Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m looking at York’s Dante Festival that gets underway on Wednesday afternoon.
Exciting news as the racing season kicks off at York with the highly anticipated three-day Dante Festival.
York Racecourse holds a special place in the hearts of racing enthusiasts, renowned for great location just outside the city walls of the city that shares its name. The excellent setting attracts enthusiastic crowds eager to enjoy its fantastic facilities.
I've always been vocal about my admiration for York Racecourse, believing it to be the epitome of well-run racecourses in Britain.
York’s Dante Festival is my favourite meeting at the course. Its charm lies in its intimate atmosphere and the refreshing absence of overwhelming crowds. Moreover, it's a meeting filled with anticipation, featuring notable Classic Trials such as the Musidora Stakes for fillies and the Dante Stakes for colts.
I’ll be on course on either Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the weather.
York Dante Festival Stats
York is a lovely galloping track with wide sweeping bends and if they go to hard up front on the round course, York’s long straight, nearly five furlongs, means more patiently ridden horses have a chance.
Below is the Racing Post’s map of York racecourse.
Draw: 5f
On the sprint course a low draw can be advantageous particularly over the minimum trip.
Looking at the ten five furlong handicaps run at the meeting.
Not one of the ten winners was to be found in the top half of the draw with drawn in stall 12 + producing – 0 winners from 54 runners -54, 8 placed.
As a comparison, three of the five winners of the opening day six furlong handicap were drawn 14+.
Trainers
Looking at the stats for York’s Dante Festival since 2018. Here’s a list of those trainers who’ve had two+ winners at the meeting.
The Gosden yard is the standout numerically with a dozen winners and with 66% win & place strike rate his runners this week demand maximum respect.
Ten of those winners were ridden by a certain Frankie Dettori who rode the Knavesmire better than most of his peers. It’s going to be a big three days for the Gosden’s new stable jockey Kieran Shoemark.
We know William Haggas loves having winners at York and he’s runners will be primed for the three days at the Dante Festival. Other yards worth noting are Andrew Balding and the likes of Adrian Keatley and the John & Sean Quinn.
Moving onto a few trainers whose runners haven’t performed well here in the last five years.
Several top trainers on the above list including Charlie Appleby, Ralph Beckett, Aidan O’Brien, and Sir Michael Stoute.
David O’Meara sends plenty of runners to York’s Dante Festival, but his runners are poor value.
York’s Dante Festival – Day 1
The feature races on Day 1 of the Dante Festival are the Group 2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes (3:15) and the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (3:45). Alongside these two races, three other races complete an action packed six-race programme broadcasted live on ITV this afternoon.
The Musidora Stakes, renowned as a significant trial for the Epsom Oaks, has seen eight fillies accomplish the Musidora/Oaks Double, with the most recent being Soul Sister in 2023. However, this year's race favourite, Friendly Soul, currently lacks an entry for the Epsom race and would need to be supplemented.
Friendly Soul, sired by Kingman, showcased what I consider the standout performance by a 3-year-old filly this season when she triumphed in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket just 10 days ago. Whilst she might excel over 1m 4f, I believe her optimum trip is likely 1m 2f, which is why the Prix Diane (Prix Oaks) has been considered as her target rather than the Epsom Oaks. It would be surprising if this talented filly didn't emerge victorious in today's race.
Ralph Beckett boasts a string of promising 3-year-old fillies under his care, having already secured victories in the Cheshire Oaks and Lingfield Oaks Trial. Can he add a third with Classical Song? The daughter of Lope De Vega should benefit from the step up to 1m 2f on her seasonal return, but my preference remains with Friendly Soul.
Sinology, hailing from a pedigree that includes the Musidora-winning dam Madame Chiang, won a Newbury maiden on her seasonal debut (good to soft) and remains with promise. While any softening of the ground would be advantageous, she will need to demonstrate significant improvement to challenge Friendly Soul.
It's not a race I will be playing even if I'm on course.
1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes (Group 2) -6f
Thirty minutes earlier see’s the day’s most valuable race the Group 2 1985 Duke Of York Stakes. There’s £85,065 on offer to the winner and it looks a cracker with fifteen set to line-up.
Here’s my ratings for the race.
Khaadem 110
Art Power 109
Azure Blue 109
Washington Heights 108
Mill Stream 106
Spycatcher 106.
Contenders:
On paper a tight contest with six horses rated 106 to 110. For a Group 2 it looks more akin to a handicap to me and a right day cracker.
Khaadem won the 6f Group 1 at Royal Ascot last season. He goes well on quick ground and has a decent record fresh.
Art Power had to be tough on the Group 1 Champion Sprint at Ascot last October. Any rain would be a positive for the 7-year-old.
Azure Blue won last year’s race and also won first time up last season. We haven’t seen her since she disappointed in the July Cup. Better than she was able to show last time and looked smart when winning this 12 months ago.
Washington Heights found a good chunk of improvement when making most to win the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month. This track also suits front runners over sprint distances and he’s in the mix.
Mill Stream got within ¾ lengths of Washington Heights in the Abernant. He maybe capable of an even bigger performance than he’s shown so far. Very much a horse to consider.
Spycatcher was a ¾ length third in the Abernant on his seasonal return. He’s a smart sprinter on a easy surface as he showed when a short head runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and third in the Champion Sprint to Art Power. Likely to be thereabouts if the rain has arrived,
Spycatcher’s stablemate Swingalong has a bit to find on my ratings but she’s 2 from 2 over C&D. Swingalong isn’t far off Group 1 level. If she’s improved a bit more over the winter can’t be ruled out on seasonal return.
Wednesday‘s Selection
Wednesday brings us an enticing array of big-field handicaps at York, and I'll be playing in a few of them.
Reflecting on last year's Dante Festival, a gentle reminder surfaced that I shared three notable winners—15/2, 17/2, and 16/1—with Victor Value subscribers. No pressure on me this year, right? It's all in good humour.
Among those triumphant horses was Kihavah, aiming for a third consecutive victory at the meeting in the 2:15.
For those interested in my picks for the York Dante Festival, you can find them here.
If you want my York Dante Festival handicap picks you can get them here.
York
I'm going with Azure Blue ahead of Washington Heights in the York feature race.
Azure Blue – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John