Potential Cazoo Derby contenders will attempt to enhance their claims for the world’s most famous Flat race, due to be run on the first Saturday in June, with a victory in York’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on Thursday.
We will provide a Horse Racing tip, preview and prediction for this significant Group 2 trial taking place at 3.10pm, along with two other races on the Knavesmire, the one mile Class 2 Hambleton Handicap at 2.40pm and at 3.40pm the Listed Westow Stakes, run over the minimum trip.
Our Tip for the 2.40pm at York:
Top weight What’s The Story has run some of his best races on the Knavesmire, winning two competitive handicaps over course and distance, as well as finishing a close third in the 2019 John Smith’s Diamond Jubilee Cup.
The mount of Kevin Stott ran an excellent race on his reappearance when finding only the high-class Top Rank too good in a Listed race at Doncaster. But off a mark of 106 the seven-year-old may just be in the grip of the handicapper at the moment.
Matthew Flinders and Johan, third and fifth respectively in Newbury’s Spring Cup last month, have obvious claims along with the hat-trick-seeking Artistic Rifles and Lincoln Handicap runner-up Brunch. However, at a double-figure price the each-way value may lie with the Richard Fahey-trained Hartswood.
The four-year-old has run well on all three visits to the Knavesmire, in particular when going down by half a length to Brunch over course and distance last August. The mount of Paul Hanagan enjoys an 8lb pull with that horse and should now be race-fit following a pleasing reappearance at Thirsk earlier this month.
Our Tip for the 3.10pm at York:
Possibly the last significant Cazoo Derby trial prior to the main event at Epsom next month. Eleven horses have been declared for the one mile two and a half furlong contest, including long-time ante-post Derby favourite High Definition who missed last weekend’s Lingfield Derby Trial due to an unsatisfactory blood test.
The unbeaten colt has been usurped at the head of the Derby betting by stablemate Bolshoi Ballet, so impressive in winning Leopardstown’s Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on Sunday, and it will take something special if Ryan Moore’s mount is to regain his place at the head of the betting for the world’s most famous Flat race.
The impression is that Ballydoyle are desperate to get a run into High Definition before the main event next month, so the son of Galileo is unlikely to be at his very best for his first run of the season. With that in mind, it could pay to look elsewhere for a value alternative.
Alenquer, Gear Up, Hurricane Lane and Royal Champion would appear the main dangers to a possibly below-par High Definition. But at a massive price, it would be no surprise to see Richard Fahey’s Pythagoras outrun his huge odds.
The winner of a listed race at Pontefract on his final start as a juvenile, the Zoffany colt almost certainly needed the run when fourth in the Blue Riban
Our Tip for the 3.40pm at York:
The Tim Easterby-trained Winter Power can carry on where she left off last season, with a third victory in a row before heading to Royal Ascot next month and a possible tilt at the Group 1 King Stand Stakes.
The daughter of Bungle Inthejungle won four of her nine starts as a juvenile but saved her best for last, when storming home by three lengths in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket.
Fellow northern challenger Acklam Express looks the main danger, while best of those at a bigger price could be last week’s Chester runner-up First Company.
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