UK- York 5/15-5/17

[tenfurlongs]

The three-day Dante meeting begins Wednesday on the Knavesmire at York, with the going currently rated Good, good-to-firm in places, with showers possible. 

Wednesday features the Duke of York (GII) at 6F for 3up, and the Musidora S. (GIII) for 3yo fillies at 1M2 1/2F as an Oaks prep.

Thursday offers the Middleton Fillies S. (GII) at 1M2 1/2F for 4up f&m, and the Dante Stakes (GII) at 1M2 1/2F, a traditional Derby prep with Arabian Crown (Appleby), Caviar Heights (Burke) and Diego Velazquez (A. O'Brien) among the current top ten in pre-Derby wagering.

Friday caps off the meeting with the 1M6F Yorkshire Cup (GII), with a fine field of stayers including Kyprios and Tower Of London from Aidan O'Brien.

Good betting each day with double-digit fields in all the supporting races. First post each day is 9:15am ET.






Wednesday

YOR R3 (10:15am ET)- 6f 1895 Duke Of York Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-15/863450

YOR R4 (10:45am ET)- 1m2½f (1m2f56y) Musidora Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-15/865666


Thursday

YOR R3 (10:15am ET)- 1m2½f (1m2f56y) Middleton Fillies' Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (4yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-16/863452

YOR R4 (10:45am ET)- 1m2½f (1m2f56y) Dante Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-16/863451


Friday

YOR R4 (10:45am ET)- 1m6f (1m5f188y) Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (4yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-17/863453


www.racingpost.com/news/whats-on-this-week/whats-on-this-week-more-classic-clues-at-yorks-dante-meeting-before-inspirals-planned-return-in-lockinge-at-newbury-aEgPr2S6cz1H

www.attheraces.com/stable-tours/roger-varian

www.attheraces.com/stable-tours/andrew-balding




TW

[tenfurlongs]

York- Wednesday

GOING: GOOD, Good to firm in places


YOR R1 (9:15am ET)- 1m4f (1m3f188y) Jorvik Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-15/865667

#3- Marhaba the Champ (9-2) is two-for-two at York, with a career-best handicap win here in August. Won a similar event here on reappearance last year with Wm Buick, who is aboard again today. I liked #5- Kiavah (8-1) last time at Newmarket, but he ran an uninspiring fourth going two furlongs farther. He's a true HFTC (5//3-0-0), needed a couple of runs last term before running off four straight victories, hoping a return to his favorite venue and Oisin Murphy on his back will bring forth his best effort. 

EX- 3,5/1,3,5,7,8,10


YOR R2 (9:45am ET)- 21 runners going 6F in this traditional Class 2 handicap. Never know who's laid out for this race, and who's looking to get race fit. Treading lightly with #4- Aberama Gold (12-1) which had a busy 2023 with 18 races and five wins. His rating is back down to 96, so he might be making a big effort here, noting blinkers added. #9- Mr. Wagyu (15-1) venerable 9yo making his 85th career start, no wins last year but a few good efforts, second on seasonal debut at Ripon, gets blinkers today and fits well at the weights. 

WIN- 9  EX- 4,9/4,5,9,14




TW

[tenfurlongs]

YOR R3 (10:15am ET)- 6f 1895 Duke Of York Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-15/863450

I've been following #8- Mill Stream (10-1) since his debut win at Doncaster as a 2yo. Expensive son of Gleneagles is easy to spot during a race in the green/yellow/red sash colours of Mr. Harris, improved quickly as a 3yo, just missed on 4yo debut at Newmarket against several of these, he should come on for that run and gets Wm Buick aboard today. #11- Spycatcher (8-1) was third just behind Mill Stream at Newmarket, had a fine 2023 season (7//2-2-2), gets the eyebrow-raising jockey booking of Ryan Moore.

