York Day Two – Thursday 24 August Results can sometimes become unpredictable if the ground is soft! Day One Races: 4 Wins: 0 Profit/Loss: -40.00 Well, the rain came – 15mm in just over an hour, apparently. While the results weren’t outrageous, they didn’t make a great deal of sense to me in the conditions. Cracksman was superb in the Voltigeur and Ulysses found the most improvement of the main protagonists in the International. Two good performances, and you’d think their respective trainers must now be giving serious consideration to the Arc. Dee Ex Bee and Mirage Dancer were disappointing.The afternoon was largely dry once racing got under way, and the forecast is better for the remainder of the week. Anyway, it’s a long game, so onwards and upwards! 1.55 Conditions Stakes (Class 2) (2yo) 6f GREAT PROSPECTOR Little doubt that the best piece of form on offer here is that shown by Great Prospector when third (beaten a head and half a length) to Aidan O’Brien’s Gustav Klimt in the Superlative Stakes (Group 2) at the Newmarket July Meeting. That was only Great Prospector’s second race, having won his first comfortably at Nottingham by two lengths, unextended. This race represents a drop back down in grade for Great Prospector, and he incurs no penalty for his Newmarket run, even though that represented an improvement in form of over a stone. It amounts to a good bit of placing by Richard Fahey, who has excelled over the years at these big value sales races. 7/2 in a field of 20 may not seem terrific value, but if anything that price understates this colt’s chances. Great Prospector is both the best achiever in this race and the least exposed. To my mind, if he gives his running then this race is his. His sire and dam both acted on soft ground or better. 2.25 Lowther Stakes (Group 2) (2yo) 6f HAPPY LIKE A FOOL One of the better 2yo fillies races before the big Newmarket Autumn meetings. Racing Post ratings have Aidan O’Brien’s Actress ahead of Roger Varian’s Madeline, whereas Timeform have them the other way around. Actress has had seven starts and took a Group 3 race at The Curragh before a Group One third at the same track last time. Madeline, with four starts to her name followed a Group 3 fifth at Royal Ascot with a Listed race win at Newbury. Happy Like A Fool was brought over from America by Wesley Ward to finish second in the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) having won her initial outing at Keeneland by four lengths (over 4.5f). Before that Ascot race Ward described her as one of his best prospects of a winner at the Royal meeting. The winner, Clive Cox’s Heartache subsequently ran well at Group 2 level against colts at Maisons-Laffite. Happy Like A Fool was described as physically imposing after the Ascot race, and likely to stay 6f. Given Wesley Ward’s high opinion of this filly, and the fact that he has again troubled to bring her over from the States, I like the chances of Happy Like A Fool improving sufficiently to take this contest, given that she is less exposed than Actress and Madeline. Frankie rode her in work at York last week, and a big run seems expected. The caveat may be the question of the ground being too slow for her on Thursday. On this, I just have to trust Wesley Ward, and I would hope that if he feels conditions are unsuitable he will pull her out. Of the others, I’d have huge respect for Mark Johnston’s Threading, who won a Class 2 maiden at Goodwood on her only start to date, and could be anything, although she has a similar profile to Dee Ex Bee, who disappointed on Wednesday. I'm mindful of Mark Johnston's poorer record at York than his general stats. 3.00 Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+) 1m No Bet Here’s where I start to wimp out. On Racing Post ratings, six of this 20-strong field are rated within 2 lbs of each other and ten are rated within 4 lbs. Any number of these trainers are in form, and the usual Yorkshire suspects who rarely leave York without a winner are well represented. In summary, life is way too short to try and sort this mess out, but good luck to you if you try to. If pressed, I’d maybe put up El VIP and El Hayem as potential improvers for good trainer/jockey combinations, but it’s resoundingly a ‘no bet’ race for me! 3.35 Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) (3yo+) 1m4 No Bet Enable has won the English and Irish Oaks and the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (all Group 1), the latter against colts and fillies, 3yo and over. Quite simply, she will win this before going to Chantilly to contest the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe in October (Longchamps is still being redeveloped). Shocks have occasionally occurred in this race, and she can’t logically be recommended as a bet at a best-priced 1/3, so just enjoy watching her. 4.15 Galtres Stake (Listed) (3yo+) 1m4f ALJEZEERA Mori’s form when second in the Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot is the highest level achieved by any of the fillies in this race. She can be expected to have further improvement in her and she should be up to taking this en route to better things. For those looking for a longer-priced alternative, fellow Frankel filly Aljezeera, trained by Luca Cumani and ridden by Frankie is one who could also have significant improvement in her after just two runs. As I write this, Mori is odds on while Aljezeera is 8/1, and I’d take her each way with Bet365, who go ¼ odds a place, 1,2,3. 4.50 Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+) 7f No Bet There are upwards of 4,500 races over the flat in a year, some of which are solvable. This isn’t! Good luck to anyone going – have a great day!
One winner day one , Wells Fargo , my reward placed . Drawn level after the expensive admission and expenses
Well done Connor, one more than I managed! The admission prices are thunderous for this meeting. Members (the County Stand) for today was £57, even if you ordered in advance. I remember going to Longchamps for the Arc a few years ago and paying é8 to see six Group One races!
Hey jonesy in first race / Threading in second race /, and Northgate lad in 3 rd race . Enable should win 4 th race at 2-7 . More Mischief race 5 , and Crystal fizz in last race . Good luck to punters today
Until the last race my only return was my £5 stake for Theydon Grey being a N/R. But then came Demon's Rock at 10/1 with a £70+ return to more than cover any losses over the other races. Be happy with a similar outcome today. Good luck and as always, thanks for the post.
