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

Wednesday, 20th August 2025

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

Selections for Day 1 at York….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in the big handicaps on Day 2 at York….

I’m on APIARIST in the 3.00 – up at 16s & 14s….

…. and I’m on DASH OF AZURE at 10s & 9s in the 5.20….

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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I can’t argue with Bullet Point as favourite for tomorrow’s Clipper at York (3.00)….

…. he’s lightly raced….

…. he’s looked hugely progressive in each of his last three runs – all in hot handicaps….

…. and even on a three-figure mark he gives the impression there’s plenty more to come….

…. but I can’t back him at the price….

Old Cock looks like he’s been laid out for the race….

…. but like Remmooz, Leadman, & Urban Lion….

…. who all make appeal from a form perspective….

…. he must overcome a double-figure draw….

…. in a race that’s been won 8 times in the last decade (including each of the last 5)….

…. by horses drawn in single-figure stalls….

The one that looks a big price is APIARIST at the 16s & 14s….

The received wisdom with Kevin Ryan’s charge is that he’s a better horse on the all-weather….

…. and that he hasn’t quite transferred performances produced on artificial surfaces to turf….

…. but I’m not sure the case is conclusive – certainly not based on his last two runs….

He ran with credit off a break at Royal Ascot where he finished 8/27 in the Buckingham Palace….

…. he was on the right side but ridden in such a way that the gaps needed to appear at the right time….

…. they didn’t – but when he got into the open daylight he finished the race off well….

He caught the eye again at Galway earlier this month – passing horses late on over the 7f trip….

…. and looking like a mile – the trip he very much prefers on the AW – will suit best….

He steps up to that trip tomorrow and I reckon it gives him his best chance of replicating performances produced on synthetic surfaces….

…. and he’s drawn on the right part of the track for this race….

It’s not an easy race – none of this week’s handicaps are….

…. but Apiarist strikes me as one that could be underestimated on recent form that’s much more promising that it might first appear….

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I’m backing DASH OF AZURE at 10s & 9s in the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (5.20)….

She won comfortably at Kempton on seasonal debut back in May – looking every inch a horse that would defy the 5lb rise applied by the official handicapper….

I backed her at Royal Ascot for the Sandringham on her step up to the mile – and she obliged by hitting the frame….

…. taking a roundabout route to the line having met trouble in running….

Next time at Goodwood – again over the mile – she ran free early doors, and it cost her in the later stages….

…. because she looked well set to fight out the finish at the two-pole – but ran out of gas in the final half-furlong….

She maybe also saw too much daylight that day….

…. when they tacked over to the stands rail off the bend she was left exposed on the outer wing of the field….

She’s back down to 7f tomorrow and won’t want for any stamina at the shorter trip….

She’s drawn out in stall 18 – the widest stall of all – but I’m not as concerned about that as I might be over other trips at the track….

They start in the chute at York over 7f and she’s got the tactical speed to get across and tuck in before they get to the dog leg….

…. aided by the fact that there won’t be tonnes of early pace on her immediate inside….

And she couldn’t have a better pilot to get that job done….

Trainer Ralph Beckett has secured the services of Ryan Moore who is brilliant at a lot of things….

…. including going off a straight line and angling across without taking too much out of a horse….

That manoeuvre will suit Dash Of Azure’s style of racing – because she’s not a deep closer….

…. and being on the outer at the dog leg means you can avoid any scrimmaging on the inside and get a clear run up the stands side on the straight….

Ryan Moore is key to this bet – and I need him to work his magic….

…. there’s nobody better at turning a negative into a positive….

…. and this horse is a good fit for the specific tactics required….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more tomorrow….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

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

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd