York Friday Preview - 19/05/23

The first event of the afternoon on Friday from York is the Listed Mayrgate Fillies' Stakes and we are taking a chance on Tierney improving for her first run on quick ground.

Making her debut nine days ago at Chester for Hugo Palmer in the Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes on soft ground, she learnt a lot all the way round to just grab fourth behind some nice talents in Ziggy's Phoenix, Ziggy's Dream and Ballan D'Or.

Being a daughter of Mehmas you would like to think she will prefer a quicker surface and building on that first effort she could be a big price at 25/1.

Next up is the hotly contested Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' Stakes over a mile and we are taking a chance on Stormy Sea building on her latest success.

Second on debut in November at Kempton behind the smart Whispering Dream for Godolphin, she then made her seasonal/turf debut this season at Haydock on good ground and went on to bolt up in a Fillies' Novice Stakes clocking a good time.

This is a very strong event with the likes of Queen For You and Silver Lady looking very smart fillies, but a the prices Stormy Sea is each way value for Sir Michael Stoute.

Another tricky event follows with the Knights Solicitors Handicap over 10.5f and we have picked out two runners than can outrun their odds.

The first is the 6/1 chance Spirit Dancer for Richard Fahey with the six year old holding some superb course form and although near the top of the weights he looks one of the class angles in the field.

A very consistent performer throughout his career especially at York, he arguably saw the best of his runs come on his latest three starts all coming at York over C&D.

Finishing fourth of 22 behind Anmaat in the John Smith's Cup Handicap only going down by a length off a mark of 92, he then went back to the track later that month in July and got back to winning ways off just 1lb higher.

Last seen in the Sky Bet Finale Handicap he finished a good second just bumping into the talented Phantom Flight for James Horton, with Spirit Dancer giving him 6lb.

Running off the same mark of 97 on Friday afternoon, back at this track he looks a shoe in to hit the frame if running his true race.

At a bigger price is the James Ferguson trained Diderot who has been a frequent this year on the all weather and now returning to the turf looks interesting off 3lb lower than his last time out win.

Starting the year at Southwell when second over a mile in a Class 3 Handicap behind the smart Alrehb giving him 3lb, he then went to Lingfield in February and was a close third behind Outbreak and Notre Belle Bete who have both franked the form.

Diderot then bumped into the highly progressive Zealot at Chelmsford when stepped up to 1m2f, but when last seen got back to winning ways at Lingfield in the competitive All-Weather Vase Middle Distance Handicap off a mark of 95.

Back on turf and racing off a mark of 92, he could be overpriced at 16/1 if running to a similar level on this different surface at York.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Group Two Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes over two miles and Broome has just looked a different horse since stepping up in trip.

A horse with bundles of back class over shorter distances earlier on in his career winning races like the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes, Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Group Two Moorebridge Stakes and Group Three Alleged Stakes whilst also placing in other Group events like the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prix Foy, Breeders' Cup Turf, Champions Juvenile Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere to name a few.

Seen twice this year doing a bit of globetrotting when finishing fifth of 12 in Doha in the Amir Trophy, but when last seen stepping up to two miles, he ran close to a career best to land the Group Two Dubai Gold Cup.

The quick ground will play to his strengths and with Kyprios out of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot this season he looks O'Brien's best chance in this division.

A very nice event on Friday afternoon from York sees the Darley Novice Stakes over a mile and the one that takes the eye is Kathab for William Haggas.

A well bred son of Kingman costing 180,000gns for Shadwell Estate, the three year old made a very taking debut in the prestigious Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes when staying on well when doing a lot wrong during the race to grab second behind the talented Passenger.

He will learn a lot for that experience and although short in the market he looks to have bundles of ability.

The penultimate race of the Dante meeting is the Class 4 Handicap over 7f and we are taking a swing at Ataser for trainer T J Kent.

Showing very little form of late going off the boil, he has seen his mark drop dramatically to a mark of 80 which now sees him back on a very workable mark.

A winner in June last year on the July Course at Newmarket when winning a Class 4 Handicap off a mark of 82, he has since been running in tougher events off a higher mark and it has not worked out.

Getting his ideal conditions and running back at 7f, he is worth taking a chance on in what looks a very open handicap.

The final event of the afternoon at York is the Class 3 Handicap over 5f and we have picked out two runners that should run their race.

The first is the Simon & Ed Crisford trained Spartan Arrow who has been seen three times to date to good effect and now handicapping should be even better.

Fifth of 14 on debut last year at Yarmouth over 6f behind the talented Zoology, he then finished last term by finishing a neck second to Appointed One for Charlie Appleby at Wolverhampton, only going down by a neck.

Starting this term off at Brighton on good to firm ground, he went on to bolt up by 4 1/4 lengths giving 5lb to the second and now handicapping off a mark of 82 there should be much more to come.

At a bigger price in the race for trainer Alice Haynes is the three year old filly She's Centimental, with this trainer currently in the form of her life.

A very consistent type throughout her career so far finishing second on debut in August at Southwell to Red Treasure, she has since gone on to land a hat-trick of races.

Getting off the mark at Wolverhampton over 6f when bolting up, she then went back to Southwell in September under a penalty and again won well.

Making her handicap debut at Wolves on her first race this year in April, she went on to beat a next time out winner in Cruise and only 5lb higher for her first race on turf she looks very interesting.