York 1.50
By Flat Turf UK (The Advisor)
THE ADVISOR - York 1.50 - Handicap - Class 2 - 1 mile 4 furlongs - Good to Firm - 14 run
There is some rain due but I'd doubt this would be run on anything worse than genuinely "Good" ground but it may just take the sting out of the ground by start time.
At the top end of the market Balance Play for Ralph Beckett has strong claims with form figures of 2211 and is a progressive 3 year old but upped in trip and by 7lbs. Wootton'Sun is 2-1-2 in terms of recent form, off marks of 83, 85 and 90, up to 95, but I think more of a danger than Balance Play, but at the price I'm not tempted in by either of those.
Intinso for Gosden and Hollie Doyle has had just 4 starts and yet to conclusively prove stamina or potential, Bague D'Or has run well fresh before and will need to again off a break of 391 days for new Trainer. It's intriguing and a genuine dark horse to fear. At bigger prices I would not put anyone off a small shrapnel bet (to enhanced 4th if you can get it) on either LEGENDARY DAY or MR CURIOSITY. I just would like to see a bit more early rain for LD otherwise he would have been a selection and the same applies to MC too but if you do turn on the TV and it's raining hard and "soft" appears, then well worth a small side bet.
The pair I really like though are MARHABA THE CHAMP who has impressive Course winning form off a mark of 90 over a furlong and half less but who has Galileo as his Sire so should be at optimal trip over 12 furlongs, Ryan Moore rides for Kevin Ryan and his other horse DARK MOON RISING also strikes me as being over-priced. He was visually impressive winning off 82 last time out over Course and Distance and 2lbs seems a very lenient increase, upped in Class but one who could be anything and interesting the Trainer throws him in here.
TIPS (1) Marhaba The Champ / (2) Resonance - see notes