Dave Massey is back to give his leading fancies ahead of another top class day of racing at York, ahead of day 1 of the Ebor festival which starts this Wednesday.
1:50 York – 5½f Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap
The obvious start point here has to be Toca Madera, who has looked rejuvenated since joining David O’Meara this season and was a horse that had always threatened to win a big handicap or two. He was successful at Doncaster earlier in the year and bar a poor run at Ascot (I’m convinced he hates that place, form figures there read 0000400) has run well in big-field handicaps all summer, including an unlucky effort in the Stewards Cup last time when he got no room when he needed it, got a whack on the nose from a rival’s whip for his trouble, but stayed on strongly for fifth, beaten a length and a quarter. He was a close third over 5f here in May and again, might well have gone closer still had he been drawn a bit nearer the action; stall 4 is ideal and there’s a lot to like about his chances.
4:10 York – Sky Bet Stayers Handicap 2m
Manxman looks the value. We haven’t seen the Crisford’s 6yo since last September but he can go well fresh, off a 225-day absence he was beaten a head by Rathgar at Goodwood in 2024 and last year, off a 197-day absence, ran Caballo De Mar to four lengths at Southwell, giving him weight in the process, a very solid effort. He’s best on good or slower so some more rain would be welcome, and James Doyle a good booking for a yard flying along at present.
4:45 York – 5f Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap
Underwriter was a useful 2yo for Archie Watson, winning twice, he lost his form in the second half of last year and did no better on his first two starts this season either, after which Wathnan got shot of him. However, it hasn’t taken new trainer Michael Keady long to turn him around, and he was very unlucky not to win at Ascot last time, getting no gap and was shuffled to the back of the pack before coming home with a rattle to be beaten under two lengths. I had him down as needing the run too (I was there that day) so all in all that’s a decent effort. Whether York is stiff enough a track for him is a question, but he’s clearly in better heart now and the faster they go the better his chance late.
Call Margot is going to prove an absolute money pit for me, I can see it a mile away. She’s basically an absolute madam that has two ways of going, and we’ve seen the worst side of her on her last two starts, showing no interest at Goodwood last time and not much more at Hamilton the time before. But the better side of her saw her finish seventh here in May and then a very unlucky second in the 3yo Dash at Epsom, a race she really ought to have won. She has to be on a going day, that’s obvious, but I get the feeling there’s a good one in her when she fancies it.
5:20 York – Sky Bet Nursery Handicap 6f
One that looks too big here is Brandenberg, who has won two of his last three and in between those wins, was one of the paddock picks (despite being a huge price) for a novice race here, finishing an excellent second to Big Cigar, who was not disgraced in Group 2 company on his next start. He was strong at the finish over 6f at Hamilton last time too, so he stays well, and the speed figure backs up the visuals. As ever, there’s an issue though; stall 21, which could be a blessing or a curse.
By Dave Massey
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