York selections Wednesday 21st August
The opening day at York and we have a cracking start to the meeting with the biggest ever field assembled for the International Stakes. City of Troy is the one to beat, but I think there are several viable alternatives at an each-way price. In total I am focussing on three races on the card.
York 1.50: Shagraan & JM Jungle
Two horses stand out amongst a maximum field for the opening sprint handicap.
SHAGRAAN joined Mick Appleby over the winter and finally got the big win his fine form in 2024 deserved when winning a 5f handicap at Glorious Goodwood. I thought he won despite the sharp track and minimum distance that day and a return to a more conventional track and extra half-furlong can see him to even better effect today.
He is 4ls better off with Pilgrim for a 2l beating at Royal Ascot, but I think conditions will be more in Shagraan’s favour today. He perhaps struggles to see out a full 6f distance, but this intermediate trip on fast ground might turn out to be his absolute optimum. Appleby has not saddled a winner since that Goodwood meeting, but ten of his last fourteen runners have finished in the first four, so I don’t think we need worry too much about stable form.
JM JUNGLE was a fine third in this race last season from a 4lbs higher mark, so a repeat performance today clearly puts him in with a fine chance. On the negative side he has technically not won a race since, although he did win easily a race in Bahrain over the winter only to be later disqualified for having a prohibited substance in his system.
However this strong traveller has run consistently well all season and on his last two starts was fourth in one of Ireland’s biggest 5f handicaps at the Curragh and a solid fifth at Glorious Goodwood. Aside from his third place in this last year, he was also second and fourth in two other big field handicaps here and although only seventh at the May meeting here, he was drawn on the unfavoured near side that day. Stall six could be ideal as low draws tend to be better on the straight track early in this meeting on fast ground.
York 3.35: Calandagan
Although he is yet to even contest a Group 1 race, there are good reasons to think that CALANDAGAN can feature strongly and put this up to hot favourite City of Troy.
He produced a stunning effort to win the King Edward at Royal Ascot by 6l, producing a devastating last to first effort in the finishing straight. He relished the fast ground at Ascot, the first time he had officially run on ground quicker than soft. Whilst the opposition that day was not of the calibre of today, the manner of victory was very much that of a Group 1 horse. This race is 1 1/2f shorter but the speed he showed last time was enough to suggest the shorter distance will be fine.
As a gelding he is not eligible for the Arc, so this is likely to be his number one target for the season. The fact Ballydoyle run a pacemaker in Hans Andersen will only help to create a test of stamina and help bring Calandagan’s finishing burst into greater play.
York 4.10: Samui & Knightswood
A classy renewal of this 2m handicap and two horses unexposed at the distance are fancied.
SAMUI is best known as a classy hurdler who won the Lartigue at the Listowel Festival last autumn. However he does need fast ground to be at his best and whilst he was not disgraced at the top spring Festivals, conditions were against him at those meetings.
I can totally understand therefore why Gordon Elliott has chosen to campaign him on the flat and after two solid efforts in novice company at middle distances, he romped to an extraordinary 17l win at Killarney in a handicap over 17f last time. The going was suitably quick that day and he will get similar conditions again today. The handicapper has not missed him by upping him 13lbs, but the galloping track here is likely to suit and he might turn out to be a group class stayer on the flat.
KNIGHTSWOOD tries 2m for the first time, but looks more than worth a go after a series of unlucky defeats this season. None more so that at Goodwood over 14f last time when he made good headway 1f out only to run into a dead end.
A similar thing happened when second at Haydock in June and in almost every race this season he has done his best work at the finish. The handicapper could do nothing with his mark after Goodwood but on that evidence he is clearly well handicapped off 88. Everything suggests he should stay 2m and there is a lack of early pace in this race so stamina may not get overly tested on this fast ground. The wide nature of this track also means luck in running should be less of a factor than it has been in recent outings for him.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Shagraan – 1.50 York – 7/1 Bet365, William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – JM Jungle – 1.50 York – 9/1 Bet365, William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Calandagan – 3.35 York – 15/2 William Hill, Ladbrokes
1pt each-way – Samui – 4.10 York – 4/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Knightswood – 4.10 York – 13/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)
