York - Wednesday 14th May

[fintron]

Putting my cards on the table early for tomorrow, can't wait for the York meeting :) ..................... 1.40 – Blue Spinnaker has taken advantage of the handicapper’s generosity in his three runs this season, winning two and coming a close second in the other. Admittedly, those wins came at a lower level that this and one of them was only a lady amateurs riding handicap. However, after a win-less 2007, those recent runs may have rejuvenated Mick Easterby’s gelding and, in his favour, he has won on firm ground before and is a previous course and distance winner. He is up 7 lbs for that win and is up against better opposition here, but the chances are he could go off at a big price. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

2.10 – This race pits quite a few from a race at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Newmarket earlier in the month up against one another here again – Meydan Princess (2^nd), Swift Gift (3^rd) and Dubai Dynamo (5^th). That race was run over 7f and on firm ground, so it is easy to see why Meydan Princess is the forecast favourite for this race too. 16 go to post and many others have chances. Seasider will be supported no doubt given Ryan Moore rides but in backing it you are gambling on whether it goes on the ground. It was beaten 2.5 lengths when tried over 7f when last seen too. Wigram’s Turn will be popular too given that Dettori rides, although it was beaten by Meydan Princess at Kempton earlier last month (in its favour it is 5 lbs better off at the weights compared to that day). However, the one I’m backing in this is Fathsta, who I backed last week at Chester because it was a course and distance winner there and to be fair he didn’t fare too badly, running on at the end to take second at the post. As a result, being upped an extra furlong here may suit and Sylvester Kirk’s colt proved that day that he acts on the ground. Has a progressive profile and runs off the same mark here as from Chester. Richard Hughes takes over from Liam Keniry and is in decent enough form too.

2.40 – one of the big races of the day – the Tatersalls Musidora Stakes (Group 3) and again, the race looks wide open. They race over 10f here and personally I like to back horses that have shown a bit of ability over the distance in question before I back them. For that reason Dar Re Mi, the only 10f winner in the field, goes straight to the top of the list. John Gosden’s horse won very comfortably at Sandown earlier this season in a race in which she made all and stayed on strongly throughout. She has never raced on ground firmer than good, but she was neck second on her debut when raced on good ground. Elswhere in the field, Aidan O’Brien’s Moonstone was only narrowly beaten over 10f in Ireland, CruelSea (2^nd) finished infront of Sayyedati Symphony (4^th) at Newmarket recently whilst CapeAmber (1^st) has beaten Sovereign’s Honour, albeit in a class 4 handicap at Newmarket.

3.10 – a red hot race and many have great chances. Solder’s Tale is expected to be one of the favourites and has many things in its favour. It has been placed on every one of its 8 career runs (4 wins) and won the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Ascot when last seen. It was placed in this race last season finishing two lengths (3^rd) behind Amadeus Wolf and clearly goes well here with two wins on his other two runs on the Knavesmire. Another which caught me eye, drawn at the other side, is Haatef, who won a group 2 at Ascot when last seen with Assertive, Sonny Red, Prime Defender and Balthazaar’s gift behind. He’s won over the distance, although he has only ever run on good/firm once – during last years 2000 Guineas, when it was unplaced.

3.45 – I saw Ella win handsomely at Pontefract on her last run but that run was on heavy ground and there are no guarantees she will go on firm here. Birkside has been prolific on the polytrack and has turf form from last year where he twice won on firm ground at Leicester and Lingfield. He will have no problems with the trip but he is racing 8 lbs above his highest ever winning turf mark. He has won off a 7 lb higher AW mark though, and given his form at Kempton and Wolverhampton of late you could say that he still has a great chance given that improvement. Sporting Gesture raced here twice over CD last season and finished 1^st and 2^nd. The veteran runs off a similar mark here and will go on the ground too. Another one of interest is Richard Fahey’s SinCity, who drops in class here after winning a class 3 handicap at Musselburgh last time out off a 1 lb higher mark. He goes on the ground and represents as yard in decent enough form. Ainama was only just beaten by Maslak at Chester last week and runs off the same mark here. He is suited to the trip, the ground will pose no problems and he is another with a good chance.

4.55 – Allied Powers was an impressive winner at Pontefract a few weeks back and defied a penalty to again score well at Chester recently. He runs off the same mark as at Chester, again carrying a 6 lb penalty, but he is clearly one on the upgrade and should go well again for Jamie Spencer.

[bowles10]

Re: York - Wednesday 14th May 2.10 Concentrating on horses that have had a run so far, the last 9 winners had ran at least once before in the season & 8 of those had ran 1 or 2 times. Again the last 9 winners have started 10/1 or less so we narrow the field down to: Dubai Dynamo (9/1) Generous Thought (3/1) Kaldoun Kingdom (10/1) Meydan princess (9/2) Swift gift (12/1 currently) 3 of these Dubai Dynamo, Meydan Princess & Swift gift met last time at Newmarket on 4th May. All 3 are possible winners of this race, dubai dynamo appeared unlucky in that race, & Meydan Princess, typical late run just fell short. Spencer was not hard on Generous Thought last time out when narrowly beaten into 2nd place behind last weeks Chester winner Huzzah & looks the one to beat. Will take a chance on an EW bet on Paul Cole's Dubai Dynamo @ a generous 9/1 Paddy power