York Friday Preview - 23/07/21

The first race of the day at York's evening meeting is the Female Jockey's Handicap and at a price State Patrol for Richard Fahey could go close.

The three year old showed ability last term as a juvenile, but seems to be a much more maturer horse this term off the basis of his seasonal debut.

He was seen finishing a fair third at Chester over 7.5f, meeting traffic in running and now back up to his preferred 8.5f on quicker ground, he could spring a surprise.

The big fielded Class 4 Handicap over six furlongs looks a very competitive affair, but the horse that should go close is the Tim Easterby trained Obee Jo.

The five year old has been frequently raced this term, but is racing to a high level winning two of his last four events, including a place in another.

Having won at Catterick in May off a mark of 59, he then finished a good third when dropped down to 5f and then at the same trip finished mid-field at Beverley when there was cut in the ground.

Back up to 6f on quick ground last time out he got back to winning ways at Carlisle and only up 5lb for that win still leaves him on a workable mark, for a top trainer at this course.

A smart looking five furlong Novice Stakes come next and with plenty of juvenile's holding form we are going with the experience angle of Silken Petals.

The Philip McBride trained youngster is the only filly in the field so she gets a nice weight allowance, but she also holds arguably the most consistent form line having ran five times and placed in all of them.

She started her career off with a good second at Kempton behind the smart Sandrine who has franked that form not once but twice in Group company.

From there she was third at Redcar, second at Lingfield, second again back on the turf at Yarmouth and then last time out was behind a nice type over course and distance.

She enjoys fast ground and obviously handles the Knavesmire, so she looks the safest bet in the field but now needs to get her head in front.

A horse to put in your multiples on Friday is the Jessica Harrington trained Alpine Star who gets her four year old season off to a start in the Listed Lyric Fillies' Stakes.

The filly has been a breath of fresh air for the yard making her seasonal debut last season at Royal Ascot in the Group One Coronation Stakes and she beat a decent field comfortably.

Off the back of that she was a narrow second to Fancy Blue in the French Oaks and that form was extremely strong with Donnacha O'Brien's filly going on to land the Group One Nassau Stakes next time out.

Alpine Star also franked the Prix de Diane form running a stormer behind the superstar Palace Pier in heavy conditions in the Group One Prix Jacques to finish second.

The filly finished off last term with another superb second in the Group One Prix de l'Opera when second to the superb Tarnawa, who went on to land the Breeders Cup Turf after that race to frank the form.

It is her first start since October and she is a very short price, but back in Listed company, she looks a horse to boost your multiples.

Coming towards the end of the card and the Class 3 Handicap over a mile looks a tight affair but at an each way price, Naval Commander for Robyn Brisland looks to have a chance.

The four year old is fairly lightly raced for his age racing four times last season and winning nicely at Leicester in July 2020 on quick ground.

This term he has been seen twice, getting off the mark on seasonal return over a mile at Newbury again on quick ground and then last time out he was a fair third at Ascot on good to soft, with the step up to 10f catching him out.

He drops back in trip on quick ground for this event only 3lb higher than his seasonal debut win and at 17/2 looks a good each way price.

The final event of the afternoon is the five furlong Class 4 Handicap and having started the day with Richard Fahey we are ending the day with his horse International Girl.

The three year old filly was seen once as a juvenile when winning over 5f on good ground and Musselburgh and after that she was put away for this season.

Not liking the soft ground on seasonal debut, she has since been seen finishing a neck second on quick ground at Redcar and backed that up last time out over course and distance at York when a good third in a nice handicap.

She runs off only 1lb higher and with this handler having a superb record in sprint events at the track she is worth staying with.