Who To Follow At York On Thursday - 12/05/22

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

York - May 11 2022
York 14:35
4(7)
Daniel Muscutt

El Bodegon

J: Daniel Muscutt
T: James Ferguson
N/A
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 112
Days: 201

The feature event of the afternoon is the Group Two Dante Stakes which acts as one of the last Derby trials and the value lies with El Bodegon for James Ferguson.

Holding the best two year old form in the field this three year old could be a very smart talent for a smaller yard than some in the field.

Last year the colt was seen five times starting over six furlongs when second of eight at Windsor but then moved over 7f at Sandown on heavy he got off the mark.

Tried in the G3 Prix La Rochette he was a close third of sixth, but since then was stepped markedly up in trip and has turned into a different horse.

Over 9f at Chantilly in the Group Three Prix de Conde he won very easily and up in trip again to 10f he landed the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

He saw off some talented runners that day that have since franked the form including Stone Age, Goldspur and Buckaroo.

If being able to convert that form on a faster surface he is big value at 5/1.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/03/23RSH10Gd9-37
25/02/23RAN8Gd9-312
11/02/23RAN7Gd9-39
22/10/22MOO10Sft8-133
17/08/22YOR12Gd9-23

Trainer To Follow - Sir Michael Stoute

The experienced trainer sends a decent team to York on Thursday with one of his best chances on the day coming in the Group Two Middelton Fillies' Stakes with Noon Star looking to make it back to back wins.

Stoute could have another superstar in his yard with Desert Crown looking to stamp his authority on the Derby division in the Group Two Dante Stakes.

The handler heads into the meeting sporting a superb strike rate of 18% for the last two weeks managing to land four winners from his last 22 runners.

Jockey To Follow - Ryan Moore

Ryan Moore is riding out of his skin at the moment and on the second day of the Dante meeting he has a handful of great rides that should put him in the frame again.

In the Group Two Middleton Fillies' Stakes Moore sits in Noon Star who returned with a gritty performance at Nottingham last time out and that should set him up perfectly for this.

In the Dante Stakes he rides Bluegrass for Aidan O'Brien who has to improve on his seasonal debut but like many of O'Brien's horses they usually do.

Other rides for the jockey to take note of are King Of Bavaria in the 5f Listed event and Ahorsewithnoname in the finale for Nicky Henderson.

Moore heads into the week sporting a 40% strike rate for the last two weeks managing 20 winners from his last 50 rides which is just astounding.