Thursday 14th May 2026
We head into the second day of the Dante Festival at York, and the first of four more selections for me comes within the 2.20, which is an extremely competitive Class 2 handicap over five furlongs, a typically tough puzzle for this track. I’ve come down on the Ed Bethell charge here, though, COROLLA POINT, who’s the mount of Callum Rodriguez. He was highly progressive at the back end of last season, winning back-to-back handicaps at Haydock and Hamilton, whilst progressing through the grades to Class 4 then Class 3 company. He returned to action at Beverley last month, where he posted another very solid effort, finishing third of ten and just three-quarters of a length behind the eventual winner and reopposing Air Force One. He’s slightly better off at the weights with that rival here, and remains on the same mark, suggesting that he has every chance of reversing that form. He should also naturally take a step forward coming into his second start of the campaign, and I think that makes him a big player.
Moving on to the second selection of the day, which takes place in the 2.55, this is more competitive handicap action and a Class 2 affair contested over a mile. I’m quite strong on the chances of SEA FORCE here, and he’s my best bet of the day for the team of William Haggas and Tom Marquand. He’s got form at the track, having finished sixth and just a length and a quarter behind Fifth Column in the Sky Bet Mile over course and distance last August, and followed up that run by winning a Class 3 event at Yarmouth. He progressed from his seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh to finish third of thirteen last time out in the Royal Hunt Cup at Thirsk, where he was unlucky to finish just a length and three-quarters behind the eventual winner Mirsky, given that he didn’t get a clear run. He’s just a pound higher for his efforts that day, and there likely is a lot more to come from this four-year-old son of Sea The Stars.
The feature race of the meeting comes up at 4.05 on Thursday, which is the Group 2 Dante Stakes over a mile and two and a half furlongs. It’s a race seen as a main trial for the Epsom Derby, and whilst we perhaps haven’t got a vintage renewal this time around, it’s still competitive. I like MORSHDI here, who’s another one of William Haggas and Tom Marquand. He opened his account at the second time of asking at the end of last term, winning over a mile at this course, and returned to action with an impressive success at Newmarket in the Fielden Stakes in April, getting the better of Poseidon’s Warrior by a length. Whilst that rival has since let that form down by running poorly, the Haggas’ charge does look highly progressive, and he’s well thought of by his connections. This further step up in distance should be up his street, and he’s got every chance of taking another big step forward here. I think we could see an impressive display.
Signing me off on Thursday will be the closing race on the card, the 5.15, a Class 4 handicap over a mile and four furlongs. I like the chances of ARC OLE OLE here, who represents Dylan Cunha, and is the mount of James Doyle. He comes into the race in fine form, having won a novice event on his final start of last season, before opening his account at the first time of asking on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster, in what was also his handicap debut. I put him up on the site for that particular affair, and he knuckled down well to narrowly get up by a shoulder. He should improve plenty following that first run of the season, and the further step up in distance could well unlock further improvement for him. He looks solid in a competitive affair here, and he won’t mind any rain, having won on both soft and good to soft.
Thursday Selections
York Dante Festival (Day 2)
2.20 York
COROLLA POINT – (6/1) (Each-Way) (6 places)
2.55 York
SEA FORCE – (7/2) (Win) (NAP)
4.05 York
MORSHDI – (3/1) (Win) (NB)
5.15 York
ARC OLE OLE – (4/1) (Each-Way) (5 places)
