By Tony Calvin - 14 June 2025
York
Truly outstanding work from York to give a going update at 4.18am this morning, the earliest I have ever seen.
It was pretty much dry overnight, and the going is good to firm, good in places.
They put 3mm on after racing.
Sandown
I live nine miles from Esher and it started raining at 10pm last night, and I was woken by thunder, lightning and heavy rain at some stage. I take sleep when I can get it so I have no idea when that was.
Therefore, I was astonished when I checked Sandown’s live rain gauge at 4am this morning and it said they only got 0.8mm.
Shurely, shome mishhtake….but it is true, as Sandown confirmed at 5.22am.
Impressive, again.
Anyway, it is now set to be a dry, sunny and warm day, and the ground is good to firm,
Chester
We are now good to soft, soft in places, after 11.6mm overnight.
There may be more showers to come.
This handicap was reduced from 30 to 15 at the overnight stage (we could have had a maximum field of 22), so we obviously lost half of the field.
But, quite honestly, I would have been a lot happier if three of the confirmations were on the missing list, with my ante-post hat on.
On Tuesday, I tipped Yanifer, and I managed to get some of the 33s and 25s myself (you really shouldn’t be advising anything without risking your own money – or at least attempting to, given the problems encountered in trying to strike a bet these days), but a few of these worry me.
In particular, I wasn’t chuffed to see Dashing Darcey come here instead of Sandown, and that disappointment was closely followed by seeing Our Havana and Diligent Resdev in the final line-up.
I fear all three, more so than the shortening Tolstoy and Palmar Bay, with the latter currently just shading the market at 5s, having opened at 10s on Thursday morning.
Incidentally, last year’s winner Tolstoy is in here and he ran a screamer when beaten a neck at York on Friday (Little Empire was withdrawn from that race and got pulled out of this at 3.57pm on Friday).
Tolstoy won twice in 24 hours here last year, so he may well run. He probably will, in fact, and his price has been slashed, understandably, into a best-priced [13/2].
The reasons for sticking Yanifer up earlier in the week obviously still stand, so I will re-state them here, and hopefully a draw in three doesn’t affect his chances.
The aforementioned Dashing Darcey, Our Havana and Diligent Resdev are berthed in 13, 14 and 15 respectively, but I am not sure how the draw will play out.
We have got a fair price on Yanifer anyway, as he is best at 11s in a place now (whether he drifts back out, late on, who knows) and a general 9s.
He has run well on all three starts here, winning once, finishing a 1 ¼ length second of 18 and seventh of 17, beaten 2 ¾ lengths, to Tolstoy in this very race last season.
I backed him last time out at Chester, despite his draw in 10, and I thought he ran very well despite being beaten 4 lengths under Aiden Brookes.
He, probably predictably enough, had a wide passage all the way round before staying on late (he wore a first-time hood there, which is discarded here) and he got dropped 1lb for it.
He went up to a mark of 93 after winning at Chester last August, and he is now down to 91.
The Harriet Bethell yard is going along plenty well enough, and they had another winner at Chester on Friday, and interestingly Bethell reports Yanifer has “taken a bit of getting fit this year.”
Hopefully, he will be fully revved here on his third start.
I’m hopeful then but I really do like the trio above too though, so I won’t be pressing up.
Here is hoping the ante-post position lands, though.
Dashing Darcey (best price of [11/2], though ground may be a bit too lively for him as he steps down to 7f) shaped very well off just a 1lb lower mark at Haydock last time, Our Havana (11s) reverts to his best trip, and I didn’t think Diligent Resdev (17/2) got a particularly good ride when third when a [5/4] favourite at Redcar last time and had run eye-catchingly well before that, too.
I think they are all fair each-way shouts at their respective prices, but on Thursday morning there was the predictable scrabble for the leftover midweek scraps for Diligent Resdev (I am certain that some firms cut and paste from their midweek prices and forget to update some) who opened at 16s and 14s, with the subsequent 12s, 10s and 9s taken, as well.
Aalto is a further NR as he has been “bitten”. First time I have seen that.
There are a few different angles into this 1m handicap, but the one I found most tempting at the current prices was the 14s about Mr Professor.
