Friday
The step up in trip threatens to bring about plenty of improvement in MR MONACO in the opener at York today. Ralph Beckett’s improving 3 year old has been a bit of a slow burner so far this year, improving from run to run. He finally managed to get his head in front with a cosy success at Sandown last time out. He had the run of the race but it was noted how strong he was in the finish coming up the Sandown hill. That performance along with most of his runs this year suggested he should appreciate the step up to 1m 4f and if he does he could still be lurking on a very fair mark.
EUCHEN GLEN is just about a big enough price to justify a saver on him too. Jim Goldie has got this legend back into form and he has been running somewhere near his best recently so now returned to one of his favourite courses he has to be on the shortlist.
The Gimcrack looks like a proper renewal this year and I could make a case for most of the field. One I think is definitely overpriced is BILLBOARD STAR who like Celandine earlier in the week can put an average Goodwood display behind him. It was still a good run behind an impressive winner but I think he is better judged by his second placed effort at Newmarket behind the classy Whistlejacket. That performance said to me that he is a proper horse and shouldn’t be 20/1 here.
Similar comments apply to the Nunthorpe which looks like an ultra quick renewal this year. Track records could be vulnerable with some of the speed on show today and I’m hoping it might be BELIEVING who could do the job. George Boughey’s filly has improved all season and is seemingly getting quicker which bodes well ahead of this speedy test. The form of her last run puts her right up there with the market leaders so I’m not sure why she is 8/1 in all honesty and I expect her to be in the frame at the very least.
A speculative punt later in the card is USUARIO AMIGO who should appreciate the step up to 1 mile trip today. James Owen’s 3 year old has some good form in the book and with that in mind looks well weighted in a competitive handicap. There might be some classy types towards the top of the market but I wouldn’t be surprised if this lad gave them plenty to think about.
York 1.50 – Mr Monaco / Euchen Glen
York 3.00 – Billboard Star
York 3.35 – Believing
York 5.20 – Usuario Amigo
Saturday
The Ebor looks a little underwhelming in my view this year with plenty of exposed types declared. You’re normally looking for a potential Group horse in a handicap or an actual Group horse in a handicap and I don’t think there are too many of them. I’ve been all over EPIC POET for this race for some time and I’m not being put off now. David O’Meara’s french import has been one of the eyecatchers of the Summer with 3 runs where he has been staying on each time. Two of these runs have been over 10f here at York whilst the Ascot run over 12f was arguably his best run when he came from the clouds to finish second. The step up to 1m 6f threatens to bring about plenty of improvement based on that earlier evidence and at 8/1 he is a fair price.
At a much bigger price I would be half interested in YASHIN at 33/1 who ran well enough in this race last year to suggest he is capable of going close in a weaker renewal which this is. He hasn’t been far behind some top stayers in Ireland this year and does boast a profile of a likely winner of this race so I don’t think he should be discounted here.
I’m in too deep emotionally with APOLLO ONE and SUMMERGHAND to not back them tomorrow. There isn’t much I can say that you don’t already know about these two and both are a fair price tomorrow to have a dabble on.
TROPICAL STORM would be a strong selection from myself now dropped back to 5f. It looked pretty obvious that he didn’t quite stay 6f last time at Goodwood, leading the field at the furlong pole he trailed home closer to last than first. Back down to the minimum trip here I think he could blaze a trail and stay the 5f trip stringer than the others. His form in the book is by far the best.
Down at Newmarket, I’m interested to see how FUNNY STORY goes after putting in an eye-catching performance at Chester last time out. She stayed on powerfully from the back of the pack to knick third late on in a race which was dominated by the pacemakers. Quinalt runs again here but I hope over this stiffer track that the selection could reverse that form at double the price.
York 3.35 – Epic Poet / Yashin
York 4.10 – Apollo One / Summerghand
York 4.45 – Tropical Storm
Newmarket 3.55 – Funny Story
