I wondered last night over a pint, whether there were wise old men in Sodom and Gomorrah, who, as the great fire rained down and their entire world was turned to dust, stood on the Citadel walls and with their last few scorched breathes said: “There. I told you God existed and Lumme can he turn it on when he wants to.” Did The Egyptian Pharoah say, “Crikey Moses, I sort of knew after the fifth plague, but I really wanted to see the next five for myself.”? That was how I felt yesterday when Stradivarius came home in The Lonsdale for a record third time. The huge battle in the final furlong, the relentless determination, the emotion on Brough Scott’s face, the whoop of the crowd. But the thing I really noticed was the look on Dettori’s face which I took to be one of concern, as he kept looking behind him and touching the horse’s hindquarters. Maybe I was reading too much into it but it was as though he thought Strad might have done a muscle or was suffering from Set-fast or tying-up. Anyway, all was well and I truly could not have been more thrilled. A good hose down and a good kip was all any of us needed. So far it has been a dismal York on the betting front, and to my chagrin, we are 30¾ pts down. As we have more viewers for the Chateau d’If, and I have to bone out a leg of lamb and marinate it in some Harissa, today’s selections are brief and I hope succinctly accurate!
1:50 YORK Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (G3) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m1f
Essentially if REAL WORLD is the real deal then he has to win this – but the ground may be going against him. There are others however who might deliver some value. I keep looking at DUKE OF HAZZARD, but no I’ll go for
LORD GLITTERs e/w
2:05 SANDOWN Betway Solario Stakes (G3) Cl1 (2yo) 7f
The Runner up in the Chesham will do for me
REACH FOR THE MOON Win
2:25 YORK Sky Bet Melrose Hcap (Heritage Hcap) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m6f
7 Places with Skybet
22 runners and really tricky. Here’s a thing – MOSHAAWER won at Kempton in June and 4l behind was DIAMOND CUTTER. The latter is now 21lbs better off and is 3 times the price. With seven places it’s a no-brainer. TASHKHAN will like the easing ground, is dropping back in distance and his 3lb claim helps. On trends, you could consider DHUSHAN – MARSHALL PLAN – RAVENSCRAIG CASTLE – PLEASANT MAN
MOSHAAWER e/w – TASHKHAN e/w – PLEASANT MAN e/w
2:40 SANDOWN Betway Atalanta Stakes (G3) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m
4 places Skybet
INDIGO GIRL win – POTAPOVA e/w
3:00 YORK Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (G2) Cl1 (3yo+) 7f
SPACE BLUES Win – SIR BUSKER e/w
3:35 YORK Sky Bet Ebor Hcap (Heritage Hcap) Cl2 (4yo+) 1m6f
8 places with Skybet
The Pharoah of Galway is in a taxi with Willie Mullins according to my Weardefecksdat app. If it rains he wins, says the great man – because he doesn’t like the draw. I like and in order of preference AWAY HE GOES (too big at 20s and 8 places. 2nd in the Goodwood Cup behind Trueshan) – MIRANN for whom this has been JP’s target since the olde king died – SONNYBOYLISTON on merit and will handle any ease in going – HAMISH too short a price now – TRIBAL CRAFT – GLOBAL STORM. Only because I like her mum and the owner’s a mate, but ON TO VICTORY for 8 places has a squeak at 40s
MIRANN Win – AWAY HE GOES e/w – SONNYBOYLISTON e/w – ON TO VICTORY e/w
The rest of untelevised York
4:10 Julia Graves Roses Stakes Cl1 (2yo) 5f
4 places with Skybet
BOONIE gets first-time cheekpieces after coming close at Goodwood in the Molecomb – ETERNAL HALO is progressive
BOONIE – ETERNAL HALO dutch Win
4:45 Sky Bet Hcap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 1m2½f
5 places with Skybet and generally
MONTATHER e/w – FISHABLE e/w – STRAIT OF HORMUZ Win
5:20 Sky Bet Apprentice Hcap Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 5f
4 places Skybet and generally
I’m not sure BLACKROD will like the change in going. SHOWALONG will love it
SHOWALONG Win