It’s been a successful week for racing expert Dave Massey, who is back with more York Tips on Day 3 of The Dante Meeting. Read his exclusive preview for kwiff below.
Dave Massey’s Huge York Tips: Dante Meeting 2025 Day 3
Time and again we’ve seen the talents of James Owen being able to rejuvenate seemingly soured or off-the-boil horses, and if we look purely at horses having their first run for Owen throughout 2024 and 2025, under all codes, it brings up a remarkable tally of 22 winners from 85 runners, a better than 1 in 4 strike rate.
Dave Massey’s York Tips: Delicacy (5.30) – NAP
So favourite it may well be, but it would be remiss not to mention the chances of Delicacy (5.30), the latest horse to have his fortunes turned around in quick time by Owen after leaving Roger Fell, winning a cosy length at Leicester at the weekend. Owen’s record when running them again within a week reads 19 winners from 57 runners, a 1 in 3 strike rate, so you needn’t think you’ve missed the wedding at the weekend, because there could yet be a reception. 5-1 and bigger looks fair.
Dave Massey’s York Tips: Rebel’s Romance (3:45) – Lay
A quandary here, as the horse with the best form in the race – Rebel’s Romance – is the most likely to get an easy lead too, but whether he’s got the stamina for 1m6f is going to be a question, particularly as breeding doesn’t really give us much of an indication.
My overall impression is that he might struggle; two Grade 1 wins last autumn over 12f were gained by a neck, and for all he held on well both times, he didn’t look like a horse that wanted further, and two further efforts this calendar year have only backed up that visual impression. That’s going to give William Buick a decision here, stick or twist on the front, but either way I think I’d rather want to take him on at the price against proven stayers today.
Sweet William showed himself to be a very useful stayer last year, chasing home Kyprios a couple of times, including the Ascot Gold Cup, before gaining a deserved win in the Doncaster Cup, value for much more than the length he won by. He once again found his old foe Kyprios too good on Champions Day, but he’s hard to knock and as long as he’s ready to go after his winter break, is going to be the one to beat. But I’m happy to have the other three onside, too, so a lay of Rebel’s Romance is the bet.
Dave Massey’s York Tips: Bint Al Daar (2.42) EW
Bint Al Daar makes a lot of appeal here. Bar a terrible effort on soft ground here at York at the back end of last year (easily excused, as she bled from the nose) she was a progressive mare throughout the season, and her close second to Canoodled here in August over C&D was a terrific effort.
Two runs this season have shown her to be in good heart, in the frame at both Southwell and Nottingham and not beaten far on either occasion, and both of those efforts were over a mile, so this step back up in trip should be right up her street. Kieran Shoemark takes over from a 7lb claimer too, and although stall 11 is a slight negative this isn’t a huge field, and it isn’t enough to put me off her chances.
By Dave Massey
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