York Saturday
Strensall Stakes 1.50pm
It worries me when I think I have the winner only to see it trading at 7/1 or so but that is the case here and as we all know by now, you should never change your mind. Miss O Connor has a bit to find on official ratings but arrived at Ascot an unbeaten mare after successes at Gowran Park, Nottingham, Haydock, and Saint-Cloud, but she lost that record first time out this season at Ascot when a well-beaten fifth at Ascot in the Valiant Stakes. That was her first start since last October and to be frank she looked as if she needed it, and after trying to make all she wasn’t given a hard time once her chance had gone. With that run under her belt and crucially, on a far softer surface which clearly suits (if its Good ground or faster I won’t be backing her), she can show us that form was all wrong and hopefully come home in front for the Haggas yard, and with Tom Marquand in the saddle once again.
City Of York Stakes 3.00pm
Although I quite like the make up of this race there is still that little nagging doubt at the back of my mind that suggests there may yet be a major upset and I won’t be writing off Brando just yet who could still be the surprise package even at the age of eight. That said he is becoming hard to win with (seven runs since June 2019) but he goes well here at York historically and is worthy of consideration at odds of 33/1 or thereabouts. One Master somehow got up despite all sorts of trouble in running at Goodwood and handles any cut in the ground which may just about give him the edge this afternoon. A Group One winner not once but twice over this trip at Longchamp he looks back to that sort of form again now, and if that is the case, he can win this with a clear run. Threat is another of interest as the only three-year-old in the contest and may be better over this seven furlong trip having tried six last time out, and he should find this a lot easier than when taking on Palace Pier at Royal Ascot in June, but his best efforts are all on quicker ground, and for that reason alone I will be sticking to the favourite.
Roses Stakes 4.10pm York
A little case of déjà vu for me here having tipped Blackberry each way last weekend only to see her pulled out at Newbury thanks to the soft ground – will the same thing happen here I wonder? She was only ever going to do enough to win (lazy?) when scoring at Doncaster last month but she showed a decent turn of foot when needed that day and once again she is trading at a double figure price and is crying out for a little each way attention. Ben Macdui stands out after a second to Steel Bull (even if the winner let the form down next time out) and won’t be far away but is far shorter than I feel he should be, and I would narrowly prefer Politics who is getting better with every start as you would expect from an Andrew Balding juvenile.
Sandown Sunday
Atalanta Stakes 3.05pm
A sizeable eleven runner field have been declared for this event but if they all turn up and run to their form then surely this goes the way of the Roger Charlton trained Quadrilateral. Three wins from three runs last season marked her down as a folly to follow and she was sent off the 11/4 favourite for the 1000 Guineas despite the presence of Aidan O’Brien’s Love in the field (and we all know how good she has turned out to be) which shows just how highly regarded she is. One more start saw her come home third again in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot when six lengths adrift of Alpine Star and runner-up Sharing and it may well be that this drop in class will see an easy win before she reverts to the highest class once again with the booking of the top class Ryan Moore an added bonus. The race is full of dangers as you would expect with Billesdon Brook a possible for second yet again after three from her last four starts, and Maamora a big priced possible for the each-way players, but I am happy to stick with my selection here regardless of her likely favouritism.
Solario Stakes 3.40pm Sandown
Not one of the better known juvenile races perhaps, but a contest that has seen plenty of high class winners over the years including Kingman, Too Darn Hot, and Positive so the winner is well worth noting for future engagements. Mark Johnston’s Dubai Fountain brings the best form to the table after wins at Doncaster and Haydock followed by a pair of seconds here over this trip behind Fev Rover and then at Newmarket. A likely front runner he could take some pegging back and he does have experience on us side, you just get the feeling there may be one or two improvers amongst his rivals that could reel him in close home. Dinoo belied his 50/1 starting price when running on well to finish a neck second at Newmarket and seems sure to improve for Richard Hughes as will King Vega (Andrew Balding) but Etonian could yet be the one for the Richard Hannon yard. He won by over three lengths on debut over course and distance despite being hampered at the start and being denied a clear run when needed and with the stable’s juveniles invariably improving for a run, he could go on from that and take this before competing in the Group One events later in this strange season.
Tired of reading – all of this plus more is available courtesy of the Post Racing podcast which is available free of charge to listen to here https://postracing.co.uk/2020/08/21/sean-goes-off-piste-with-his-winner-for-the-weekend-and-rons-playing-it-safe/
Enjoy!
Sean’s Suggestions:
One Master 3.00pm York Saturday
Quadrilateral 3.05pm Sandown Sunday
Etonian 3.40pm Sandown Sunday
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