By Tony Calvin - 15 May 2025
The times suggested it was good ground at York on Wednesday, with some reporting it was loose on top.
They put on another 2mm after racing, so I’d work on the basis of good ground for Thursday. Not ideal for those who want it rattling quick, if that is the case, obviously.
The current official going description is good to firm, good in places (see below).
Everyone’s eyes were peeled on how the draw played out yesterday. Here are the results:
1m4f handicap: 12 (of 12)-6-1-4-3-7-8-9-5-2
6f handicap: 13-3-7-15-5-16 (winner ended up on low-drawn side)
8-runner Group 2: 1-2-3-4
6-runner 1m2f Musidora: 5-4-1-6-3-2
7f handicap: 14 (of 14)-11-7-2-10-3
Six-runner 5f maiden : 6-3-5-2-1-3
1m4f handicap: 5-8-6-12-1-11
Make of that what you will, Pop Pickers.
To be honest with you, big-field sprint handicaps are my idea of punting hell, so I won’t be having a bet of any note, draw bias or no bias.
As you would expect, there is a ton of pace in this 18-runner 5f contest – the two firms offering six places are making you pay for it in terms of price – and Zoulu Chief is one of those.
If you back him, you could know your fate very early on, as he is drawn 18 of 18, but this course winner could dictate his own fate from the front and he has now become a very well handicapped horse.
He made all when winning a good 6f handicap here in August 2023 (went up to a mark of 97 afterwards) and hasn’t won since, but at least that means to can race off a lowly 85 here.
He was generously dropped 1lb for a good third at Ascot last time and he probably appeals most to me here at [12/1], available in nine places.
But it is as lukewarm a suggestion as you’ll get, and I’ll probably limit myself to a tenner at [15.0] or bigger on the exchange, – we are into interest territory here, for all we shouldn’t be doing that – the current price on Betfair.
That draw could be boom or bust material so I wouldn’t be inclined to play each-way.
RACE IS NOW DOWN TO FIVE RUNNERS
Media Mogul is the predictably short-priced favourite in here at a best-priced [15/8]. He was a lot shorter early doors.
That is no surprise given he is a progressive 4yo coming into this 67-86 handicap on a hat-trick, the improvement seemingly kickstarted by the application of cheekpieces.
This is a step up in grade for him though, (his successes have come in 0-70s), so I can see why some may want to take a swing at him with one of his six rivals (eight firms on the Oddschecker grid are still paying three places).
Youthful King at 6s in three places could be the one, in a first-time hood (see trainer’s record below) and with his son, Jack, on board claiming 7lb.
Jack is going to be Ralph Beckett’s first apprentice jockey since 2016, so presumably he rides okay (he hasn’t ridden for the stable yet).
Granted, Jack is this horse’s regular pilot, so it is hardly a new angle into his chances.
Youthful King ran poorly over 1m4f at Lingfield last time but he is back down to his last winning mark and he will have his favoured fast ground. A reproduction of his fourth over 2m in a 0-105 at Newbury two starts ago, off a 3lb higher mark than this, could see him go close.
It is a tricky old race, but he seems the best call to me at 6s+ (trades at 8.0 in an illiquid exchange market as this goes live).
There is some [13/2] out there in a place.
KOTARI WAS A NON-RUNNER AT 7.55AM (GOING) SO CHECK YOUR EACH-WAY TERMS. ALSO A HEFTY RULE 4 AS HE WAS AS LOW AS 11/5.
Rapid Mission is also a NR at 9.29am, so only five runners now and the standard two places.
They are still clearly feeling their way with Romieu trip-wise – he was also in the extended 1m2f handicap here on Friday – but there is little doubt about his handicap upside, for all he lacks the experience against hard-knocking handicappers like Blue For You and Northern Express.
This ex-Godolphin 4yo was a cheap 18,000 guineas acquisition in October and he looked a premier bargain when bolting up on his first start for next connections (and just his third in total) over 1m at Redcar.
A mark of 90 is no gimme on the bare form but it isn’t harsh by the same token, given the manner in which he gave 21lb and a spanking to the runner-up.
You can see why they were thinking about going up in trip with him as the dual Group 2-winning dam stayed 2m, but presumably they will look to kick on with him here from trap two.
Given the manner of the Redcar win, the pedigree and the potential, I think [13/2] – available in three places – and [6/1] looks fair, and it is good to see the stable form picking up of late, with a narrow second at 20s yesterday.
Keatley clearly thinks he has a horse to go to war with.
