Friday 16th March 2025
2.10 York: Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes: The opener on Friday is the 2.10 and this is the Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes over five furlongs. Love Olivia and Harry’s Girl dominate the market here, and they both have obvious chances, however, I’ve tried to take them on with one at a bigger price, which comes in the form of Saucy Jane for Jack Morland and Sam James. She finished second on her racecourse debut at Pontefract last month and progressed markedly on her latest outing when winning at Beverley by four and three-quarters of a length. That was an impressive display, and if she progresses again, she can have a big say in this at a decent price compared to the market leaders. Saucy Jane – 6/1 (Each-Way)
2.42 York: Knights Solicitors Handicap: Next up is the 2.42, and this is a Class 2 handicap that’s contested over a distance of a mile and two and a half furlongs. I like Thunder Run here, who represents Karl Burke and is set to be ridden by Clifford Lee. He was disappointing in the Lincoln on his first start of the campaign, when being sent off as a market principal, however, the ground possibly wasn’t in his favour that day, and he likely needed the run. He’ll get a much quicker surface for this particular assignment, which should suit him, given that he won here last August on good to firm ground. He stayed on strongly in that success, which suggests this step up in trip should suit which is also backed up with stamina in his pedigree. Thunder Run – 11/2 (Each-Way) (4 places – Several firms)
3.13 York: Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes: It’s more Listed action at 3.13 with the Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes, that’s ridden over a mile. I like the chances of Gulya here for Roger Varian and Silvestre De Sousa. She’s finished second in both of her runs to date, the first of which came at Doncaster back in September when she was only a length and a quarter behind Whirl, who won the Musidora Stakes here on Wednesday, which is very solid form. Most recently, she was a shoulder behind Victory Queen, where she was unlucky not to win, given the trouble she faced in running. If she gets a clearer passage on this occasion, I think she has a fantastic chance of shedding the maiden tag. Gulya – 10/3 (Win) (NAP)
3.45 York: Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes: The feature race of the day comes up at 3.45 and this is the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over a mile and six furlongs. I find it hard to see past Rebel’s Romance here, who currently heads the betting for the team of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He’s a multiple Group 1 winner, with top-flight victories all around the globe, and I think he should have a bit too much quality for this field. He’s not always shown his best form on UK shores, and he’ll have to prove he can stay this distance, however, he has finished strong over a mile and four in the past. I think he’ll have a bit too much class on this occasion and should add another success to his already illustrious CV. Rebel’s Romance – 11/8 (Win) (NB)
4.15 York: Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap: We move back into handicap company at 4.15 with a Class 3 handicap that’s contested over five furlongs. I like the chances of Cape Sovereign here for the Kevin Ryan yard and is set to be ridden by Silvestre De Sousa. He’s still a maiden after six starts, however, that doesn’t tell the full story as he’s run many good races in defeat, including on his handicap debut at Beverley earlier this month, where he finished three-quarters of a length second of eleven. He was also carried left in the closing stages on that occasion, and off the same mark here, he’s got every chance of making amends. Cape Sovereign – 8/1 (Each-Way) (6 places – b365, SkyBet, PPower, Unibet, Betway)
4.55 York: Darley EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes: The penultimate race of the meeting is the 4.55, and this is a Class 2 novice event over a mile. I’m with Bowmark in this particular affair for John & Thady Gosden who’s the mount of William Buick. He looked a very exciting prospect when winning on his racecourse debut at Kempton by four and a half lengths, and ran a good race when stepped up to Listed company at Newcastle in April, when a neck behind a much more experienced rival in Glittering Legend. He was also on the wrong side of the track that day, and dropped back into novice company here, I think he could take some beating. Bowmark – 11/8 (Win)
5.30 York: Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap: Signing us off for the meeting will be the 5.30, and this is a Class 4 handicap that’s contested over seven furlongs. I’ve come down on Mums Tipple here for Richard Hannon and Alec Voikhansky, who takes off three pounds. He returns to the track of his greatest success, which came all the way back in 2019 when he bolted up in the Premier Yearling Stakes, and whilst he didn’t live up to expectations following that run, he comes here looking very well-handicapped back on the turf. He’ll contest this off a mark which is twenty-four pounds lower than his last winning one, albeit that success came on the all-weather, but on the other hand, he’ll be race-fit due to a winter campaign on that synthetic surface. Mums Tipple – 8/1 (Each-Way) (5 places – Several firms)
