The pick of the prices on Day 1 at York....

Tuesday, 14th May 2024

The pick of the prices on Day 1 at York….

There’s a lot of rain forecast over the track at York today….

How much of it actually falls remains to be seen….

…. and the exact effect it will have on the going is anybody’s guess….

…. but conditions are expected to ease and….

…. looking at the rainfall radar this morning….

…. I’d say there’s going to be sufficient juice in the surface to blunt the edge of horses that like genuine top of the ground conditions….

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With that I mind FLASH BARDOT is of interest at the general 8s in the Jorvik Handicap (2.15)….

She won well at Doncaster on seasonal debut – producing a clear career best on ground described as soft (heavy in places)….

…. but which race times suggested was more like good to soft….

That was only a C3 handicap for fillies – but she won it like a horse from a different division….

…. and whilst the handicapper has out her up 8lb to 93 – that might not prove to be the limit of her….

Jack Channon pulled her out of an intended engagement at Lingfield on Saturday – on account of the ground being too quick….

Her bare stats says she might need it soft or even heavy – but those races times at Doncaster suggested good to soft will be fine….

…. and conditions at York tomorrow might just be in her favour – with some of the more fancied horses wanting it a bit quicker….

She’s the right age and has the right profile – this race has gone to an improving 4yo in nine of the last ten renewals….

…. and I like her at the prices….

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Moving on to the Churchill Tyres Handicap over the 6f trip (2.45)….

Connections deserve to be rewarded for their patience with GREAT AMBASSADOR….

…. who hadn’t been seen on the track since September 2022 before returning at Newmarket last month….

He ran down the field that day under tomorrow’s jockey Tom Marquand….

An awkward start didn’t help, he was keen early doors – as you might expect – and I don’t think he handled the dip particularly well....

Marquand certainly wasn’t hard on him afterwards and I’d write that race off as what it was – a first go for a long time….

It will have served as a cobweb shifter though….

…. and on a soft surface at York tomorrow – a track where he won a Listed race as 4yo back in 2021….

…. he could be very dangerous off a mark of 97….

Let’s not forget this horse was rated as high as 108 leading up to his absence and the handicapper might have been a tad generous dropping him 3lb for that last effort at Newmarket….

He’s up at 16s – a nice e/w price – and I’m happy to swing the bat with track and conditions to suit….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my picks for Day 2 of the Dante meeting 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