Dave Massey is back to give his leading fancies ahead of another top class day of racing.
1:55 Newbury – D&H Excellence In Nutrition Handicap 5f
I was expecting Major Neigh Sayer to be going up to six furlongs after another luckless effort at Musselburgh last time out – after all, he did win over 7f as a 2yo towards the back end of last season and is certainly bred for a bit further, but we’re sticking to five for the time being and he has a few things in his favour again today, not least a potentially good draw in stall 1 and the fact he’s been gelded since that Musselburgh run, the yard having an 18% strike rate with them first time after being gelded for a very healthy level stakes profit. His luck has to change at some point, you fell, and with the draw he has you’d like to think he shouldn’t have any traffic problems this time around. Could be one to follow for the autumn in sprint handicaps if he wins today.
2:55 Ripon – William Hill Silver Cup Handicap 6f
Glory Hyde has been a bit below par on his last two starts at York but whilst the Knavemire isn’t really his thing, Ripon’s undulations most certainly are, winning back-to-back handicaps here in June and the way he beat Magic Boy, who will be one of the leading fancies for this, by 2¾ lengths for one of those wins was a very impressive effort. He’s fared well with the draw too, stall 19 setting him up perfectly for a rails run late, and it would be no surprise if he bounced straight back to form today.
3.25 Ripon – Great St Wilfrid Handicap 6f
Sometimes it pays to try and find something under the radar for these sprints and to that end, Eye Of Dubai, who has shown nothing much so far this season but has a decent record at Ripon, would make some appeal, but the in-form and improving Lord Roxby makes plenty of appeal after his C&D win last time out, seeing off favourite Dark Cloud Rising with plenty to spare, and a 5lb rise does not look enough to stop him following up in what looks a slightly easier renewal of the Great St Wilfrid than is normally the case. He can get a bit warm beforehand, so don’t be too concerned if he starts sweating up, he’ll still be the one to beat.
2:10 Newmarket – Betway Grey Horse Handicap 6f
It seems it’s a day of sprint handicaps at the bigger meetings today and the Grey Horse Handicap has its outing on an otherwise poor Newmarket card lacking in runners.
There are a couple of regulars in here, Strike, who won this back in 2022 and Archduke Ferdinand, who won it in 2024, beating Strike a head in the process. The pair were down the field last year but they both come into this off the back of wins, and it wouldn’t be hard to see either of them make another bold bid.
Archduke Ferdinand just gets the nod today. He made all to score at Redcar last time, another track he goes well at, and although raised 5lb for it, Shay Farmer is able to claim that 5lb back off him today, which he couldn’t do at Redcar as it was an apprentices handicap. Nicely drawn and can make all.
By Dave Massey
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