Meagre picking this Sunday as the “Family Fun Day” at York affords the bookies the same opportunity to fleece punters as a Ladies’ Day featuring several low class events.
The stayers’ handicap at 4:05 features two in form horses that both have to defy the handicapper. Mick Easterby’s seven year old Hot Spice easily collected an amateurs’ race last time for Serena Brotherton but has been hiked 12lb, which leaves him needing to put in a career best performance to win. Sir Mark Prescott’s Amour De Nuit was routed by The Cashel Man at Newmarket yet his two previous victories see the three year old come here on a 9lb higher mark, but I will not be getting involved at the available prices.
The sprint handicap at 4:40 features a number of in-form runners. Ocean Sheridan ran up a hat-trick on soft ground at Hamilton and comes here six pounds higher. Kristin Stubbs’ Soie D’leau is three pounds higher than his latest Chester win and could well try to make all but was soundly beaten in his one race on soft ground. The eye is immediately drawn to James Fanshawe’s three year old The Tin Man. All three of his career starts have been over Doncaster’s six furlongs on fast ground and his latest victory saw his rating rise 12lb. A chance is taken that he will be okay on the slower ground as the month off since three quick races should have strengthened him up; however, at the paltry 9/4 to win a twenty runner handicap, this is a no bet.
In the 3:00, there are potentially four front-runners, which results in the obvious danger of them cutting each other’s throats going too quick from the gate. The most notable entry is Eddie Lynam’s three year old filly Fort Del Toro, a hold up filly who was third to Mattmu in a Group 3 last time but is too short a price. Lucky Kristale continues to disappoint (no win in two years) and is hard to fancy and Online Alexander is weighted to reverse Pontefract running with Divine. At Newmarket, MUBTAGHAA finally opened his account for the year in a valuable handicap so a chance is taken that Hanagan will not get carried away up front like he did on Adaay yesterday.