He could do with it being a lot softer, though he actually won on Bath firm as a youngster – I really can’t believe Sandown missed all the rain – but he shaped well in defeat in the Lincoln and at Epsom last week.
He has come down 4lb for those efforts, which I consider generous, and he ran well on his only start here back in August 2023.
He is actually back down to the mark of his commanding soft ground Lincoln win in March 2023 and, if allowed to take his chance here (he could well be pulled out because of the going) then I wouldn’t want to be laying him at 14s, though I guess he will drift with the ground now good to firm.
I have had a small bet on him at 14s win-only.
Classic is the solid [10/3] favourite in here.
Lattam was the first NR as at 6.42am (going), and he has been followed by Mr Professor (no surprise there), Asteverdi, Theoryofeverything, Atlantic Gamble and Tribal Chief.
There are now just five runners as of 8.08am.
This type of race wouldn’t normally be my cup of tea – though I remember former Racing Post wordsmith David Ashforth absolutely loved these (female) amateur jockeys’ races as betting mediums, even if I have no idea if he made money from them – but I imagine a few trainers have targeted their horses at this race for their riders (and in the case of Archie Watson, his missus Brodie Hampson).
Adrian Keatley and Jody Townend combined to land a gamble with Kihavah in this race in 2023 and they team up again with Maghlaak, a [9/2] chance.
Keatley is a coming force over jumps and on the Flat and his Maghlaak clearly ran well in a first-time tongue-tie and visor combo here last time.
He has gone up 3lb for that narrow defeat but he still should be very competitive off his revised mark (only 2lb higher than when winning at Goodwood last summer) and he looks a pretty solid each-way poke at [9/2], four places, available in the marketplace.
Only in one place, mind you, and an active winning account with that firm is as rare as hen’s tooth – unless you are involved in the media.
Townend, attached to the Willie Mullins yard, would be as capable as any of the pilots in here. It wouldn’t surprise me if she went from the front on Maghlaak to keep it simple.
The horse made all to win a couple of times in 2022.
Heathen at 10s and 9s is the each-way alternative (a fair few firms are offering four places) as I can see the step down from 2m suiting him and his turf mark is a whopping 13lb lower than his all-weather level.
I know his jockey, Serena Brotherton, is 54yo now – only because I read it in the Racing Post – but the veteran won this race last year and is presumably still fully capable of swinging her leg over a winner (her last success was in September),
Yes, I will back Heathen each way here, as well.
In fact, I just have.
Another race that doesn’t massively appeal, though it has to be said my biggest cops in 2025 have been in 5f Group races, strangely enough.
Although he has plenty to find on the book, hails from a yard struggling for winners, and finished last over 6f on his return at Haydock – you’d stopped reading already, I can sense – Kullazain has been backed from 25s on Thursday into a general 12s.
If you were of a forgiving nature, you can give him a pass for the Haydock reappearance run as he found himself on what was probably the unfavourable far side (and Timeform called the ground good to firm), and he certainly has upside after so few starts.
But he would have liked that thunderstorm to have unleashed and unloaded over Esher last night.
He is obviously very lightly-raced then, he is a course winner (on soft ground) and the step back to 5f has to be a positive.
He had sore shins as a youngster, so maybe they’ll take a look at the ground before deciding whether to run.
It was not the greatest surprise when he was declared a NR as at 7.14am (going).
A 5p Rule 4 will be applied by some books, but, more importantly, we are now betting 1,2.
Only win-only now as the outsider Raja Raja has come out because of the going.
Connections have given up on the free £1,883 for fifth place for a horse whose previous best effort came on official good to firm ground (which Timeform called firm).
It is always disappointing when you get a turn-out of just five for a 70k race, and one of those a seeming no-hoper in the 82-rated Raja Raja (at least his presence ensures each-way 1,2 betting – for now at least).
That ray of positivity didn’t last long.
On the other hand, we have four horses rated between 108 and 112 for a Listed race, so that is applaudable depth for the grade.
The highest-rated and likely front-runner, Al Qareem, has a 5lb penalty and would prefer more dig, so I can see why he is as big 5s.
Absurde is the [6/4] favourite, ahead of Alsakib at [5/2] and El Cordobes at 4s.
