Two selections for Day 2 of the Dante meeting....

Wednesday, 14th May 2025

Two selections for Day 2 of the Dante meeting….

Picks for Day 1 at York….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in the top handicaps on Day 2 of York’s Dante meeting….

…. I’m on TRILBY at 14s & 12s in the 2.10….

…. and I’m on STANAGE at 16s in the 2.42….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below…. 

Read on….

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No doubt about it – last season’s Portland winner American Affair is the right favourite for the Lindum at 2.10….

…. he won nicely at Musselburgh on seasonal debut….

…. afterwards trainer Jim Goldie was talking about him having a crack at the G1 Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot….

…. and – with the yard in good heart – if he’s as good as all that then you’d think he’ll be a red-hot proposition tomorrow off a revised mark of 98….

But I have to look elsewhere – this column’s default setting is to oppose the fancied horses (I don’t make life easy for myself)….

…. and I’m on TRILBY at the general 14s & 12s….

He’s done the bulk of his racing at the 6f trip….

…. but dropping back to the minimum trip – at which he’s still pretty much unexposed – has proved productive….

It cannot be denied that four of his best five efforts on the RPR scale – have been produced at the shorter trip….

…. and it cannot be ignored that he’s only had five goes at the 5f trip – from 28 runs in total….

Bottom line: there could well be more to come at tomorrow’s trip off a mark of 86…

He’s in decent enough form this term – winning at Beverley and not disgraced next time at Ripon….

…. and I think he’ll appreciate a return to a flat track tomorrow….

He very much likes Haydock – but don’t write him off at York where he’s got form figures that read: 6/21; 6/20; 4/18; 2/17….

…. with that last effort being his single go at the track over tomorrow’s trip….

Like I say, the signs are that he could be a better horse over the 5f trip – and berthed in stall four he’s on a handy part of the track to give it a good go tomorrow….

Eagle-eyed regular readers will know that I’ve already offered the view that David O’Meara’s Blue For You is a strong contender for the Hambleton at 2.42….

…. but every man and his dog has cottoned on to that – the 7yo is the jolly and you can’t get no better than 4s this morning….

The one for me at the prices is STANAGE at the general 16s….

I backed him last time when they reverted him to the 6f trip at Newmarket – and I got my backside kicked when he ran down the field and looked nothing like….

The trip looked like an experiment – and it didn’t pan out. Now they’re switching him up to a mile – albeit a shorter mile than many….

All the chopping and changing makes you wonder if they really know what he is yet….

…. but over 7f at Newmarket in April he looked very much the part – not getting the run of the race but finishing off strong….

…. giving the impression there was plenty in the tank….

…. and looking every inch a horse capable of stepping on from a mark of 87….

He won in a first-time hood at Doncaster on Day one of the season before being switched to blinkers for his next two….

…. now the blinkers are removed, and the hood is reapplied….

Like I say, it’s chop, change and change again, but if they can get the set-up right I do think he’s got the scope to progress….

…. and given that he starts on the right part of the track – and that he’s up at a decent price – I’m happy to swing the bat at him….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with picks for Day 3….

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

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

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd