TONY CALVIN: IT’S all about Fun for me at York today – but he is drifting…

1.50pm Newmarket – 15/2 Evanesco could get the run of the race

It’s more thin betting gruel on ITV on Friday.

Shades of Newmarket’s Thursday card here, with only six runners for this 100k 1m2f handicap but this is silly racing week when a lot of the big meetings race and clash with each other – best evidenced by Newmarket, Ascot, York and Chester all going up against each other on Saturday afternoon.

Fingers crossed for the field sizes there.

This 3yo contest could be a pretty warm affair for all there are only six runners, but maybe the one that most interests me is Evanesco, mainly on account of I can see him getting an uncontested lead here (Archer’s Bay could be a spoiler on that front, I guess).

He perhaps was a little bit disappointing when seventh in the 16-runner Golden Gates at Royal Ascot last time but he did have to contend with getting across from stall 16 there and this smaller field may allow him to dominate more effectively, as he did when making all to run out a wide-margin winner on the Rowley course previously in a five-runner heat.

He is 8lb higher here, the handicapper refusing to drop him even a 1lb for the Ascot run, but [15/2] and 7s looks an okay price. A trading back-to-lay price too with those with an active exchange account.

2.10pm York – When 11/1 Quest For Fun stops, I hope he is in front

Lord Roxby is a NR as at 9.43am (not eaten up) followed by Canvas at 10.18am (not eaten up).

This is obviously a hugely competitive 17-runner 7f handicap, but I was immediately drawn to Quest For Fun, each-way.

The one (actually there are two, read on) worry – apart from 18 opponents – is that we haven’t seen him since May 23rd.

That is not exactly true as he was withdrawn after getting upset in the stalls here on June 12th – not the first time he has played up in them – so I hope he hasn’t had an issue since then.

He is handicapped to win off 77 if he is A1 though , as the dual course winner has numerous crackers to his name around here, not least last time out when third in May when he looked an unlucky loser after meeting plenty of trouble in running.

The handicapper left him alone after that (generous) and a mark of 77 is there to be exploited.

Let’s hope this isn’t a prep for here later in the month…

I know he is an 8yo now – and maybe he would prefer more ease, though he ran well on fast ground over course and distance last May – but he was fourth in this race off a 10lb higher mark in 2024 and everything is set for him to go well, albeit that absence is a nagging doubt, and he has twice won the same 7f handicap (in 2023 and 2025) in late July here and I hope this isn’t a prep for that.

This is one occasion where I will definitely be keeping an eye on the market….as of 5.13am on Friday morning he is 18.0 on Betfair (though only £254 backed, £254 laid on him s that is of little consequence).

I suspect if I press up here at bigger prices (which I am sure to do…) it won’t be for much, though.

He is a general 9s, but there is 10s in four places if you can access (one is offering six places).

He is now available at 16s in a few places ffs. Oh well, in for a penny….

2.25pm Newmarket – 10/3 Bonita as obvious an each-way bet as you’ll find – if all eight go

I imagine a lot of people’s immediate thoughts on this race are that Senorita Bonita is some each-way bet at [10/3] and 3s – if all eight go.

I’d probably be in that camp (actually there is no probably about it) as I can see her giving the Albany winner and [4/6] favourite Libertango a race and the rest of the field (it is 14s bar two) have a way to go to hit the level she showed in finishing second to a cracking prospect in Victorious in the Queen Mary, with the move up to 6f expected to be no problem.

However, one non-runner will obviously change the betting complexion of this and we are dealing with some exceptionally lightly-raced juveniles, three of whom are once-raced winners (one of those is Joseph O’Brien’s Alwaysanangel, and it is interesting to see he is attacking this meeting with some gusto – his string of 210 will be an increasing mainstay and feature in the UK now it seems).

I’ll come back to this race on Friday morning but even that may be hours too early with the very real prospect of a NR in this.

