14:20 York The Sky Bet First Race Special Handicap over 1m2f is a highly competitive opening to the ITV racing coverage from the first day of York’s Dante meeting. John Quinn’s Speed Company could be the answer at a cracking each way price. He looks well treated for some nice form last term, Ryan Moore is the eye catching booking to do the steering and his reappearance last month at Epsom will have him spot on for this. He wasn’t beaten all that far that day and he looks set for a bold bid under the champion jockey so gets the nod. Frankie Dettori’s mount Al Neksh looked progressive last term with a hat trick of wins and he would be the most likely danger if fully wound up on his seasonal reappearance. SPEED COMPANY (E/W)
14:55 York Another really tricky handicap, this time over 6f, and it makes sense to seek out some each way value in a 20-runner field. David O’Meara has a terrific record on course and lines up two for this one, but it is Out Do, who catches the eye and is the booking of stable jockey Daniel Tudhope. The 8-year-old gelding held some illustrious company last term with races against the likes of Marsha, Profitable, Muthmir and Take Cover to name, but a few. There are no such superstars in opposition today and he has the benefit of a solid third place behind stablemate Intisaab last time out to build on and that seasonal reappearance will have him bang there for this one and he is the confident each way pick here. Dangers are of course a plenty in such a big field, but the main dangers will likely come from Richard Guest’s Udontdodou, who was a ready winner last time out or the bottom weight Flying Pursuit, who represents last year’s winning trainer. OUT DO (E/W)
15:30 York The feature race of the day is the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes over 6f and it is a mouthwatering prospect with some top class sprint stars getting their campaigns underway in this one. The Tin Man holds a number of these on various runs last season, but may struggle to concede weight to some classy rivals despite having a brilliant record running fresh. Charlie Hills’ stable star Magical Memory lines up looking to defend the title he won 12 months ago and he looks to have a massive chance of landing the spoils again here today under similar conditions with regular rider Frankie Dettori booked to ride. He has also won first time up off a long long lay off and he gets the nod to land the race for the second year running. The main danger to the selection will likely come from the Kevin Ryan trained Brando, who was an impressive of the Group 3 Abernant Stakes, but he has never won at this level and he may have to settle for the minor placings again today. MAGICAL MEMORY (WIN) – NAP
16:05 York The Group 3 Musidora run over 1m2f ends the day’s tv coverage and it looks a one-sided affair as John Gosden’s unbeaten three-year-old Shutter Speed looks to land the hat-trick. This would be another step forward with the first step into Group 3 company for the talented filly and her top class trainer looks to have found a nice opportunity for her here this afternoon so she gets the confident nod. Hugo Palmer’s Vintage Folly is also unbeaten after a debut success in a maiden at Newcastle on the all weather and actually turned over an odds-on hotpot from the Gosden team in Gymnaste, but the task today is a massive step up in class. The main danger will likely then come from Irish raider Vociferous Marina who looks the most battle hardened and should be bang there to serve it up to the selection should she fail to fire. SHUTTER SPEED (WIN)
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