Ebor meeting at York - Day 4

In today’s blog:
Review of yesterday’s racing
Today’s Racing Selections
2010-11 Chasers & Hurdlers Alert List

Review of yesterday’s racing
Both my long-odds eachway selections in the class 2 handicap at York ran well, but both were unplaced. I managed to secure a tiny profit by laying-off in-running with long-time leader BALCARCE NOV; and I consider that the other selection LIGHT FROM MARS could have been placed had he not been squeezed for room inside the 2f-marker. He ran on to be 5th when seeing daylight.
I was not disappointed with SNOW FAIRY despite it being a 2pt win selection and coming 2nd in the Yorkshire Oaks. Again, I managed to lay-off my stake when some big-player took everything above 2.00 when Sariska refused to race at the start (I had a place-lay for the value of my stake at 2.40). Some consider that SNOW FAIRY did not find anything when asked, but the filly did beat 5 others rated OR110+ (and very easily too) but is perhaps not quite as good as thought. There were some stamina doubts over her breeding before the Oaks, and tho’ she won the Irish Oaks with some authority nothing has come out of that race to confirm the form. Hats off to Midday who was having her first run over 12f since being beaten in a photo by Sariska at Epsom last year. She has clearly improved a lot since then and unlike SNOW FAIRY, she has no stamina doubts. Henry Cecil wants to keep Midday racing against her own sex, but she would certainly be of interest if she were entered in the Arc.

Today’s Racing Selections
It’s day 4 of the Ebor meeting at York but, before looking at that, don’t omit to take account of Frankie Dettori flying from York to Salisbuty for the 6:30. It’s a listed race for 2yo’s over a mile and he rides BORUG there for Saeed bin Suroor. BORUG is a half-bro to Arc winner Marienbard.
At Sandown, I really like the look of MAJOR PHIL in the class 3 handicap at 3:50 as Luca Cumani makes a very encouraging comment about him in this week’s Weekender, but there are too many unexposed 3yo’s for my liking in this race.

The opener at York at 1:45, the Melrose handicap over 1m6f, looks a cracker. This class 2 race for 3yo’s only has 17-runnners going to post. This race looks ultra-competitive and for me, any 1 of 10 could win this. It is likely that the trip and pace will find out any with stamina doubts, and that makes DESERT RECLUSE at 20/1 very interesting as an eachway wager. He’s won at this trip and at York and has been found wanting over 2-mile on his latest 2 runs.

The rest of the York card is tremendous, it just cannot be faulted. All very competitive races, including the Strensall at 2:15 which I think may not fall to the fav Rainbow Peak, but I don’t know which will beat him. The City of York stakes could again go to any one of half-a-dozen contenders. In the Nunthorpe, the proximity of Equiano and KINGSGATE NATIVE in stalls 3 & 1 respectively, should set up the race for speedster KINGSGATE NATIVE, and at 8/1 he is the value with going and draw in his favour.

Selections:
York 1:45 DESERT RECLUSE, ½pt each-way @ 20/1
York 3:25 KINGSGATE NATIVE, ½pt each-way @ 8/1
York 3:25 KINGSGATE NATIVE, 1pts win @ 8/1
Total = 3pts staked

2010-11 Chasers & Hurdlers Alert List
No new entry for the list today.

Thanks for reading this blog to all new visitors. Feel free to tell those who you think may find the blog of interest and value and, if you are a regular visitor, please add the blog to your list of favourites.
Thanks from Wayward Lad