Sky Sports Racing's Alex Hammond York Dante Festival and Lockinge Stakes preview and tips

We switch from Oaks trials to Derby trials on Thursday with the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes the feature race. There is a bit of rain around Wednesday and Thursday and any of the wet stuff that falls will be in the favour of 5/4 favourite Ancient Wisdom.

He looked like a real off road vehicle when winning the Kameko Futurity Stakes at Doncaster in October and anything faster than good would be a red flag. I hope it’s decent good ground by then and if so, this lad will take some beating. He’s currently 7/1 joint second favourite for the Derby and I’d expect the mile and a half to be his optimum trip in time.

The day gets under way with the Lindum York Handicap over five furlongs. The Richard Fahey-trained Marine Wave had a horrible run through on her seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh after a slow start and stayed on without threatening the protagonists.

She has been dropped a couple of pounds in the handicap consequently and must have claims on some of her form last season. Particularly eye-catching was her close third in a course and distance handicap in August off the same mark she runs off here. She isn’t overly exposed in handicap company and there could be more to come. She’s a 7/1 shot.

The market for the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes is headed by the John and Thady Gosden trained Free Wind at 7/4. Kieran Shoemark rides her in public for the first time and he must be desperate to get on board a nice winner for the yard after Frankie Dettori relocated to California.

Free Wind won this race last year despite the feeling that she is better over a longer trip. She didn’t win subsequently, albeit she faced some tough assignments, and you wouldn’t have this race down as a gimme.

I’d be inclined to give Infinite Cosmos a chance at 9/1. Sir Michael Stoute’s yard have started to get motoring and this filly has won after a break in the past. She looks like the type to improve further as a four year old and is in the best hands to pay off a patient approach.

It’s exciting to see Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Big Evs back in action in Thursday’s British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes. Now a three year old he must prove he retains that incredible ability, but that would appear to be the only disclaimer here. He was lightning as a juvenile and all being well, he’s even better with another winter on his back. Trainer Mick Appleby will be hoping this listed race is a stepping stone to much bigger targets. He’s 4/5 favourite with Sky Bet.

Friday’s biggie is the Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes, a Group 2 over a mile and three quarters. The Aidan O’Brien trained Tower Of London is Sky Bet’s 5/4 favourite. He was last seen winning in the Middle East in the early part of the year, signing off in the Dubai Gold Cup. This trip should be ideal, and he’ll take some beating if lining up at York. We must wait until Wednesday to see declarations, but you will most likely know the line up by the time you read this. Vauban is still in amongst them with William Buick’s name along side his.

Moving onto the weekend and I can’t wait to be back at Newbury on Friday and Saturday for the Al Shaqab Lockinge meeting. The feature Group 1 on Saturday could be a real humdinger with the likes of Inspiral, Big Rock, Charyn and Poker Face the horses in single figure prices at present. Any rain would count against Inspiral’s chance, and her chance of running by all accounts. Rain won’t bother last year’s star miler Big Rock who will have his first start for a new trainer.

The owners of last season’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner have put plenty of faith in trainer Maurizio Guaranieri as they have moved this horse, Blue Rose Cen, and many others to his Chantilly yard. It’s a blow for Christopher Head after all he achieved with the horses last season, so pressure is on the new handler. Saturday’s race will be a learning curve and that curbs my enthusiasm slightly. Therefore, I’m going with Charyn at the time of writing. He impressed at Doncaster in a listed race on his return and then looked good when beating Poker Face in the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown last month. Any rain wouldn’t be a problem for him either and he’s an exciting and progressive four year old for trainer Roger Varian.

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