After the Redcar victory he said:
“Romieu is a nice horse and we think a good bit of him. He’s very grand and big, but impressive too. He didn’t have to beat much, but there wasn’t much more he could have done. He’s unexposed and it’ll be interesting to see what the handicapper does with him, but we’re hoping to be aiming for a nice prize at the Dante meeting next.”
I’ve just put on an extra tenner for my grandson, Rome, even though he only tends to like horses wearing pink (that didn’t work out too well with Royale Pagaille in the Grand National….).
He is currently a very weak 13.0 on the exchange as at 12.56pm but that doesn’t bother me; I’ve just backed him at that 12s win-only.
Storm Catcher is a NR at 8.44am (not eaten up). That one was a 50s poke, so no Rule 4.
It’ll be disappointing if See The Fire can’t win this, but that is pretty much factored into her price of [6/4].
She is actually rated the same horse as Beautiful Love but I know who I think is the better horse, and it is See The Fire with her Group 1 CV.
Sure, she hasn’t won one but she has an excellent body of work in the highest grade, including a neck second to Opera Singer in the Nassau.
This Group 3 course winner didn’t pull up any trees when fifth of seven on her return in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last month, but it was still a satisfactory starting point and this looks a very winnable opportunity.
I wouldn’t lay her at [6/4], so I guess that’s an attractive price.
A real fizzer of a Dante.
Eleven runners featuring an evens poke (11/10 in a place) which connections say will improve appreciably for the run.
Make of that what you will, once again.
The horse in question is The Lion In Winter, who we haven’t seen since beating Wimbledon Hawkeye (re-opposes here – more of him very shortly) and Guineas winner Ruling Court in the Acomb here in August, comfortably the best form on offer.
But if the stepping stone to Epsom messages are true, he is clearly vulnerable.
The race is full of unknowns, not least the four unbeaten colts, but there seems an obvious bet to me, and that is Wimbledon Hawkeye at [13/2] each-way with six firms.
We know he is the second-best horse in the race on form and time and, while he has shown his hand more than most after two starts this season (and five in total), you can pretty much set your watch by him so far.
Of course, there is always the fear that he is going to the well again too quickly after his second to Field Of Gold in the Craven and his subsequent fifth in the Guineas (he just didn’t have the pace to match them but he stuck on well on possibly a less favoured part of the track), but we know his level and you can easily see him improving for the step up in trip here (1m4f may be another matter on pedigree).
Sexy he ain’t, but dependable he is.
So far.
I’ve backed him each way but I have also backed Royal Playwright win-only on the exchange at an average of 22.45 so far (for a £35 – the market had only matched 70k at 7.47am, which is disappointing early trade for such a big race, and why these columns are going up on the day of the races now)
He had placed form behind Wimbledon Hawkeye and Field Of Gold over 1m and 7f last season and was given a modest ride when third at Newcastle on his return, and the angle into him is the step up in trip.
He has a 1m2f pedigree, being a half-brother to See The Fire (and a 2m winner), and his dam was a certain Arabian Queen.
I think he could be a big improver from a solid enough 2yo base here, and I have paid to find out (if not much so far)
Treasure Isle came out this race at 12.54pm on Tuesday as he had not eaten up. If they had waited, perhaps he would have on Wednesday or Thursday.
Just a thought…
So we have the precarious dead-eight here and it is worth noting that the 40-1 outsider King Of Light has also been confirmed for a race tomorrow, so keep an eye out there,
I didn’t intend to have a bet in this but Tropical Storm’s price of [3/1] didn’t offend me.
And it grew on me.
He is just 1lb shy of Aesterius at these weights and has the benefit of a run, and a fair enough one in the Palace House at Newmarket.
He wasn’t given a hard time of it at all there – he was ridden from off the pace, when he is normally on it – and I would anticipate more urgency and a prominent ride from this course and distance winner.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he went off favourite (Aesterius is currently best at [13/8), so the 3s looks plenty fair enough.
I wouldn’t lay it.
Oisin Murphy could have a very good day.
In fact, I have just backed Tropical Storm and See The Fire in a double at [9/1] – that is 3s and [6/4].
I definitely wouldn’t lay that. Best of luck.
He got pulled out at 2.38pm due to the going.
Let’s see if he runs tomorrow on the same ground in the 3yo 5f handicap.
See The Fire at [6/4] and Tropical Storm at [3/1] in a double – pays [9/1] – that combination is available with six firms as this goes live.
Going: Good to firm, good in places
Going stick: 6.8, Thursday 8.30am (was 7.0 Wednesday 8.15am)
Going Stick readings in Home Straight (from Wednesday): Far Side – 6.9: Centre – 7.0: Stands Side – 6.9.
