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13:55 York We start today’s proceedings where Tasleet is by far the one to beat. It’s current 6/4 price reflects that after it’s second place finish in a Group 2 race at Goodwood. That sort of stand out form looks better than its rivals and with the yard in top gear everything points towards the market leader. However at 6/4 in a large field, with plenty of unexposed horses surely it has to be taken on? There’s been plenty of strong voices mentioning Richard Hannon’s Orvar and as second favourite clearly there’s market support. But a second placed finish in a four horse race and finishing fifth of nine (no matter how good a race) doesn’t fill me with a great deal of confidence and at 6/1 seems way too short. Despite the previously mentioned favourite, a chance will be taken on a locally trained runner. Richard Fahey always picks up a winner or two at this meeting and saddles Lathom in this. With decent form at five furlongs, including a win on good to soft ground I think the current double figured price seems far too generous. In my opinion the horse will relish the step up to six furlongs and being drawn the same side as the favourite should help. No doubt Tasleet is the one they all have to pass but at an each way price we’ll go for a punt on the number one horse. Lathom (E/W)
14:30 York Going from one two year old race to another to see the renewal of The Lowther. It’s a shame a few of the antepost runners such as the unbeaten Illuminate don’t maintain their entries but none the less I think this could work out to be one of the best races of the meeting. You couldn’t fail to be impressed by the way Besharah won at Ascot and that has to be the pick of the form. No doubt the horse will go close and, as with the favourite in the first, is another that comes from the in form yard of William Haggas. The horse has gone to post a total of five times so far and that’s quite a lot for a two year old. I think we’ve seen the horse play it’s best hand and although a group winner it may be open to horses with scope for improvement. The one I think with the biggest potential is the unbeaten favourite. Mark Johnston is another Yorkshire based trainer that picks up a few at this meeting and he maybe fortunate enough to have a horse with the potential to be a very good horse indeed. Lumiere’s maiden win was impressive enough and clearly connections think so to having supplemented them for this race. The horse holds Group 1 entries and this could be the start of a potential superstar blossoming. The price maybe short but if it wins convincingly it may never be as big a price again. Lumiere (WIN)
15:05 York Moving on from the two year olds and our first foray into the older generation is a one mile handicap. There may be twenty runners looking to line up but it’s clearly a race that trainer David O’Meara is looking to absolutely farm with a whopping eight runners. With 40% of the field he clearly has a chance and it’s difficult to actually work out which one is his more fancied runner. It’s not surprising that my selection actually hails from the yard and has the good fortune of having Champion Jockey “in meritus” Silvestre De Sousa in the irons. Fort Bastion ran an eye catching race when finishing sixth behind Balty Boys last time and now sits at a decent mark and one I hope it can capitalise on. Away from the O’Meara charge there are a few lightly raced sorts that are open to further improvement. The likes of Lady Cecil’s Western Reserve could progress again after it’s previous racecourse success and it’s interesting to note Irish jockey Pat Smullen has the ride. This is a marked step up in class and I’m not so convinced it can win although it’s place chances are firm. Of the rest if Bronze Angel can recapture its old form then it should have a chance and the same can be said for Mont Ras. The horse I fear the most however is Karl Burke’s You’re Fired. The horse seems to relish the course and should go close. Fort Bastion (E/W)
15:40 York The conclusion of today’s live action is the showpiece race of the day, The Yorkshire Oaks. It’d be great to see proverbial bridesmaid Jack Naylor scoop a big prize and if truth be told if it wasn’t for the favourite I’d be siding with her. Curvy is another horse the famished behind The Irish Oaks winner last time out when it came in third and has the potential of finishing closer this time round. It maybe a bit of a boring selection but I’m siding with Covert Love. The horse has made this season her own and despite not racing in the Epsom equivalent can scoop the Yorkshire Oaks today. Covert Love (WIN)