2.45pm York – Looking for 5s+ about Flora to play

I thought this 6f Group fillies and mares’ Group 3 was very tricky on first viewing.

And second, it seems…

Flora Of Bermuda, winner of this race in 2024, would be my idea of the favourite, but the current [10/3] is nothing flash.

I’ll sleep on this 13-runner jobber – if anyone is managing much shut-eye in this heat.

I have done, and I’ll leave it alone.

I do like Flora Of Bermuda, who was somehow allowed to race at Royal Ascot after playing up badly at the start and who sidestepped the July Cup to come here, but I am not tempted in by her current odds.

If she drifts to 5s+, I may play, small.

3pm Newmarket – Just the small matter of being 11lb well-in for the evens favourite

I imagine the starting, and end, point for many in this 100k 1m6f handicap is Wine Dark Sea, who is the small matter of 11lb well-in under his 6lb penalty for a 13-length win over 1m3f at Carlisle last month.

And the merit of that win was backed up by a decent time too, so I am sure some will view the evens as a gift.

But he is up to 1m6f for the first time here, and taking on a better class of horse (the Carlisle race was a 0-85), though there is enough stamina in his pedigree (and his run-style over 1m4f) to suggest it won’t be the trip that beats him.

Ian Williams must think the Shergar Cup has come early as he runs three of the 10, and they all have chances on their best form, and 25s chance Beylerbeyi stood out most of his trio after a fair run over 2m4f in the Ascot Stakes last time.

However, I just wonder whether they will be inclined to start getting his mark back down for the Cesarewitch now and finishing close to a 11lb well-in horse will not help – perish the thought trainers target big handicaps, even over immediate 100k pots… – and maybe this is as simple as the handicapper is telling us.

I’d still rather be a layer than a backer at evens though, as you have some credible rivals running for you, with the market saying chief among them are Valedictory and Goblet Of Fire.

Valedictory was balloted out of Royal Ascot and connections declined an opportunity to run here in the Old Newton Cup last weekend. He has shortened into [10/3] already and that may be coming under pressure, too.

3.35pm Newmarket – 7/2 Blue Bolt could give the favourite plenty to think about

There is no each-way thievery to be had here with only seven runners, and it wasn’t a race that particularly appealed as a betting heat.

But I’d much rather take the [7/2] about Blue Bolt than the general [8/11] on Precise, which looks short enough and she may well drift.

They are officially the same filly on a mark of 115 – though the 3yo Precise gets the 9lb age allowance here – and you had to be impressed by the manner in which she beat Jancis at Royal Ascot, powering on close home for a dominant success.

You could argue Jancis is significantly overpriced at 18s and 16s on that form, and I imagine some will – she is 3lb better off for 1 3/4 lengths on that Ascot run – but Blue Bolt has a very likeable progressive profile and clearly has a more obvious winning chance than the Irish filly.

Dutch to master the favourite

That said, if I were to be tempted to back Blue Bolt at [7/2], I’d probably be duty-bound to get Willie McCreery’s 5yo onside at 18s and 16s, too.

Mark Coton popped into my head as I wrote that….

Value, innit.

After having a second look at the race, I have backed both Blue Bolt at [4.6] and Jancis at just over [18.0], to small stakes.

I think the favourite is beatable, and underpriced, as she takes on those two older fillies of comparable ability.

BEST BET

Quest For Fun at 10s or 9s each-way in 2.10pm at York (get the best place terms you can)- 11s is now available at 6.07pm, and he may well drift further

STATS AND INFO SECTION

1.COURSE DETAILS

NEWMARKET (15mm watered on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday – another 6mm being put on after racing on Thursday)

GOING: Good to firm

Going Stick: 6.8, Friday 6am

Rails: Stands Side Course in use.

Stalls: 5f, 6f, 7f and 1m – Centre, All other races – Inside

FRIDAY COURSE UPDATE: Dry forecast with daytime temperatures due to reach 30c on Friday and 26c on Saturday.

