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

Tuesday, 20th August 2024

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

Whoop whoop!

Tomorrow is Day 1 at York’s Ebor meeting….

…. we’ve got four days of top-drawer racing action to look forward to….

…. and it doesn’t get much better than that….

Regular readers will know that I go out with my picks 24-hours ahead of the action….

…. in an effort to bag the best of the prices in the big handicaps that this column habitually targets….

Tomorrow afternoon we’ve got….

…. the Symphony Handicap (1.50) over the 5.5f trip….

…. the Stayers Handicap (4.10) over the 2m trip….

…. and the Fillies Handicap (4.45) over the 5f trip….

Let’s crack on….

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In the Symphony – 1.50….

KYLIAN is an interesting proposition at this morning’s general 16s….

Last time at Ascot….

…. his first go since being gelded….

…. he produced a career best in defeat to Holkham Bay in the Shergar Cup….

He was beaten 2.75 lengths that afternoon – giving 4lb to the winner….

…. but gets 5lb from that same opponent tomorrow….

…. whilst being more than double the price….

He was rated as high as 105 as a juvenile….

…. and he certainly wasn’t disgraced when going closer with Big Evs (now rated 113) and Purosangue (now rated 105) in the G3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood….

Of course, things haven’t been straight forward since then….

…. and he will need to back up the Ascot run….

…. but he’s potentially well-handicapped having slipped to a mark of 94….

…. he’s coming into tomorrow’s race off a significantly improved performance….

…. and this will be just his third go in handicap company….

Archie Watson inherited him from Karl Burke ahead of this term and he gives the impression he’s ready to start paying his way….

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In the Stayers – 4.10….

I’m backing EVALUATION at the general 16s & 14s….

He found just one too good last time in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle at the end of June….

…. and whilst he’s up 4lb for that….

…. to a mark of 92 – just a pound shy of his career best….

…. I think he has more to come for Lucinda Russell….

Tomorrow’s assignment is just his fourth for her….

…. and it will be just his twelfth go on turf – and his first since the end of 2022….

And it’s not like he’s returning to turf with any doubt about his ability to race on the surface….

…. he scored a four-timer on the grass back in the early part of 2022….

Evaluation was sent off at a big 40s up at Newcastle last time….

…. despite Russell making some confident noises in the week leading up to the race….

The horse didn’t let her down….

…. but his RPR that day was the same as for his win in a much lower-class race the time before…..

…. and I think there’s more in the locker….

I’m not worried about his break from the track – he goes well fresh….

…. They will have been learning about him at home in the meantime….

…. and he will have been prepared for a serious tilt at tomorrow’s prize….

He registered a win over course and distance during that golden period in 2022….

It came in a lesser race off a lower mark – but must rank as a positive nevertheless….

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In the Fillies – 4.45….

I’m backing BOADICIA at the general 12s….

…. I think she won at Doncaster last time with plenty to spare….

…. and – while she’s up 5lb to a career high mark of 80….

…. she’s only had four goes on turf and there’s surely plenty more to come yet….

Of course, she’s taking a big step up in class tomorrow….

…. but so are plenty of others in the field….

…. she’s getting decent weight from the fancied horses….

…. and the manner of that Doncaster win – logged just shy of 3-weeks ago….

…. says she’s in-form right now, open to mounds of improvement, and more than worth a crack at the price….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my picks for Day 2 at York’s Ebor meeting….

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

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd