of that with a win at Wolverhampton over Christmas.
He made his handicap debut back at his local track Newmarket failing narrowly to claw back Ten Carat Harry on 2000 Guineas day. He showed himself to be well handicapped that day and can make his presence felt off a mark just 3lbs higher today.
RED SPELLS DANGER has been revitalised by a drop in trip from 7f to 6f and can defy a 10lb rise for a runaway win at Hamilton last month. He cruised his way through that race and proved his wide margin win over the same trip at Ripon previously was no fluke.
He has already run some good races at this track as a juvenile albeit over the longer trip. He was sixth in a valuable sales race at the back end, had finished sixth in a competitive maiden at the Ebor meeting and made his racecourse debut here when third last July. However he was not quite getting home over the 7f and has already shown he is the real deal over this 6f.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Miraculous – 1.35 Chester –9/2 William Hill (1/4 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Arqoob – 1.50 York – 17/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt win – Raammee – 3.17 Sandown – 3/1 general
1pt each-way – Man of Vision – 3.35 York – 8/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Red Spells Danger – 3.35 York – 9/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 6)
