The final day of the York Dante Festival headlines our screens on Friday afternoon, and below, I have two bets to consider for the action.
Yesterday was one of those good days for the column. See The Fire (comfortably) won at 6/4 in the Middleton, and Shagraan placed in the opening handicap. Pantile Warrior also came very close to placing in the finale, and he looks like a horse to follow.
Hopefully, we can finish off York in a good manner.
York Dante Festival Day 3
2:10 York – Harry’s Girl @ 2/1 with William Hill – 2pt Win
I thought Harry’s Girl was quite impressive at Newmarket in April, and I’m happy to back her in the Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes.
On good to soft ground at the Rowley Mile on her first career start, she handled herself well to sit behind horses and kick on past them late on.
Richard Hannon was very pleased with the effort in his post-race interview, considering they hadn’t done too much with her up to that point, and he immediately said that the Super Sprint at Newbury would have to be “her Derby” later in the season.
He must think plenty of her to suggest that, and this Marygate Fillies’ Stakes looks like a nice stepping stone towards that.
She is a speedy type, quicker ground should be no issue at all, and one would hope she will come on for that maiden outing 30 days ago.
Furthermore, although Ruby’s Angel (second) and Twilight Star (third) haven’t won subsequently, they both went on to run solid races in Class 2 events, so the form is already looking pretty fair.
In what is an open contest, she’s the profile I like the most.
2:42 York – Thunder Run @ 11/2 with William Hill – 1pt EW
I’m not a huge fan of backing horses at this price in these types of handicaps, but Thunder Run is a horse I like, and I think he can land this.
He has an official rating of 100, which is still only 4lbs higher than his last winning mark, and that came at this track over eight furlongs.
He won that York handicap, the Clipper Handicap, pretty snugly at the end, and the form of the race is solid. Holloway Boy, the third, finished second in two Group 2s subsequently and also finished third to Romantic Warrior in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan.
Following that success, Thunder Run ran in the Balmoral Handicap and finished a fine fourth. That came on soft ground, and I’m not sure he would have appreciated that.
The four-year-old is by Night Of Thunder out of a Sea The Stars mare, and he’s won on both good and good to firm.
I like the idea of him stepping up in trip, and to be sent off 4/6 for the Summer Cup Handicap at Thirsk and 7/2 for the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot, someone must have fancied him to win off his handicap mark.
I’ll keep him on side in the Knights Solicitors Handicap.
