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13:55 York Gold Prince is a real likeable type who always runs his race and although he’s yet to win since August of last year he’s ran some cracking races in defeat this year. He doesn’t jump out as been particularly well handicapped but hes run extremely well on his last two starts off this mark at Glorious Goodwood and again two weeks ago over two miles in the Shergar Cup. He has certainly giving the impression he’s up to winning a race off this mark and whether today’s that day i’m not sure but he’ll most definitely give you a run for your money at an E/W price in a wide open race and he will be tough to keep out of the frame. His trainer Sylvester Kirk couldn’t have his horses in better form at the minute and with Frankie back in saddle the Nayef gelding has plenty in his favour. Mijhaar is the other one that interests me on only his third start for David O’Meara after previously been with John Ferguson. His form since joining David O’Meara is nothing to get excited about but it might just be that he has been trained with today in mind. He was thrown in at the deep end on his stable debut last month when contesting the John Smith’s Cup at this course and failed to fire at Musselburgh two weeks ago but he’s dropped to an attractive mark (8lb below his last winning mark). He wears a visor for the first time today too and that may just sharpen him up a bit. Barsanti has improved no end since joining Roger Varian and has the best form on offer, finishing third and second on his last two starts in listed company he drops back into handicap company with a mark of 105 which means he has top weight to cope with. He’s likely to be at the top of the market but will find it tough off a big weight. Stars Over The Sea is another who comes here in good form and the quicker the ground the better for him. He ran well in a similar race at Goodwood but comes here with a 7lb higher mark. Sindarban and Dawn Missile are also worth a mention and like Stars Over The Sea they’ll want quick ground. Money for Moonmeister should be noted for a shrewd trainer and he’s interesting off a low weight. Gold Prince (E/W) Mijhaar (E/W)
14:30 York It’s a shame the second race of the day doesn’t provide us with eight runners as potentially some each way value could be on offer. Unfortunately with just the seven set to go to post I have to look for a winner and I just can’t see past the Ed Dunlop trained favourite. Trip To Paris went from top handicapper to Ascot Gold Cup winner and this race looks well within its grasps. There’s no doubts that the likes of Clever Cookie and at a bigger price Quest For More are going to throw down a challenge but sometimes the betting is the biggest guide and Trip To Paris looks set to add another group success to its prestigious career today. Trip To Paris (WIN)
15:05 York Nemoralia was a little disappointing in France on her last run but before that ran a belter in the Coronation at Royal Ascot when finishing second to the top class Qemah who has since gone on to win the Rothschild and Alice Springs who was third in that Ascot race has since won the Falmouth and if Nemoralia comes back to that form she’ll no doubt be very hard to beat. She finished third at the Breeders Cup last year and made a mockery of her opposition in a listed race at this course back in May. The drop back to seven furlongs for this in my opinion will see her in better light as she has an awful lot of pace and as long as the ground stays on the quick side I cant see what’s going to beat her. Forge was third in the Jersey behind two smart horses who have since franked the form and he might prove the biggest danger with Pat Smullen taking over in the saddle from Ryan Moore. He seems to be improving all the time and should be competitive. Librisa Breeze is stepping into group company for the first time and has looked every inch a group three/listed class animal based on his last two starts. So Beloved makes up the shortlist but in truth they’ll all be running for second if Nemoralia brings her A game and the ground stay good to firm. Nemoralia (WIN)
15:40 York The showpiece race of the day is the five furlong, group 1, Nunthorpe Stakes. A race that’s been won by some top class horses in the past including two that renew acquaintances in the form of Meccas Angel and Sole Power. It’s fair to say that Sole Power isn’t the force it once was but priced up at 33/1 and it seems that could be a mighty underestimation of the sprinting veteran. That being said however the Irish raider does look a shadow of the horse it once was and is likely to be open to a few improvers. Mecca’s Angel won this race last year and as the rain has started to fall in Yorkshire the ground is slowly but surely easing unfortunately for Michael Dods runner it looks too little too late and the best the horse can hope for is good ground. Likely to be there or thereabouts but looks set for place money at best. Limato has been the talking horse all week and sits as a clear favourite. Unfortunately for Henry Candy’s runner the horse really does want it on the quicker side and this rain is far from a welcome sight. The horse has undoubted class but the question mark over the weather has, for want of a better phrase, put a dampener on things. With a huge field set to go to post I’m going to opt for two horses at double figured odds to hopefully figure in the places. Martin Harley jumps onboard Goldream who put in a decent effort to finish fifth in this race last year. A low draw looks beneficial and is drawn near some speedy types. A more promising prep run this time around, compared to last season, should put the horse in good stead and at around 14/1 it looks worth taking a shot with. The other horse that’s worth taking a small bet on is number one on the race card Brando. With the stable in form after yesterday’s success this ultra consistent performer will have welcomed the site of rain and at a decent price could go close. Goldream (E/W) Brando (E/W)
16:20 York A tricky maiden in which you could make a case for all the runners. Ten of the fourteen runners have already made at least one appearance and Portledge is the one that I like of the ones we’ve seen so far. He was third at a big price on his debut at Doncaster in what may prove to be a very decent maiden. The winner that day was trained by John Gosden and looked very good when eased down towards the finish. The second has since gone on to win a maiden by six lengths and also looked smart. The fourth shaped with plenty of promise and holds some fancy entries. Portledge himself gave the impression he’d improve from that outing and if he has improved from it he could go very close. His trainer James Bethell doesn’t have many two year old winners but he might have a nice horse on his hands with this fellow. Max Zorin, Rivet and Dance Teacher all finished second on their debuts and you’d expect them to improve with preference for Max Zorin. Via Serendipity looks the pick of the newcomers but in truth its a tricky puzzle to solve. Portledge (E/W)
16:55 York We close the day with a big runner one mile handicap where Luca Cumani looks to be saddling the one to be on in the form of Banksea. Cumani has a great record at York and the Andrea Atzeni ridden runner looks set to go well from stall seven. The market leader Bobby Wheeler is open to improve on its second placed finish last time out and although Clive Cox’s yard also do well here at York I couldn’t be on the favourite with so many runners set to race. My second of two selections comes from Tom Dascombe’s yard who send Arcanda into the race. The potentially softer than expected conditions should play into the horses hands and from a low draw shouldn’t have too much traffic problems to over come. Of the remaining runners the Irish outsiders Spruce Meadows and Markhan are worth noting if they come for any market support. Spruce Meadows would’ve been a seriously player if the handicapper hadn’t been so ruthless and provided a severe eleven pound hike in the weights. Mick Channon bagged a winner here yesterday but surely Blacklister’s winning run can’t continue, especially in a race this competitive and of course Kevin Ryan’s runners have to be respected at York despite their huge prices. Never the less I’m hoping Cumani’s and Dascombe’s form continues. Banksea (E/W) Arcanda (E/W)
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