York Dante Festival – Day 3

Good morning all,

I've been in York all week and I have to say how noticeable the drop-off in the crowd has been. It was almost as if they hadn't opened the gates on Wednesday, yesterday was better but not brilliant, so hopes are pinned on the sun coming out today and getting a bit more of a crowd.

It's a shame, as there's been some great performances on the track this week, and I think we may well have seen the Derby winner yesterday. I think Stradivarious just about wins today but he's not really a bet, for me. To find out what might be, read on…

1.50 York – Marygate Fillies

Not really my sort of race, but I was at Nottingham when Lost Angel and Pillow Talk finished first and second and it looked a good race beforehand, with a few of them looking well. My notes for Lost Angel said she looked to have a touch of class about her, quite an athletic sort and Pillow Talk that she looked like she needed the run beforehand, and was a light-framed individual that should come on plenty.

Not hard to give both of them some sort of chance here, then, although I’ll also say I was at Newmarket for Miami Girl’s debut win and boy, did she impress as well. A totally different type, she’s already bigger than most 2yo fillies at this stage and really impressed with the way she went about things at Newmarket, quickening clear. If she acts on this different track, she’s probably the one to beat.

2.25 – Michael Seely Memorial Stakes

Another fillies race!

Patience has about run out with Rishes Baar now. Her debut win at Haydock last year, beating the useful Venturous in the process, was a tremendous effort and I thought she’d make up into a Group performer. She wasn’t best drawn at Ayr next time but still ran well, and whilst, on the figures, her fourth in the Oh So Sharp is a solid effort, I expected a bit more. Very disappointing on her first start of this year when well beaten by Cachet and the question now is whether she’s actually trained on. Look, if she’s 20-1 plus she’ll get one more chance, but others here have more improvement in them, and she now needs to go forward herself.

Nothing here stands out for me, but if Girl On Film is fit for her seasonal debut, she could go close. Impressive on her debut win at Newmarket, coming right away late on, she ran a cracker to be fifth in the G2 Rockfel on her only other start, looking badly in need of a mile as a minimum. That form is just about the best form on show. She goes up to a mile today, and with drying ground in her favour, she might be the one.

3.00 York – 1m2½f Handicap

Rogue Bear has been third in two big-field handicaps this season and can clearly win a race of this nature, but stepping up from a mile to an extended 10f is enough to make me look elsewhere today, especially with a few specialists at the trip in the field.

At a much bigger price, it’s Bollin Joan that catches the eye here. This is a quick turnaround for her after running at Ripon last weekend (under a 7lb claimer) but that is a huge positive, with five of her handicap wins coming within a week of her last run. She’s got form at York and the ground won’t be an issue either, and she looks far too big at 25-1 with extra places on offer too.

4.45 York – 7f Handicap
The one I like here is Danielsflyer, second to Boardman in a very competitive handicap over C&D last August (with yesterday’s G2 winner Highfield Princess behind him in third!) and after a couple of runs this season to get him fitter, should be about spot on here. He’s now 3lb lower than his last winning mark, the yard’s horses are running well here this week and stall 10 is a decent enough draw to work from in a race that should be run at a fast pace, with both Muntadab and Danzan likely to make it a good test.

Today's selection – Bollin Joan (e/w) 3.00 York

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.