I don’t have a betting opinion, so let’s move on.
If Chester got any substantial rain overnight – I’ll update when I know, and I just have – it would have suited a few of these (Milford, Star Anthem and Mayday Malone, though the latter is 5lb out of the handicap).
Clive Cox had his first winner for yonks when his [28/1] juvenile debutant A Bit Of Spirit went in at Newbury on Thursday, and his Star Anthem is the big mover here, from 12s on Friday morning into [11/2] and a general 5s.
That suggests to me Chester may have had a lot of rain.
Indeed, they had 11.6mm overnight.
Even though the hood is back on here, I just wonder whether they will press on with him – while I appreciate there is plenty of pace in here, he made all at Bath last May and an aggressive ride could counter the keenness – and, while he is ground-versatile, a bit of dig clearly suits him very well.
He has been dropped 4lb for two okay runs this season and he has the 2yo Group 2/3 form to outclass these off top weight.
Well, if not outclass, to make him competitive off a mark of 99.
But, it is Chester, and I can easily watch without a bet.
In fact, I’ll be watching Bath v Leicester by this stage of the afternoon.
Liberalised is a NR as at 7.26am (going). No Rule 4.
I was surprised to see that Richard Fahey has a pretty impressive record with first-time hoods (14-82 at 17 per cent), given he is a numbers’ trainer and his overall strike rate (11 per cent in the past five years, and nine this season) – he is also generally in a bit better form of late, too – so that makes Loom of interest at 14s on that stat alone.
According to the Proform stats (and thanks to Andy Richmond here), that is +5.5 winners above expected, +38.45pts to SP and +94.15 to Betfair SP.
The average win odds have been 12.82, and he’s two from three with a first-time hood this year, both winners coming on the all-weather at 9s and [10/3].
The question Loom has to answer is whether he is as effective at 6f he is 5f (his two worst runs in a six-race career have been over 6f, but he is bred to stay it), but he certainly stuck on well when second of 22 here last month and presumably connections saw something they didn’t like here last time when a respectable sixth against experienced older horses.
Presumably they thought he was that little bit too keen there, hence the hood, and he has definite prospects if it works.
But you don’t need me to tell you what a nightmare of a race this looks – a maximum-field, 3yo sprint handicap is as tough as it gets – and who knows whether his draw in two of 22 will be a help or hindrance. I suspect it may be the latter, but the pace map seems pretty even.
The market leaders Double Rush and the punted Maelstrom look to have obvious chances, but I’d probably lean to Marchogian at 12s if pushed.
However, he went up 7lb for his length defeat of American Style last time and he may have left this hugely competitive race behind there.
Cutting to the chase, I won’t be having a bet of any real note, but Loom would be my choice if you are considering one and I have played him very small.
That hood stat is quite compelling in its’ own narrow way.
The 18s and 16s has gone, fixed-odds, and he is now a general 14s, though he currently trades at [20.0] on the exchange.
Easy Peeler won narrowly here yesterday, but is thought unlikely to turn out again today (came out at 8.51am). Crestofdistinction is also out as of 11.32am (bruised foot).
YORK
Going: Good to firm, good in places
Going Stick 7.0 on Saturday 8.25am
Readings in Home Straight: Far Side – 6.9; Centre-7.1; Stands Side – 7.0
Moisture meter reading: 31% Wind – 18mph SW, gusting 39mph, building to stiff tailwind.
Saturday morning course update: Dry overnight after racing on Friday other than a 0.2mm spot. Saturday has dawned dry, warm and cloudy. Recent rainfall of 2mm Monday night making 3.2mms rain in last 7days. Met Office forecast: Saturday mainly dry with sunny intervals although the risk of an isolated thundery shower before racing remains, 24 degrees. Stiff southwesterly tail wind builds through raceday. Live links to our weather station and Met Office forecast are available on our website www.yorkracecourse.co.uk then click Going report on the home page.
Watering: Irrigation cycles completed so far this week; 2mm Sunday night, 4mm Tuesday night, 2mm Wednesday night, 3mms applied Thursday night. Irrigation of 3mm applied after racing on Friday night to replace moisture lost.
