Selections for Wednesday 21st of August 2024
1.50 York
1 point each way Jm Jungle (10/1 Bet365/ Paddy power/ William Hill/ 888 Sports, 6 places)
Jm Jungle just failed in his attempt to be the first three year old to win this race last year, finishing third by a neck and a head. He is now 4 lbs better off in the weights and is a year stronger. On this faster surface I am preferring the low draw and from stall 6 I am hoping Jm Jungle can get a lead from Democracy Dilemma who is drawn in stall 3. He has been running consistently this season with placed efforts in valuable handicaps but this may have been his main target and he can put that handicap experience to good use.
2.25 York
1 point each way Mr Chaplin (25/1 Generally, 3 places)
This is a race I should have probably avoided with the top two so strong in the market and a host of big priced horses that are unexposed. Instead we take a punt on the most experienced runner Mr Chaplin. He won on his second run at Newbury over 6 furlongs on good ground. He disappointed at Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes finishing sixteen of twenty two but bounced back to form at Goodwood on his latest start. That was his first attempt at 7 furlongs and he showed a nice turn of foot to win on the line. He is a tough genuine horse who puts his head down and battles well and his experience could help him here against more inexperienced rivals.
3.35 York
1 point each way Calandagan (13/2 Skybet, 4 places or else 15/2 Paddy power/ William Hill, 3 places)
It would be great to see City Of Troy dominate this like the Derby but in such a competitive renewal you have to take him on with a horse at an each way price and I narrowed it down to the two French challengers eventually favouring Calandagan. He won two Group 3s at Longchamps over the Spring on soft ground and backed that up with an impressive 6 lengths win in the King Edward V11 Stakes, a Group 2 over 1m 4f on good to firm ground. This is another step up in class and my only worry is the drop back in trip but hopefully they go an honest pace and it doesn’t turn into a sprint finish. He showed an impressive turn of foot on his latest start and will see out this 1m 2 ½ f trip strongly.
4.10 York
1 point each way Great Bedwyn (7/1 William Hill, 5 places or else 13/2 Generally, 5 places)
Great Bedwyn gave us a great run for our money on his latest start and I feel he is worth sticking with as this step up in trip looks likely to suit. It took him a long time to pick up on that occasion having been outpaced on the good to firm ground before making late progress to finish ½ a length third, staying on strongly. The handicapper has nudged him up a further 1 lb but he should still be competitive off a mark of 89.
1 point each way Get Shirty (18/1 William Hill/ Paddy power, 5 places)
Get Shirty outran his odds at Ascot on his penultimate start over 2m 4f on good to firm ground. The second that day Divine Comedy re-opposes and although Get Shirty has to find 3 lengths on her he is 5 lbs better off in the weights. He was rated 101 when finishing eleventh of twenty two in the Ebor handicap at this meeting last year and is too well handicapped now running off a mark of 90 to ignore. From stall 16 he can drop in and be delivered late under jockey Daniel Tudhope.
4.45 York
1 point each way Got To Love A Grey (5/1 Bet365/ William Hill, 4 places)
Designer is looking for her third win in this race and is sure to be popular but it is hard to ignore the last run of Got To Love A Grey. Karl Burke likes to have a winner here and this might be his best chance of the day. She was second to Shagraan on her latest start at Goodwood over 5 furlongs on good to firm ground. The handicapper has nudged her up 2 lbs for that second and she is handicapped to go well here. She won a Listed race here last year on similar ground and can go close today on only her third start in a handicap especially back against her own sex..
**Date & Time of next Selections Wednesday 21st of August at 9pm..