ITV7 York and Chepstow Guide
Dave Smith takes a look at today's races in the ITV7 and makes his selections for the £100,000 free-to-play game.
13:55 York - Sky Bet Lowther Stakes
There are two standout fillies in the opening race on the Thursday. Fairyland heads the market after two successful runs in Ireland and a very nice run when 3rd in The Albany. This is a step up in class and the 9 weeks off the track would temper enthusiasm but she's a class act. Indeed, the winner of that race Main Edition has franked the form by winning another Group 3 at Newmarket after being outpointed in a Group 2 at the track. There's no doubting the master of Ballydoyle will have her primed for this race and Ryan Moore takes the ride.
The one that stands out in the race for me is ANGEL'S HIDEAWAY who I make to be the best bet of the day. After a slowish start to her career this stoutly-bred filly brings the best form into the race when a clear second to subsequent Group 1 scorer Pretty Pollyana at Newmarket. The 5th in that race has gone on to be a runner up again in a Group 3 and there's feeling that this daughter of Dark Angel will run a huge race.
The nagging doubt is her tendency to hang right at the end of her races but that's factored into the price somewhat. The main protagonists have met before and it was Fairyland who got the better of the argument that day but John Gosden's horse remains the selection. Richard Fahey's half-sister to Sands of Mali, Flawless Jewel, ran a very nice race at York on debut and then followed that up with a facile 16 lengths victory next time out but will need more to take this despite the trainer's confidence. The Mackem Bullet could be a big price at 20/1 and ran well enough for 3rd in behind the selection last time out but this requires more.
14:15 Chepstow - Bet 365 Fillies' Handicap
Just Sherry is the highest rated filly in the field and that's probably fair enough on her run at Ayr last time out when she beat 2 previous winners. Ben Sanderson takes 5lb off here to help negate her jump in the weights for that success. DAISY CHAIN drops back to a mile for the first time since her maiden run at Newbury and an opening mark of 75 is fair. This daughter of Fastnet Rock will want rattling fast ground at the Welsh track but might not get it. She's untested on softer ground but the forecast good weather should help.
Mick Quinn's Princess Harley is going the other way to the two fillies' mentioned so far and is inching down the handicap. She's quite nicely bred, being by Dark Angel out of a Manduro mare and has run some nice races earlier in her career. Livvys Dream is starting to look exposed at this minor level and even her three year old weight concession won't help and of the remainder there's not a great deal to recommend from a win point of view.
14:25 York - Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes
As expected in a Yearling race a number of these have to be considered on a small subset of data and even one run in the case of Masaru and Secret Venture. KODYANNA sets the standard on her Group 3 form over in France and has top York jockey Paul Hanagan to assist. She's nicely bred being by Kodiac and will be suited by the galloping nature of the track and a strong 6f pace.
He'Zanarab is a course and distance winner who also ran 3rd in a race won by Dark Vision and was 4L behind. Fanar's connections are clearly sweet on him as evidenced by his Group 1 and 2 entries for later in the season. That is a little bit of a contrast to what he's actually done on the track but clearly he is thought capable of better. Celebrity Dancer, Concierge and Gallovie make up the shortlist in a race that is tricky to predict.
14:50 Chepstow - Casino at Bet365 Handicap
CONFLAGRATION is a nice price to take this poor contest. The step back into Class 6 company should be of benefit to him. Ed Dunlop's son of Exceed and Excel,by a Royal Applause mare, is well bred for a race of this quality. His step into Class 5 was very disappointing but he should find this more to suit. Snooker Jim is another who has been attempting to take better contests without any fortune. He's been dropped 2 classes here and with Toby Eley's 7lb claim he's effectively running off 12lb lower than his last poor run at Haydock. The two old timers (Sarangoo and Corporal Maddox) are both course and distance winners but at 10 and 11 years old their time may have passed. Both are very well in on the pick of their old form but some of it comes as far back as 2009 and it may be best to swerve the old boys for this race.
15:00 York - Clipper Logistics Handicap
Another monstrous field here with 20 runners tackling this Class 2 handicap. There are 3 course and distance winners with Afaak, Arcanda and Firmament. The former ran very well at this track and then followed that up with a cracking run at Royal Ascot before further enhancing his reputation with a very solid effort at Goodwood.
I'm struggling to thin of an unluckier horse in training than Firmament. This son of Cape Cross often runs from off the pace and that has led to severe traffic problems. The volume of runners in this race may yet be his undoing again. Arcanda is now back down to a winning mark off 99 if he takes as well to blinkers as he did to cheekpieces back on turf 25/1 may be a big price.
KYNREN makes big appeal returning to a shorter trip. He's nicely drawn and can have a big say in this contest. Fran Berry believes it's his best chance of a winner this week and the horse should relish conditions and the big field will allow him to get good cover. Another who makes up the shortlist is Godolphin representative Reach High. Oisin Murphy, fresh from a superb tactical performance on Roaring Lion, takes the ride here and the horse is unexposed. Get Knotted loves it on the Knavesmire and he's only 2lb higher than when winning here last time out.
15:25 Chepstow - Bet365 EBF Novice Stakes
Low grade action at Chepstow in this Class 5 maiden but a potentially nice type in LADY ARIA who will contest this after a pleasing introduction in behind Firelight at HQ. Michael Bell's daughter of Kodiac pushed a previous winner to the limit going down a neck that day and should come on plenty for the run. K Club won her only start at Bath and represents the powerful Hannon team.
15:35 York - Darley Yorkshire Oaks
Sea of Class is on a steep upward curve and landed the Darley Irish Oaks last time. William Haggas loves nothing more than a winner her and has pointed his thriving star at this contest ever since. LAURENS takes a step up in trip after winning the French Oaks and you'd have to think there's more to come from her too. She does like to leave you sweating from a punting point of view as she never wins by far but would she be 4/1 if she was trained by a more 'household' name? She's an ultra consistent sort and should shorter to take this.
Coronet is another consistent horse and her record at York is very admirable, being only defeated once by Enable. She ran well in the King George at Ascot behind two staying stars and comes in with a live chance here. At a bigger price, Dermot Weld's Eziyra in the famous Aga Khan colours would need a career best to take this but has some sterling form in Group 3s in Ireland. She's thought highly of by connections and the trip to the UK piques interest.
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