York selections Saturday 22nd August
All too soon we reach the final day of four at York and today should be the best day weather wise of the week. It also looks the most exciting from a punting perspective, highlighted by the big betting race of the week, the Ebor. I have two selections for the big race, but have also looked at two of the other big handicaps on an ultra competitive card. Blue Courvoisier kept up the good week when winning the opener on Friday’s card (advised 8/1), whilst Say What You See was placed for the each-way bet (advised 12/1).
York 2.25: Mythical Bay
It has certainly been Andrew Balding’s week so far on the Knavesmire and he can achieve another big race win through MYTHICAL BAY in the Melrose, a race the stable won last season with Tarriance.
This horse ticks all the right boxes given he is already a winner at this 14f trip, when just touching off Magnetude at Newmarket, despite idling in the closing stages. Prior to that he had won on good-to-soft at Newbury, this time with far more comfort, so there are no stamina or ground issues as far as this gelding is concerned.
He is also improving dramatically, that win over Magnetude avenging an earlier defeat against the same horse at Chester in May. Given the stable form he does seem a sensible each-way angle.
York 3.35: Emit & Klassleader
Another classy Ebor featuring several horses usually too highly rated for handicaps and verging on group class.
That is certainly the case with EMIT who won a listed race at Gowran last season before a pair of Group race seconds in France in the autumn – both on ground with plenty of cut. His third place to Scandinavia at Navan in the spring reads well over this trip and he is definitely a strong stayer at 14f.
His last two runs have been his first two in handicaps. Firstly he was a staying on fourth at the Curragh, probably coming from too far off the pace, and then things happened just a bit too quickly over 12f at Royal Ascot. The short finishing straight did not allow enough time for his stamina to come into play of the quick ground. However 2f extra, slightly slower ground and a longer run-in all look likely to see him in a better light.
KLASSLEADER is completely unexposed and deserves another chance back on some slower ground. Beaten in two fast ground novice events at the beginning of his career, he got off the mark on slower ground at Ffos Las before a promising second at Haydock completed his opening campaign, that run confirming his ability to stay 14f.
He was very well backed for his return here at the Dante meeting and justified that optimism with a classy win over 12f, seeing off the same horse that beat him at Haydock, Sing Us A Song. He blew out in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month, but seemed all at sea on the fast ground. His breeding,by Lope de Vega out of Klassique is all soft ground, so the dig still remaining in the York turf will surely see him back to form today.
York 4.10: Far Above Dream, Flash Harry & Coul Angel
Hot favourite Dance in the Storm looks a ridiculously short price for a horse that has never run over this short and as such I am going to chance my arm with three bigger priced horses.
First choice would be FAR ABOVE DREAM who has caught the eye with the way he travelled in both the Wokingham and Stewards Cup before not quite finding as much as expected off the bridle. However his stamina might just have been ebbing at Ascot, whilst he got a bit isolated on the near side at Goodwood and I thought Kieran Shoemark kicked for home about 100 yards too early.
He won on heavy ground at Goodwood last season, so hopefully he will cope with slightly slower ground today. I also think this flatter track might seem him to better effect and if Shoemark can be a little more patient, Far Above Dream can gain due reward for his summer efforts. I think he might be drawn favourably in the centre.
FLASH HARRY is a huge price, but there definitely were signs of a return to form when ninth in the Stewards Cup last time, despite stumbling at the start. He looked very promising last season, winning twice, including at Goodwood and he looks a pacy sort over 6f which should be good for this fast, flat track.
Indeed his pilot in the Shergar Cup overdid things on him last season when trying to make all over this 6f distance before fading in the final 100 yards. He did not show too much in his first two starts of this campaign, but I was encouraged by his Stewards Cup effort and if he can handle this slightly slower ground, his current price is an insult. Horses have often come near side for the final day at York, so his high draw could prove more advantageous than normal here.
COUL ANGEL has a more obvious chance based on his last run where he ploughed a lone furrow down the near rail, almost to maximum effect when beaten only by Stratusnine in the Sky Bet Dash. He had already run well at both Windsor and Newmarket this season and seems best coming from off a strong gallop.
That should happen here and he happens to be drawn 20 of 20 so another stint along the near rail could be in the offing. That might be more beneficial today as discussed with Flash Harry. He has only raced once on softer going, but was a good second at Windsor on that occasion, so should have no issues with the going, though it will be drying by race time.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Mythical Bay – 2.25 York – 6/1 general (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Emit – 3.35 York – 11/2 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Klassleader – 3.35 York – 15/2 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Far Above Dream – 4.10 York – 18/1 William Hill (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
0.5pts each-way – Flash Harry – 4.10 York – 66/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
0.5pts each-way – Coul Angel – 4.10 York – 18/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
