The York Dante Festival is in full swing, and after a tricky first day on the Knavesmire, we’re back for the second day of the meeting.
Before today, I had forgotten just how hard it is to punt at York. Take the fifth race on Wednesday, as an example.
There were countless hard-luck stories, and if you were one of the unfortunate ones who backed either Gallant or Perfect Part, you were probably spitting feathers after the race.
The draw bias at York is prominent, and that will naturally create plenty of eye-catching losers, so tread carefully this week.
With this in mind, just three horses appeal to me on Thursday, and here they are.
York Dante Festival Day 2
2:10 York – Shagraan @ 15/2 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW
Shagraan was a favourite of mine in the sprinting division last season, and I’m happy to chance him again with the benefit of a run under his belt.
There doesn’t seem to be many “well-handicapped” horses in this field, and while I don’t think Shagraan is chucked in off 101, he was able to get the job done off 93 and 98 last season, so he is a high-class animal.
He also loves fast ground, and he was a staying-on fifth at York in August 2024, so he handles the course.
I think low draws could have a say in this handicap, so coming out of 14 isn’t ideal. Still, I’m not too enamoured by the horses drawn low, and Shagraan will naturally drift over to the far side anyway.
A helping of luck is needed in these York handicaps, but this improving four-year-old could still have more to offer.
3:13 York – See The Fire @ 6/4 with Betfred – 2pt Win
She is well found in the market, but See The Fire has an obvious chance in the Group 2 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes.
When she got her preferred quick ground last season, she put in some huge performances, notably when winning the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at this track in August and finishing second to Opera Singer in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
She also finished a fine fifth in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes over a mile, a race that produced Porta Fortuna (two-time Group 1 winner since), Opera Singer (fifth in the Arc), Ramatuelle (Group 1 winner in the Prix de la Foret), and Content (Irish Oaks runner-up and Yorkshire Oaks winner subsequently).
Based on her win in the Strensall Stakes, second in the Nassau Stakes, and fifth in the Champion Stakes, See The Fire is a better horse over 1m2f, so this effort over a mile can be upgraded.
Her efforts behind City Of Troy in the Eclipse and Anmaat in the Champion Stakes came on soft ground, so those performances can also be upgraded, and I think she will win this.
5:25 York – Pantile Warrior @ 9/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 0.5pt EW
In the finale, I want to have something small on Pantile Warrior on his second start in handicap company.
This three-year-old by Frankel is a half-brother to the Group 2 winner Beshaayir, and he’s shown promise since his debut at Sandown in July.
On his second start, he ran a fine race over seven furlongs to finish second to Ruling Court, the eventual 2000 Guineas winner, and two starts later, he finished another good second to the now 104-rated Glittering Legend.
I’ll forgive Pantile Warrior for his last run at Doncaster in March, and he has always shaped that further distances would suit his running style, so this step up in trip could encourage improvement.
Ryan Moore is booked to do the steering, which is obviously a positive, and a handicap mark of 87 looks lenient based on his form.