EX- 8,11/3,8,11,13,14,15


YOR R4 (10:45am ET)- 1m2½f (1m2f56y) Musidora Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-15/865666

#3- Friendly Soul (4-5) is undefeated in two starts, an AW debut and a smashing Listed win at Newmarket last out in the Pretty Polly Stakes, beating the highly-regarded Juddmonte runner Kalpana, and they were a dozen lengths clear of the rest. Dam is the blue hen In Clover, which has produced the GI-winners With You, Call The Wind, and We Are, all for Mr. Strawbridge. This is her first Kingman offspring. Gosden yard has produced SEVEN of the last 13 winners of this race. Also using #2- Francophone (8-1) Study Of Man homebred by Miss Rausing. Won seasonal debut on AW, should love the trip at the extended 10F+, jockey Fanning is one of the best in the business at taking the lead and walking-the-dog if no one else wants it. Price should compensate.

WIN- 2  EX- 3/1,2,6,7


YOR R5 (11:15am ET)- 7f Handicap (Class 3) (3yo 0-95)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-15/865671

#1- Mortlake (8-1) didn't run badly in season ending GIII at Sandown, previous Novice win points him out. #9- Expensive Queen (5-1) ran well in three 2yo starts, likes 7F on good ground, trainer Ryan reaches out to Ryan Moore for the mount. Spreading wide in this one.

EX- 1,9/1,2,4,5,7,8,9


YOR R6 (11:45am ET)- 5f British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (IRE Incentive Race) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 2) (2yo)

No bets here, just looking for possible Royal Ascot runners. #10- Station X (5-1) is interesting off his debut second in $$ EBF Novice race at Musselburgh, third-place runner came back to win impressively. Dark Angel x Kodiac mare, let's go sprinting.


Good luck if you play, and you should.




TW

[eye123]

Maybe Wahraan rates a look(flutter) in the last race. 

[tenfurlongs]

Maybe Gibside in Race 7.




TW

[eye123]

Start for Wahraan was sickening. Tough day at Ascot.

[tenfurlongs]

Tough day on Wednesday, with a horse breaking down and two jockeys unseated. From a wagering standpoint, pitched a shutout although Mill Stream just got his nose down at the right time to win the 1895 Duke of York S. (GII), and Francophone ran on well to be second in the Musidora S. (GIII) with the heavy favorite running out of the money. One of those days where I didn't understand most of the results, which I don't like and made me revisit my analysis, to no avail. On to the next one.


York-Thursday


GOING: GOOD (Overall 6.9; Home straight: Far side 6.9, Centre 6.8, Stands' side 6.9) (Showers)


Not touching the 5F first race, I felt clueless in the sprints yesterday so won't chase my money today. The second race is the Hambleton Handicap at a mile, and a few of my favorite runners are entered, so I may make a few win/place wagers after watching the parade ring (Dutch Decoy, Northern Express.) The Middleton Stakes (GII) is down to five runners and will likely go to either Bluestocking or Free Wind, not a betting event anyways.


YOR R4 (10:45am ET)- 1m2½f (1m2f56y) Dante Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo)

www.racingpost.com/racecards/107/york/2024-05-16/863451

3yos with Derby dreams and the way this division has been wildly unpredictable so far this season, I can't invest in a horse that has yet to run a race this year. Falling back on my love for Sea The Stars as a 10F sire, siding with #4- Caviar Heights (5-1) for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee. Progressed well as a 2yo until a season-ending no-show in the Royal Lodge S. (GII), ran third in the Feilden S. (Listed) on sophomore debut before stepping up to 10F and crushing an overmatched bunch in the Newmarket Stakes (Listed). This will be his third race in a month, since joining the Burke yard over the winter. I'm betting that they'll go for the French Derby (Prix du Jockey Club, 10F, Chantilly) instead of stepping up in trip to the 12F Epsom race, assuming all is well following todays run.

WIN- 4




TW

[1hooper]

Dante winner worth following. Big white blaze. Dam graded winner at 2400m.