Selections for Saturday 24th of August 2024
1.50 York
1 point each way Enfjaar (4/1 Generally, 3 places)
Enfjaar steps out of handicap company and has shown enough to suggest he is capable of making his presence felt in this Group 3 company. Since being gelded and fitted with a hood he has won the John Smith’s Cup over 1m 2f here at York and finished second at Goodwood again over 1m 2fs. Hopefully the pace will be strong enough for him back at 1m 1f as he did get outpaced the last day at Goodwood before finishing strongly.
2.25 York
1 point each way Reaching High (15/2 William Hill/ Betvictor/ Ladbrokes/ Coral, 5 places)
Reaching High is beautifully bred by Sea The Stars out of the talented mare Estimate. She was stepped up to 1m 6f on her last start at Wolverhampton and fairly bolted up winning by an eased down 7 lengths. The handicapper has given her 11 lbs for that run but there is every chance she can still be competitive off her new mark. She is too well bred to be just winning handicaps at Wolverhampton.
½ point each way Tryfan (25/1 Skybet, 6 places or else 28/1 Generally, 5 places)
Tryfan runs here off a feather weight of 8-2 and if he can stay this 1m6f trip he could outrun his odds. He won on handicap debut over 1m 4f at Newcastle and just failed when second again over course and distance on his latest start. He did try this distance at Haydock inbetween on good ground and faded close home. I’ll forgive him that run and hopefully he can sneak into the places.
3.00 York
1 point each way Shouldvebeenaring (10/1 Paddy power/ Betfair, 3 places)
Kinross is now a non runner which makes it seven runners and two places for the each way money. His best performance this year was here at York in the Group 2 Duke Of York over 6 furlongs last May. He followed that by winning a Group 3 at Deauville again over 6 furlongs. However he does have form over today’s 7 furlongs having finished third in a Group 1 at Longchamp last October. Audience will be hard to beat on this year’s form but bar him this race looks fairly open.
3.35 York
1 point each way Sea King (10/1 Skybet, 8 places or else 12/1 Generally, 6 places)
Sea The King is still unexposed over this trip and was a big eyecatcher on his last run at Ripon over 1m 4f when he was short of room, finishing a close third. Shadow Dance was a length in front of him on that occasion and has boosted the form winning yesterday. Iron Lion won the race and re-opposes on 4 lbs worse terms. He disappointed at Royal Ascot but other than that his form has been good this season winning at Ripon over 1m 4f and at Ayr over 1m 5f. That was on good to firm ground similar to today’s conditions.
4.10 York
1 point each way Strike Red (20/1 Bet365, 5 places or else 16/1 Skybet, 6 places)
Strike Red is a horse in my tracker that is handicapped to win soon and ideally would have liked more juice in the ground. Saying that he did manage to finish sixth on his latest run in the Steward’s Cup over 6f on good to firm ground. A strong pace is crucial for him and if they go quick he will be staying on strongly near the finish. I also like the fact that he has a course and distance win back in October 2022. Billy Garritty won on him that day and he is only 1 lb higher today.
½ point each way Admiral D (40/1 Paddy power/ William Hill/ Betfair, 5 places)
Admiral D runs here off a low weight and should come on for his return run at Haydock after a 145 day break. He is now rated 84, as low a mark as he has run since joining the Richard Fahey yard. Like his stablemate Strike Red the harder they go the better for Admiral D and he like Strike Red will be finishing late.
4.45 York
1 point each way Magnum Force (9/1 Bet365, 4 places or else 6/1 Generally, 4 places)
It is interesting that Ger Lyons brings over Magnum Force from Ireland for this Listed race. He was second on debut over 6 furlongs at Naas before winning at Cork on his latest start in a Maiden over 5 furlongs. That was on fast ground so today’s conditions should be fine. He is the only runner in this field with a Group 1 entry and he looked like a Group horse in waiting when winning at Cork. 9/1 looks a very fair price.
5.20 York
1 point each way Marhaba The Champ (17/2 William Hill, 5 places or else 8/1 Paddy power, 5 places)
Kevin Ryan is a great target trainer and I am hoping he had this race in mind for Marhaba The Champ. His form after having a wind operation reads well and this is his first run after his third operation. On his previous two he finished with a second and a win. He won at both meetings here last season on good to firm ground over 1m 2f and 1m 4f. He is 3 lbs higher than his latest win but it would be no surprise if he was to bounce back to form.
**Date & Time of next Selections Saturday 24th of August at 9pm..