York 4.55
By UK Flat / AW (Northern)
NORTHERN - York 4.55 - Handicap Class 4 - 5 furlongs - 22 run
We all know how tricky these York handicaps are and how difficult the Draw can be to fathom. I always think middle to high on softening ground or extremely low and as there is genuine pace in both areas I have identified 5 of the 22 runners with plenty of enhanced places to attack.
The outlier of the 5 is actually the favourite but if you can get 7-8/1 and given the Tim Easterby yard prowess here and 2 winners yesterday we missed in tip races then MATTICE may be worth a small e/w saver bet.
The other 4 all tick perfectly the criteria of form in Good to Soft and Soft ground, at or below verifiable win marks and where possible proven Course form. They are drawn in various parts of the Track so cover any draw bias / pace bias that may emerge.
In preference order i would suggest, GLORY FIGHTER (Draw 1) for the Migeley team who is bang on a win mark with the riders Claim and who could get a lovely tow up the far rail, LULLABY BABY(Draw 14) for Kevin Ryan who has won on soft and who is below its last win mark of 76, SO SMART (Draw 16) for David Evans who has wins on soft and heavy and who is also off a mark of 76 which is its most recent winning mark and finally GOOD LUCK FOX (Draw in 10) another Migeley runner and a winner on heavy and best runs with cut also below its last winning mark.
Provided the rain arrives and it seems as certain as you can get, then I would be confident that these should give us a nice run for our money.