WATERING: 45mm applied between Sunday and Wednesday. Further 6mm applied on Thursday evening.

Weather forecast (yr.no as at 5.13am Friday): dry, hot and sunny up to 30 degrees

YORK

GOING: Good to Firm (Good in places)

GOING STICK: 6.3, Friday 8.30am

Readings in Home Straight: Far Side – 6.4. Centre – 6.4. Stands Side – 6.3

Moisture metre reading – 35% Whole course terra spiked since last meeting.

Forecast windspeed and direction at 2pm Friday – Easterly crosswind, 5mph gusting to 25mph

Rails: Planned rail position from 9f to the entrance to the Home Straight: Friday – 3m out from innermost. Saturday – 10 m out.

Stalls: 5f, 6f and 1m4f – Centre. Remainder – Inside Rail

FRIDAY COURSE UPDATE: A sunny clear early Friday morning. Recent rainfall of 0.2mm rain Sunday evening, making 0.4mm rain in the last 7 days. Met Office forecast: Remaining dry. Very warm and sunny on Friday, 30 degrees. Sunny on Saturday but a more pleasant 25 degrees with a light Easterly breeze. Live links to our weather station and the Met Office can be found on our website www.yorkracecourse.co.uk by clicking for Going details on the Home Page.

WATERING: Irrigating overnight to replace moisture lost. 21mm of overnight irrigation applied over the last 7 days.

Weather forecast (yr.no as at 5.13am Friday): hot dry and sunny up to 30 degrees

2.FIRST-TIME HEADGEAR STAT

Karl Burke cheekpieces; Royal Fixation, 2.45pm York; 19-214 (since 2016)

3.PACE MAPS (manually assessed)

1.50pm Newmarket: Evanesco (drawn 3 ), Archers Bay? (1)

2.10pm York: Northern Express (13), Yanifer (11), Croupier (7), Goldmoyne (4), Wild Nature (1), Tilted Kilt? (5), King Casper (17) – Lord Roxby and Canvas are NRs

2.25pm Newmarket (little evidence): Troublesome Guest (2)

2.45pm York: Celandine (prom? – 7), First Instinct? (5), Fluoresence? (6), Hold A Dream (prom – 9), Kinswoman (10), America Queen (8), Fitzella (13)

3pm Newmarket: Roaring Legend (10), Goblet Of Fire (prom – 6), Wine Dark Sea (1), Pole Star (prom – 4)

3.35pm Newmarket: Evolutionist? (4), Venetian Lace (2), Venosa (presumed pacemaker – 7),

4.TRAINERFORM (manually assessed; form going into Friday)

Good: Joseph O’Brien, Simon and Ed Crisford, Ed Bethell (double on Tuesday, and winners at 12-1 and 4-1 on Thursday), Olly Murphy, Aidan O’Brien, Harriet Bethell (2 from 2), Muir and Grassick, Clive Cox

Fair: Richard Hannon,  Charlie Johnston (double on Wednesday), John and Thady Gosden (fair/good), Hugo Palmer, William Haggas (fair/good – 12/1 winner on Wednesday), Tim Easterby (double on Wednesday), Ed Walker, Andrew Balding (double on Thursday), Karl Burke, Roger Fell (smallish sample; no winner), Marco Botti, Jack Channon, James Owen (9-2 winner on Thursday), George Boughey (20-1 winner on Thursday), Richard and Peter Fahey (fair/moderate), Ian Williams, Harry Charlton, David O’Meara, Michael Dods, Julie Camacho (fair/good), Brian Ellison (7-1 winner on Thursday), William Knight (winners on Wednesday and Thursday), Richard Hughes, Scott Dixon, Katie Scott, Michael Bell

Moderate: George Margarson, Dylan Cunha, Willie McCreery, Donnacha O’Brien (Grade 1 win and Eclipse second aside…), Nigel Tinkler, Anthony Brittain

Don’t know: Nicky Henderson, Parkinson and Smith