Dave Massey is back for all 3 days of the York Dante Festival 2026 – read his exclusive tips from the opening day of action on The Knavesmire.
York Dante Festival 2026: Huge Day 1 Tips
Prince Of The Seas (2.20) looked rusty on his first start for David O’Meara at Ripon last month, but he wasn’t beaten that far in the end, so he should strip fitter and he now goes for cheekpieces.
York Dante Festival 2026: Prince of the Seas (2:20)
He’s 10-81 overall when using them first time but two of his last ten have won when trying them (at 4-1 and 15-2) which would offer you a bit of hope he can do better here. If you want something for the placepot, look no further than Stressfree; he doesn’t win that often, but his record at York reads 03224, that fourth coming in last year’s Ebor, and he finished second in that Ripon race referred to earlier.
York Dante Festival 2026: Dark Thirty (2:55)
Two groups looks the most likely scenario here, unless Rowan Scott on American Style decides to turn left and go down the middle, but why would you do that from stall 22 when you’ve got the rail to run against? Dark Thirty (2.55) will lead them up on the far side form stall 4 and might get an uncontested lead, and he’s not without interest.
A winner over 7f here a couple of seasons back (it was the 4:40 on today’s card, in fact) he was second to Rousing Encore in this last year, beaten a length and a quarter, and is a pound lower this time around. The three drawn inside him will all be happy to take a lead, and if he should be approaching match fitness after two starts this spring.
York Dante Festival 2026: Elmonjed (3:30)
All the last five winners have either tracked the pace or sat midfield, and with that I’m quite sweet on Elmonjed (3.30) as an each-way poke here, particularly as he’s pulled stall 1 out the bag. His York record reads 63111, and he won the Listed Garrowby Stakes here last autumn with a bit in hand, despite the winning distance only being a head (Fallon never went for the whip, hands and heels). The headgear was missing on his reappearance at Newmarket but he shaped well all the same; back on today, he’ll want the rain to stay away but that aside, I think he can step it up today.
York Dante Festival 2026: Passing Thought (4.40)
Last year, Rare Change was dropped right out from a wide draw before coming through to win, and I’m very keen on the chances of Passing Thought (4.40) doing the same here. She was useful enough for Ed Walker at two, winning a little novice race at Hamilton but she looked a much improved horse on her reappearance when winning at Wetherby.
She missed the break there, but in retrospect it looked deliberate, Kieran Shoemark keen to get some cover on her. She even found a bit of trouble going into the bend, which cost her a length, but once she got rolling in the straight she always looked like she was going to get there. She responded well to a couple of cracks with the whip to get her head in front at the furlong pole, but it was all just hands-and-heels from that point and she won with a bit in hand.
A 5lb rise does not look enough, and she’ll get this run to suit. Second home Hasbro Market reopposes on 2lb better terms and he himself is going the right way and a danger here, but I don’t see why Passing Thought is a bigger price on the early shows, that just looks wrong.
By Dave Massey
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