York Saturday Preview - 12/06/21

The first race of the day at York is the Queen Mother's Cup Class 3 Handicap over 1m3 1/2f and we have sided with the super stayer Byron Flyer.

The gelding has seen it all during his career being tried over hurdles, fences and the flat and even at the age of 10 he still retains some big ability.

Byron Flyer has been seen in these sorts of races many times, winning and placing off much higher marks and although throwing in some bad performances, two starts ago he showed he still holds enthusiasm.

At Sandown in April he was seen finishing a good second in a decent handicap hurdle and last time out back on the flat in the Chester Vase he backed that up with a close up sixth.

He is down 2lb from that run and now with the visor back on he looks an attractive each way bet.

An exciting runner at York on Saturday comes in the JCB Handicap over seven furlongs and Gifted Ruler For Tom Dascombe could turn out to be a lovely horse.

The four year old has been off the track for close to a year, but as a three year old last term he showed bundles of ability that could see him kick on this term.

Having been a fair juvenile, he was only seen twice as a three year old, needing his debut at Lingfield but when last seen he was a superb second behind the expensive Boccaccio for Godolphin over 7f at Newmarket.

That run came on good to firm ground and getting similar conditions here, if fully tuned up he looks a big player off 1lb lower than his last run.

The feature race of the day is the Listed Ebor Grand Cup Stakes at York over 1m5 1/2f and Makawee for David O'Meara is a mare that can take this race out.

The six year old mare has been highly consistent for the yard, especially this season, running two very credible events over marathon trips and the dying ground will only play to her strengths on Saturday.

She started the term off at Goodwood in a small runner Listed event over 1m4f and was nabbed on the line by the smart Alpinista.

The daughter of Farhh then went on to finish third last time out in a Group Three over todays course and distance and having not been beaten that far she should go well again dropping down in class on quicker ground.

The Class 2 Memorial Handicap over six furlongs sees a big field head to post and we believe to have found the winner with the William Haggas trained Skyrunner looking to land a hat-trick.

The 190,000gns purchase as a yearling is thought of very highly from the yard, racing once as a juvenile on heavy at Newbury over 6.5 furlongs and she finished a good third behind Statement, who went on to run well in the 1000 Guineas.

Saved for this term the son of Invincible Spirit made his seasonal debut at Doncaster over 7f and was smart winner, showing pace and stamina.

He then went on soft ground stepping up to a mile in a Novice Stakes last time out at Pontefract and was an emphatic seven length winner.

Skyrunner makes his handicap debut today in this big field off a mark of 89 and if improving again could be well in off this current mark and looks a nice each way bet.

Next up is the Maiden Stakes over six furlongs and Bosh for Richard Hannon could be a very smart individual, if coming on for his debut run.

The two year old is set to be ridden by the inform Tom Marquand and if coming on for his debut he could be tough to beat showing the best form in the field.

Bosh on debut went over five furlongs at Salisbury on good to soft ground and finished a close second behind the talented Second Wind for William Haggas.

Getting onto better ground is a plus for this horse and he should also have plenty more experience when it comes to racing in general.

The final selection of the afternoon on the Knavesmire is the Class 4 Handicap over 1m 1/2f and at a nice price the Tim Easterby trained Delgrey Boy looks to have a big each way chance.

The four year old looks to have been primed for this event with the handler and jockey David Allen winning the last two renewals of the race.

Delgrey Boy is a very unexposed front runner that if being allowed to stride away has the weight in this handicap to not be caught especially on his preferred quick ground.

Having needed his first run of the season, he went to Thirsk next time out and beat a decent handicap field by close to three lengths.

Since then he has been stepped up to 10f and finished third at Ripon and then backed that up at Thirsk once more with another close third.

He runs in this event off the same mark as his last run and he looks to be a big player.