York 13/7

[jtw1]

3.20 - SHOT TO FAME - OK so it's not won since July '04 but a closer look reveals a bit of hope for this D NICHOLS 8 y-old. The ground is the key to this race as far as the selection is concerned as it's record on SOFT/ HEAVY going merits an investigation 1st , 3rd , 5th , unp , unp , unp , 2nd . BUT before you ask why !! those 3 unplaced races were 1 - CAMBRIDGESHIRE 2 - LINCOLN 3 - A CLASS 2 YORK Handicap where it had no chance with the draw. Now with todays Class 4 ; ratings - 89 was the previous lowest win rating , now down to 79 and liking for the Soft and it's close 2nd last week on Heavy going at NEWCASTLE i think that it's time has come to get that 5th career win. NICHOLS has had 5 winners since JULY 1ST so nothing wrong with the stable. :hope

[Sheerluck Holmes]

Re: York 13/7 My (very) local track and as the bookies will be clogging up the roads i'm goign to try to get a wee bit back from their satchels. . . .

2:15	HOVIS MAIDEN STAKES (CLASS 3)

Hardly anything in the way of form to go off and generally dont bet on these but there is some interesting stats to look at. . . E J O'neill has a great record here with 2-y-o's (4/10 +28.25) and saddles racetrack debutant Hold the Gold. He's also saddled the last two winners here and could go for the hat-trick! Another very interesting stat is the fact that 8 from the last 10 winners have come from either stall 2 or 4. Which shortlists Flop and Lady Grantley but i'm discounting the latter as it's 3 runs to date have shown nothing whatsoever. Hold the Gold @ 7.00 is my selection though - he runs from stall 6 which is one of the 2 stalls (outside stalls 2 and 4) which have won this previously, and hoping E J Oneills stats continue! :hope