Sunday 8th September
By SP2A Analysis
York 4.35 - Handicap Class 4 - 6 furlongs - 22 run - Good (some morning rain and afternoon showers so could be G/S by start time)
Dance And Romance a 7/2 favourite is a progressive 3 year old but drawn high on the Stands side may not be the ideal place for such a relatively inexperienced horse to be. The price offers a nice win saver IF you want it and I would not put you off. It effectively means we are attacking at least 4 places from 21 runners at 10/1 the field.
I looked seriously at 7 others, I discounted the out and out Good to Firm rattlers and a few who would be better suited to other tracks and possibly more Class 5 than Class 4 types. Maxi Boy was a Course and Distance runner up here earlier in the season but there was an excessive low draw bias that day and I just left him off the final investment list for that reason. Huddle Up was a genuine eye-catcher last time but I feel probably better at 5 furlongs and in a slightly easier Grade than this. Flying Fletcher was very interesting on some pieces of form last season but comes in cold off a 255 day break and may be better at 7 furlongs, so I have added him to the TRACKER.
I'm going with a confident top 3 each way and a 4th who I think could outrun Odds of 25/1 or higher.
ROUNDHAY PARK was a tip at Ripon last time grabbing some place money in 4th that day with the draw bias in favour, a Course and Distance winner who can handle a bit of cut in the ground and should be bang in the midst of any pace and draw bias draw in Stall 5 here and it will be very disappointing if not in the place money again at least. The same very much applies to MUSCIKA runner up the last twice including Course and Distance again no Going concerns and berthed in Stall 8 again ensures it should have no tactical concerns. NORTHERN SPIRIT carries a 6lbs penalty for an AW win last time but the revised mark of 77 is still very competitive when you look at good turf runs off marks of 75 and 76 quite recently, clearly in fine fettle, no Going concerns and again bang in the ruck in Stall 7.
If there is one at bigger prices on the high side of the draw who interests me enough for a small dabble it's ABATE who can handle Good and Good to Soft, is very interesting now the mark has dropped below 80 (off 79) on several pieces of form and if high draws are not disadvantaged, which they can be, then this one could come home at odds of 25/1 or better.
(Northern)