Forecast: Mainly dry, light showers maybe
Rails
Saturday rail: 4m out from innermost from 9f to entrance to home straight at 4f.
Stalls:5f, 6f and 1m4f – Centre. Remainder – Inside Rail
Going – Good to firm
Going stick – Round: 7.0: Sprint: 6.5 (Saturday 8am)
Saturday morning course update: 7mm rain last Thursday. 10mm rain Saturday. 28 degrees on Friday. 1mm rain Friday evening, with the heavier rain all staying to the east.
Forecast: Dry, warm and sunny
Rails: Round Course out up to 5 yards from 1m 1f to WP.
Stalls: Sprint Course – Far Side 1m 1f – Centre Remainder – Inside
Going: Good to soft, soft in places
Going stick: 7.4 (Saturday 6.45am)
Saturday morning course update: 11.6mm rain overnight last night. 13.8mm over the last 7 days. Today is forecast to be predominantly dry through the day with a low risk of light showers at lunchtime, highs of 20’C and a 13mph South Westerly breeze.
Forecast: some rain maybe, but not huge amounts
Rails: The rail will be out approximately 2 yards from the 4f – 1.5f.
Stalls:1m2f – Outside Remainder – Inside
James Horton visor – Liberalised, 3.20pm Chester ; 0-4
William Knight cheekpieces – Atlantic Gamble, 2.05pm Sandown; 5-58
Adrian Keatley blinkers – Green Pursuit, 1.50pm York; 4-45 (Flat only)
Ed Bethell visor – Chillingham, 2.25pm York; 1-7
Richard Fahey hood – Loom, 3.35pm York; 14-82
Clive Cox blinkers – The Dragon King, 3.35pm York; 19-71
1.50pm York: Telemark?, Our Havana, Palmar Bay (prom), Modern Times?, Humam (prom)
2.05pm Sandown: Balmacara, Samuel Colt (prom), Urban Lion (prom), Classic?, Urban Sprawl
2.25pm York: Maghlaak?, Kinetic (prom), Saligo Bay (prom), Saratoga Gold, Glistening Nights
2.40pm Sandown: Marty Hopkirk, Star Of Mehmas, Hold A Dream
3pm York: Al Qareem, El Cordobes?
3.20pm Chester: Star Anthem?, Jouncy (prom), Milford, Tattie Bogle, Triple Double A, Mayday Malone
3.40pm York: Northern Ticker (prom), Columnist, Loom, Marchogian, Dark Cloud Rising, Double Rush, Veblen Good, Hucklesbrook, Sixtygeesbaby, Diligently (prom), Crestofdistinction, Brigid’s Cloak (prom), American Style, Maelstrom, Territorial Knight
Good: Andrew Balding, Hugo Palmer (very good), Rod Millman (very good – another 9-1 winner on Friday), Ed Bethell, James Owen (very good), Sam England, Willie Mullins (very good), Seb Spencer, William Haggas, David O’Meara, Charlie Appleby (very good), Adrian Keatley, David Loughnane, Harriet Bethell (last two runners have won at 17-2 and 9-2)
Fair: Julie Camacho (modest strike rate, so perhaps more moderate), Charlie Johnston, Michael Bell, Eve Johnson Houghton, Raphael Freire, Jack Channon, Richard Hannon, Simon and Ed Crisford, Henry De Bromhead, Richard Hughes, Ian Williams, Richard Fahey, Michael and David Easterby, Brian Ellison (generous, but a fair few seconds), Geoffrey Harker (small sample), Sir Mark Prescott, Archie Watson, Ben Brookhouse, David Simcock, Roger Teal, Tom Clover, Johnny Murtagh, William Knight, Conrad Allen (winner on Thursday from a small sample), Tim Easterby, Karl Burke, Kevin Ryan, Ralph Beckett), Jennie Candlish, James Horton, Charles Hills, John and Sean Quinn, Clive Cox (28-1 2yo debutant winner ended a moderate run)
Moderate: David Menuisier (though a winner and a 33-1 second), James Tate, Amanda Perrett, John Gallagher, Anthony McCann. Kevin Frost, Michael Dods (plenty have been running well enough but long time without a winner now), Tom Dascombe, Ollie Sangster (welcome 3-1 winner on Friday, though)
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