The horse racing broadcaster offers his best bets for Friday at York, including one in the last Group 1 of the week.
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A mix of stamina and speed is the order of the day for Day 3 of the Ebor meeting.
SHADOW DANCE (13:50 York) could be the answer to the opener after hanging his chance away on Ripon’s undulations last time out. The more level playing field of the Knavesmire should suit him well and even though the yard has suffered a setback or two with losing horses recently those that are running are performing well. James Doyle rides but this is not a choice over the Wathnan horse Waifei as he would not be able to do 8st 7lbs.
Doyle could be set for a good hour in the Wathnan colours in the next two races starting with GREGORY (14:25 York) in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup. Without Kyprios the staying division is an open one and Gregory performed well at Goodwood when just losing out for second to stable companion Sweet William. A decent pace looks likely here and the emphasis on stamina can see him reverse Yorkshire Cup form with Vauban especially with the yard finally beginning to put together a more consistent run of form.
Next up is the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack where THE STRIKIN VIKING (15:00 York) would be an appropriate winner given the city of York’s history. His run in the Richmond can be significantly upgraded as the pace collapsed late on and he did by far the best of those who raced close to it. He has switched stables to Hilal Al Jehani, a policy which Wathnan seem to be increasingly using, but was added to the stable tracker after Goodwood and there is no reason to desert him here. Karl Burke is having an excellent season with his juveniles and Andesite is very much respected after a setback ruled him out of the Coventry at Royal Ascot.
The speed is provided by the last of the week’s Group 1’s the Coolmore Nunthorpe where ASFOORAH (15:35 York) can reverse Goodwood form with Big Evs. Not only is she better off at the weights after carrying a penalty for her Royal Ascot victory but she should arguably have won at Goodwood, delaying her challenge a little too long compounded by a bump at just the wrong time. Regional could be her main danger whilst if the forecast is correct a tailwind could propel them very close to Battaash’s 55.90 track record. The largest field of the five televised races comes in the shape of a 10f fillies handicap where the unexposed POWER OF DESTINY (16:10 York) can prove she is ahead of the handicapper after just failing to get up at Goodwood last time on her handicap debut. She looks the least exposed in the whole field and Sir Michael Stoute can continue to get more out of her as she gains experience.
