Saturday, July 24, 2010

Group Two York Stakes

Despite the attractions of Ascot, several of the top jockeys are at York, including Frankie Dettori and Kieren Fallon, to ride in the Group Two York Stakes over 10 furlongs at 16.05 CET. Frankie won the race last year and now partners Allybar, one of two Godolphin runners, while Fallon is on Luca Cumani s Summit Surge, runner-up to Pressing last time in Italy. Much as we respect these two, our main interests here are Debussy (John Gosden/ William Buick) and Bushman (David Simcock/ Neil Callan). The latter defeated Alexandros, our fancy for Munich´s big race tomorrow, over 9 furlongs at Epsom last time and should get the extra furlong, but our selection is Debussy, who was only beaten 4 1/2 lengths when 7th to Byword in the Prince of Wales´s Stakes at Royal Ascot, possibly the best 10 furlongs race of the year. Debussy is apparently even better when going left-handed and has everything in his favour today.

The big betting race at York is the Sky Bet Dash at 16.40. This 6 furlongs handicap has 20 runners and looks wide open, but our 4 against the field are Lowdown (Mark Johnston/ Dettori), going for a hat-trick but up in the weights), another improving 3yo Sunraider (Barry and Michael Hills), consistent Novellen Lad (Eric Alston/ Willie Supple) and Hawkeyethenoo (Jim Goldie/ Fallon), well behind Lowdown last time but expected to do much better this time on faster ground and with a swing in the weights.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Face The Problem - Blaze Of Thunder - Dingle View
2. Race: Viewing - Akhmatova - Tipperary Boutique
3. Race: Debussy - Monitor Closely - Bushman
4. Race: Sunraider - Lowdown - Hawkeyethenoo
5. Race: Mother Jones - Squires Gate - Common Touch
6. Race: Crackentorp - Dayia - Palomar
7. Race: Step In Time - Imprimis Tagula - Malcheek