York Friday Preview - 17/05/19

The last day of the Dante festival is here and the first race at York on Friday is the Listed Marygate Fillies Stakes over five furlongs and we have selected Mighty Spirit trained by Richard Fahey.

This two year old filly has only had one run to date and it was a smart second to favourite Lady Kermit who has since franked that from.

She should come on for that run and on her turf debut it could bring the best out of her. Richard Fahey has had more winners at this track than any trainer over the last five years and hopefully he can add to that in this race.

The second race of the day is another Listed contest for the Fillies and we have gone for the John Gosden trained Twist 'N' Shake in this seven and a half furlong contest.

This three year old filly won very well at Nottingham last week and if coming on for that in much better company she has a great chance for back to back wins.

Before that she finished second on her seasonal debut and was a good third on her first ever run at Newmarket, she holds a hell of a lot of potential for a top yard.

The feature race of the final day at York is the Group staying contest over 1 mile 5 1/2 furlongs and in the Yorkshire Cup we have gone for last years winner Stradivarius.

Another of John Gosden's superstars and this five year old truly made the staying division his own landing the A£1 million bonus and finishing unbeaten throughout the season with five wins in a row.

With this division not being the strongest some trainers this year have took it more seriously and it will be much tougher for him but he is still the one to beat and should pick up from where he left off last season with a win.

The Class 2 Handicap over 1 mile 2 furlongs is a sharp affair with some experienced runners and we have gone for Charlie Appleby's new recruit from Coolmore with Lucius Tiberius.

Under Aidan O'Brien he landed a few nice races and in his two races for Appleby he has not quite found his feet yet but still holds a lot of potential if Godolphin can get the best out of him.

He will need to come on but has ran in better races than this and if finding his Irish form he has a great chance of being in the mix.

The Class 3 Fillies Handicap sees another competitive field and we have gone with the Sir Michael Stoute trained Accommodate in the seven furlong contest.

This progressive three year old filly is one of the bottom weights in the race and can use that to her advantage, with that she is well bred and should handle these conditions on her handicap debut.

She has only raced three times but got off the mark in good style last time out when winning a Class 4 at Chelmsford and if coming back fresh from her break could be a smart youngster.

The Class 3 Yorkshire Equine Practise Handicap over five furlongs sees a large field go to post and our selection who thrives in these conditions is the Richard Spencer trained Alfie Solomons.

This three year old gave his best performance at this track when finishing a smart second at the Ebor meeting last year in a 20 runner sprint contest.

If getting back to this sort of form he has a great chance at a nice price and having previous experience in these big fields should play to his strengths.

The final selection of the York Dante meeting comes in the Class 4 Handicap over 1 mile 3 1/2 furlongs and we have sided with the Ralph Beckett trained Skymax.

This top weighted gelding finished off last season in great style making every yard of the running in a nursery over 1 mile 2f at Newmarket and although up 5lb today he has a leading chance.

Should have matured nicely during the winter and if showing signs of last season has the potential to be a decent runner for this yard.