The pick of the prices on Day 2 at York....

Wednesday, 17th May 2023

The pick of the prices on Day 2 at York….

Today is Day 1 at the Dante meeting at York….

…. which means the Jorvik over the 12f trip and the Churchill up the 6f straight….

I sent out my betting advice for this afternoon’s races yesterday. If you missed it, you’ll find it here….

I go out early doors with my advice in the hope of bagging the best of the prices about my race selections….

Sometimes it comes off. Other times it doesn’t….

… but because I go out early with my selections, we’re always a little ahead of the game here at ATC….

The flag hasn’t been raised on Day 1 – and I’m already thinking about Day 2….

…. which means the Lindum over the 5f trip and the Hambleton over the turning mile….

Let’s crack on….

• In the Lindum…. 

Back at the scene of her most valuable win to date, John Butler’s DESIGNER appeals as a bet in the Lindum (1.50) at the general 8s & 15/2….

That win came last term in the 5f handicap for fillies run at the Ebor meeting and she did it in good style – beating 16 opponents home on a sound surface….

She ran off 87 then and is now rated 97 – so things are tougher – but the omens are positive enough….

She certainly wasn’t disgraced in a Listed race next time out at Ascot – where she had a bit to find at the weights….

…. and the time after that she found just one too good in a decent handicap run at Doncaster on heavy ground….

She’s already been seen this term in a Listed race at Bath in April – where she was once again up against it at the weights….

…. but she ran with credit – finishing 4/16 and beaten just 3-lengths – and the form of that race is working out nicely….

White Lavender – behind Designer that day – has been out and won a G3 in France since….

…. Nymphadora – also in arrears at Bath – won a decent handicap at Chester last week….

…. and the runner-up at Bath – Perdika – subsequently ran with credit at Listed and G3 level…. 

Designer’s up against plenty of exposed types in tomorrow’s race….

…. and she’s one of few runners in the field that stands out as having margin to run into in terms of progression….

She’s fit, she’s got a good run under her belt, we knows she handles the track, and I reckon she’s got more to offer off her current mark….

The one sticking point might be the draw – she’s wider than ideal – but no bet ticks every box and I expect a decent showing nevertheless….

• In the Hambleton…. 

MASTER RICHARD can run better than the market anticipates in tomorrow’s Hambleton (3.00)….

He’s up at a general 20s & 16s – and he’s a bet for me at that price….

He likes this turning mile at York….

…. he won a small-field 3yo apprentice handicap on it last July….

…. before running a big race in his first go at C2 handicap level in the Sky Bet Mile at the Ebor meeting….

He was beaten to the post by just one – Point Lynas – but was later awarded the race after an appeal by connections….

That performance was produced off a mark of 83. The official handicapper raised him to 87 and then the horse won an egg-and-spoon handicap on his first go this term at Newcastle on the AW….

He’s up to 90 now but you’d have to see that Newcastle race as a prep for this and I reckon he’s got more to give yet – and he can run another big one tomorrow under David Egan ….

…. who rode him that last day at York and returns to the plate for the first time since….

It’s a 20-runner race and I want to be two-against-the-field – I’ll be backing both each-way and foregoing the chance to land place money….

Some readers gnash their teeth when I go this way. Fair enough – but I do what I do and I make no apologies….

If you just want to back one – then go with Master Richard. He’s the nap bet….

…. but I also want to be with CROUPIER at the 14s & 12s….

He ran a stinker in the Lincoln – but the heavy ground would have been totally against him….

…. and connections pulled him out of a handicap at Chester last week on account of the soft ground….

A sound surface is key to him – which he gets tomorrow – he handles a turning mile, and I think there’s more to come from him yet….

At Chester Ryan Moore was booked for the ride – but he’s switched horses tomorrow and rides race favourite Assignment for Sir Michael Stoute….

…. that said in-form William Buick is as good a sub as any – and they have a very nice draw in stall 6….

• The last word….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my selections for Day 3 at York….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose, or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned.

Against the Crowd