Selections for Thursday 22nd of August 2024
2.25 York
1 point each way An Outlaws Grace (7/2 Skybet, 6 places or else 15/4 Paddy power, 5 places)
Trainer Richard Hannon has won five of the last eight renewals of this race so in that alone An Outlaws Grace is worth a token bet. However he does have form to back that up and you can draw a line through his last run at Goodwood where he got lit up and was far too keen early in the race, he made some headway before fading in the last furlong over the 7 furlongs. On his penultimate start he was a close fourth in a Group 2 at Chantilly on good to soft ground over 6 furlongs. He was impressive when winning on debut at Salisbury over 6 furlongs on good to firm ground. He gets that surface today and back at 6 furlongs with a strong pace he should be able to settle better and go well.
3.00 York
1 point each way Blue For You (9/1 Skybet/ Paddy power/ Betfair, 6 places)
David O’ Meara is mob-handed in this and maybe the in-form New Image should have been backed but I like two of his other runners. Blue For You has form at York and is the pick of stable jockey Daniel Tudhope. He won here on his penultimate start off a mark of 95. He won a handicap here last July off the same mark as today which is 99. On that occasion he won by an easy 3 lengths and back on his favoured track it would be no surprise if he was to return to form after his latest disappointing run at Goodwood.
1 point each way Bopedro (14/1 Paddy power/ Betfair, 6 places)
Bopedro is another well handicapped David O’ Meara horse and he will pop up in one of these big handicaps soon. He has had handicap marks of 100 for most of his career and has dropped down to a mark of 94. He finished just ahead of Blue For You here last May on good ground. Bopedro is now a further 3 lbs better off with that horse and if he gets the breaks he can be competitive off this mark. He does like to come late so luck is required but he is well handicapped.
3.35 York
1 point each way You Got To Me (9/2 Generally, 3 places)
I was going to leave this tricky event alone but decided to have a bet on the three year old You Got To Me trained by Ralph Beckett. She has been running consistently well throughout this season finishing fourth in the British Oaks, fourth at Royal Ascot in the Ribblesdale Stakes and winning the Irish Oaks on her latest start getting the better of the re-opposing Content. She has shown a lot more consistency than some in here and she receives 9 lbs in an age allowance from her older rivals. I was tempted to put a ½ point each way on Port Fairy and Lava Stream in the hope they could leave one poor run behind them but instead play it safe with You Got To Me.
4.45 York
1 point each way Spell Master (7/1 William Hill, 5 places or else 6/1 Bet365/ 888 Sports, 5 places)
Spell Master took a significant step forward on his second run finishing second to Attack. He dead heated on his latest run at Goodwood over 7 furlongs and the handicapper has given him a mark of 86. He looks progressive and his trainer Andrew Balding has a good recent record in this race having won two of the last three renewals.
5.20 York
1 point each way Miss Information (7/1 Skybet, 6 places or else 8/1 Bet365/ 888 Sports, 5 places)
Miss Information ran a big race against more experienced handicappers on her latest run at Goodwood over 7 furlongs. She had a poor draw in 19 that day but showed enough to suggest a mark of 88 is still workable. This is a drop back in class and against her own sex she should at least hit the frame. She has a lovely draw today in stall 6 not far from her main danger in my opinion Key To Cotai who is drawn in stall 2. She had won on her two previous starts and has progressed with her last three runs.
**Date & Time of next Selections Thursday 22nd of August at 9pm..