Moisture Meter reading: 36.5% Going Stick readings taken shortly after irrigation cycle completed. Wind speed NNE mostly headwind 15mph gusting to 30mph
Thursday morning course update: A cool and cloudy Thursday morning. Met office forecast: Thursday – a dry morning with cloud clearing to leave sunny interval. A stiff NNE breeze developing, with spells of sunshine in afternoon, 17 degrees. Friday – dry, sunny, up to 19 degrees. Live weather station link and live Met Office forecast link available on the York Racecourse website Going page at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk
Watering: Irrigating each night to replace moisture lost to elements. 2mm irrigated Wednesday night, 24mms applied in last 7days.
Forecast: Dry and 16 degrees
Rails: Planned rail positions; Wednesday – 6m out from 9f to entrance to the Home Straight. Thursday – 10m out. Friday – tba
Stalls: 5f and 6f – Far Side, 1m4f – Centre, Remainder – Inside Rail.
Going: Good to firm
Going Stick: 8.7, Thursday 8.30am
Thursday morning course update: Still only 16mm rain received in the last 2 months, and just 0.5mm rain received in a brief shower on Tuesday afternoon. Thursday: dry, bright spells, 20’c
Watering: Following the racing on Sun 4th May on Good to Firm, the track has been watered as follows: 8mm applied on Wed 7th. 8mm applied on Fri 9th. 8mm applied on Mon 12th. 6mm applied on Tues 13th. 6mm applied (some areas received 8mm) on Wed 14th May.
Forecast: Dry and 17 degrees
Stalls: 5F, 6F – Far side 1M2F – Inside 1M4F – Stands side
3.45pm York: Alpine Trail (14k)
Luke Dace hood – Youthful King, 2,25pm Salisbury; 1-21 (since 2012)
Kevin Ryan, blinkers – Mon Na Slieve, 2.10pm York; 20-258 (2009)
John and Thady Gosden, cheekpieces – Devil’s Advocate 3.45pm York; 13-108 (2021)
Karl Burke, cheekpieces – King Of Light, 4.18pm York; 16-193 (2016)
2.10pm York: Tees Spirit, Spartan Arrow, Pilgrim (prom), JM Jungle (prom), Vantheman (prom), Zoulu Chief, Ventura Express (prom), Vince L’Amour, Mon Na Slieve, Fine Wine, Lethal Nymph
2.25pm Salisbury : Macari, Rapid Mission?
2.42pm York: Northern Express, Sisyphean, Old Cock (prom), Romieu, Cruyff Turn, Dingle, Urban Sprawl
3.13pm York: No obvious, guaranteed pace, so an opportunity for someone – Karmology has made running earlier in career and is generally ridden prominently
3.45pm York: Alpine Trail, Nightwalker, Royal Playwright, The Lion In Winter (prom)
4.18pm York: Aesterius, Captain Kinsella, Mr Lightside, Tropical Storm, Star Of Mehmas
Good: Aidan O’Brien (very good), John and Thady Gosden, Ralph Beckett, Jennie Candlish, Julie Camacho, Tim Easterby, Anthony Charlton, Ed Walker, Adrian Nicholls (winner on Tuesday), Archie Watson, Jim Goldie, Sam England, Ed Bethell, Charlie Appleby, Owen Burrows (absolutely flying). John Gallagher
Fair: Michael Dods (though a poor win strike rate), Mick Appleby (winner on Monday), Andrew Balding, Karl Burke (among the winners on Wednesday), David O’Meara, Kevin Ryan, (winner on Wednesday), Richard Fahey, Simon and Ed Crisford, Richard Hughes (10-1 winner on Wednesday), Adrian Keatley (a narrow 20-1 second here on Wednesday). John and Sean Quinn (16-1 winner on Monday), Brian Ellison (22-1 winner on Tuesday), Gary and Josh Moore, Brian Meehan (winner on Monday), Paul Midgley, Roger Fell, Michael and David Easterby, Iain Jardine, Nigel Tinkler, James Owen, Marco Botti (borderline good), Raphael Freire (winner on Wednesday), David Marnane
Moderate: Ivan Furtado, David and Nicola Barron, Heather Main, James Tate
Don’t Know: Luke Dace, Sheena West (probably moderate), Simon Pearce (though 28-1 winner at Yarmouth on Wednesday….)
Confusion sorted There seems to be confusion as to why my 20/1 ante-post fancy Grand…
TUESDAY race-by-race copy for Saturday 1.15pm Ascot – First three in the betting are due…
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