O’MEARA’S ORBAAN OUT TO ADD TO YARD’S CLIPPER VICTORIES

15:00 York

David O'Meara has saddled two of the last eight winners of this and looks to hold a fairly strong hand, with four runners this time around. Instead of highlighting all of his runners here, we shall concentrate on two and start with the selection, Orbaan. Already a winner over the course and distance (Off this mark) he has rather struggled of late although he did run much better than his finishing position may suggest when last seen at Goodwood and Jamie Spencer looks an eye-catching booking. Significant negatives for this fairly lightly raced six year old would have to be that he appears best when coming off a strong pace, that being said, Spencer could hardly be a better booking for that role and he is suggested in the hope that the gaps appear late in the day.

Escobar went mightily close last time and knows exactly what it takes to score around here, he really should enjoy the way this race is run and despite being on a high enough mark, he is feared.

Maydanny has twice won major handicaps at Goodwood and arrives here on the back of doing so once more, now rated one hundred and six, it will take some effort to land this and he has disappointed here before.

Astro King has left the impression that he has one of these races in him a few times now, only to disappoint when asked to go and do so. Once more at Goodwood last time, he was well backed before failing to fire. Quite why or what was behind that latest effort is anyone's guess though he would have a good chance if putting it all in.

La Trinidad likes it here and won with plenty in hand last time, the handicappers reaction to that effort was a lenient looking penalty of six pounds. Today certainly demands more of the Roger Fell trained four year old although you would have to think that he has a favourites chance and Oisin Murphy retains the ride.

Fame And Acclaim has some strong looking form and looks to be a very big price at the current odds, a repeat of his close up third two starts ago here could well prove enough for a place or perhaps even better.

Baashir and Fox Champion look as capable as any of the rest although we shall hope Jamie Spencer can produce one of his trademark rides and pinch this deep inside the last furlong.

ORBAAN (E/W)

written by Chris Connolly