York selections Wednesday 19th August
The North stages arguably its biggest fixture of the season this week with the Ebor fixture at York. After two months of non stop heat and sun, this week looks somewhat different and the card could even kick off on the soft side of good with morning rain predicted. I am starting the week looking at the two big open handicaps on day 1.
York 1.50: Corolla Point & Air Force One
I have narrowed down my shortlist to two by picking the two horses most adaptable to ground conditions.
COROLLA POINT has been the model of consistency throughout his relatively short career and in six starts since joining Ed Bethell has yet to finish out of the first three. He narrowly but bravely defied top weight in the Soba Handicap at Hamilton on his last start, that photo finish win ensuring he only went up a further 3lbs in the handicap.
The extra half-furlong today could be crucial as he shapes as if he does want a bit further than 5f now. He already has a cracking run at this track to his name when third at the Dante meeting over 5f and was then only just touched off on the All Weather in the Gosforth Park Cup.
However he showed his prowess on soft ground when winning on his last start of 2025 at Hamilton on soft ground, before beginning this campaign with a solid staying on third at Beverley when there was some dig.
The horse who beat him at Beverley that day is my other selection AIR FORCE ONE. Despite a solid season since, he is actually 3lbs better off with Corolla Point to confirm form. He is certainly in the form to take advantage of that.
His last run saw him place third here over 6f at the last meeting, despite pulling too hard off an unusually slow pace for a sprint. Whilst 6f probably stretches his stamina, this intermediate distance will suit ideally, as it did when he was second in this race at last year’s meeting. That run came after winning over 5f here the previous month, so he is well suited by the Knavesmire.
York 4.10: Small Fry
After an incredibly unlucky defeat at Glorious Goodwood, SMALL FRY can make amends around this far more conventional track where luck in running should be in better supply.
This horse was very progressive for Gary Moore in early 2025, winning a handicap at the big Chester meeting before justifying favouritism for a 12f handicap on Derby Day at Epsom. Prior to that he had shown excellent form with cut in the ground in late 2024, winning at the same two tracks.
He was then purchased to join Joseph O’Brien for the end of last season. He was only ninth in the Irish Cesarewitch, but has come back better than ever this year. Second over hurdles at Listowel in May, that was essentially just a warm up for Royal Ascot where 2m4f might just have stretched him when only sixth in the Ascot Stakes.
Dropped back to 14f at Goodwood last time, he would surely have won but for getting badly shuffled back 2f out. That he recovered to finish second was hugely to his credit and he should really have no problem staying the extra 2f today. A 4lbs rise should not stop him.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Corolla Point – 1.50 York – 11/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Air Force One – 1.50 York – 8/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt win – Small Fry – 4.10 York – 5/2 general
