York selections Friday 22nd August
Day three at York and the big highlight is the Nunthorpe over the flying five with a huge field assembled given the lack of a superstar sprinter this season. My two fancies are Irish fillies who should appreciate the flat track and fast ground. I also have selections for two other races on the card.
York 1.50: Champagne Prince
Although he has shown all his best form on the All Weather, I think there are enough reasons to think that CHAMPAGNE PRINCE can come good on turf and this race represents a real opportunity to grab a maiden win on grass.
He was a listed winner on the All Weather at Kempton in the winter, before finishing fourth in the Winter Derby. He came back after a break to finish a fair sixth over 14f at Royal Ascot before bombing out at Newmarket last month over the same trip. I am not sure he truly stays that far and should be more comfortable back at 12f today, the trip over which he has excelled on an artificial surface.
He also seems more at home leading a small field, so has not had that opportunity in competitive turf handicaps recently. However we have a pretty small field today considering the money on offer and there does not look to be a huge amount of early pace on here. That might just give David Egan the chance to boss this race from the front. He has been gelded since that last run and he has been dropped 2lbs since his last run, all of which can benefit him here.
York 3.35: Shes Quality & Lady Iman
In a very open Group 1 sprint, I like the chances of two Irish fillies taking their chance.
SHES QUALITY has placed second in all four starts this season, on each occasion being beaten by an opponent she takes on again today. However a sharp, flat track like today should see her in a better light and I can see her turning the tables on the wider drawn Rumstar who wore down the selection on stiffer tracks like Sandown and Newmarket.
Shes Quality was ridden with more restraint at Goodwood on her last start and probably ended too far back. However she did finish the race strongly and on ground that was probably a bit softer than ideal. I expect her to be ridden more positively today and her natural speed is her biggest asset.
She might have to go some though to fight off LADY IMAN with that 2yo getting such a big weight pull. The Ger Lyons filly has a real professional air about her and showed with her Molecomb win at Goodwood, prior to the heavy rains arriving that she is a pacy individual that bounces off fast ground.
Connections will surely want to cash in with her whilst she shows this raw speed as she is not an obvious type to train on to three. She has though already shown the stamina to win a Group 3 over 6f and that ability to maintain her speed could be important in such as strong contest here.
York 5.20: Fifth Column
A terrific contest to round off Friday at York, with any number of improving 3yos in the field. Preference is for the well drawn FIFTH COLUMN.
He ran a cracker last time to finish fifth in the Golden Mile at Goodwood even though he was taking on his elders and did not seem in love with the track, and certainly not with the softer ground. Back on a sound surface and flatter track, he will be far more at home in this race, especially from a favourable draw in five.
He has been progressive all season with wins in the Esher Cup at Sandown and in the bet365 Mile at the Newmarket July meeting. In between times he ran far better than seventh suggested at Royal Ascot as he won his race on the unfavoured far side. With a nice racing weight of 9-2 today he looks the one to beat for the big race winning connections of Godolphin, the Gosdens and William Buick.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Champagne Prince – 1.50 York – 12/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Shes Quality – 3.35 York – 11/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Lady Iman – 3.35 York – 7/1 William Hill, Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Fifth Column – 5.20 York – 9/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
