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A little Lucky 15 to ease into the weekend with at York, and let’s pad the satchels and earn some heavy ammo to fire at Royal Ascot with. Whether it turns out like so, we shall have to see, but that is the plan to begin with, everyone needs a starting point!
Stepping Ahead looks well handicapped given how well he won at Pontefract on handicap debut, bolting up by seven lengths off a mark off 77. Up 14lb, he may have been flattered by the odds on favourite flopping however, and the second and third have failed to win off marks of 80 and 83, so doesn’t look to have much room for manoeuvre. Compare that to Sublimation for David Barron, who has been progressive in maidens, finally shedding the maiden tag at the eight attempts, after previously finishing second four times. He runs under a penalty and will appreciate the step up in trip. His previous form looks pretty strong, and the stable are flying.
Itlaaq is the only course winner in the mile and three quarters handicaps, and looks to have been laid out for a race like this, for the shrewd Mick Easterby team. He ran over an insufficient 10 furlongs last time out, behind much classier rivals and the seven year old’s best form has come over extended mile and a half trips. Fifth in a two mile handicap here behind Olympiad, and third behind Sir Graham Wade, both on firm ground are the stand out pieces of form, and with the eight runners and rivals with sexier profiles, he should hopefully be a knocking each way bet here.
A bit of an outsider but a horse that saves his best performances for York handicap’s is Smarty Socks, and with the stable flying it could be worth taking a chance on David O’ Meara’s nine year old. Now down to a mark of 89, his lowest mark for two years, where he won a twenty runner 7f handicap on good to firm ground, an omen perhaps? He needed the run first time out, and could never get involved down the field at Ascot, but given his form before Group 1 second Gordon Lord Byron here over course and distance, you have to think there is more than what he has shown so far this season.
He will probably be a skinny price but Mama Quilla should be something of a good thing in the apprentice handicap that rounds the card off. Four runs in maidens got her a mark of 68, and she has followed up with two quick wins over a mile and a half. Up 8lb for the two wins, but looks to have plenty more in hand, and with leading apprentice Robert Tart jocked up, it could be another one for William Haggas, who has a 29% strike rate at York in the last twelve months.
2.30 York – Sublimation
3.05 York – Itlaaq
4.45 York – Smarty Socks
5.15 York – Mama Quilla
The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner
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