York 5.35
By UK Flat / AW (Northern)
NORTHERN - York 5.35 Handicap - Class 4 - 7 furlongs - 20 run - Soft
A lot of rain in the morning here and likely to be Soft verging Heavy by race time i think.
Not too many have proven form in soft and heavy and also the proven form at 7 furlongs or further. A lot of these prefer the summer ground and are dual purpose 6-7 furlong horses.
I whittled the 20 down to 5 and initially my first 3 were all drawn high, I've frankly no idea how the draw will pan out. They come down a chute onto the main Straight and it's possible most will come Stands side, which will help those drawn higher, but equally possible those drawn low will run more down the centre of the Course and find the optimum ground.
My final 5 though included a couple of low drawn options at lower prices so we'll stake like this-:
KALGANOV is favourite with wins off 66 twice, 72 and gets in off 73 here. They include wins on soft and heavy and it's impossible to ignore for the O'Meara yard. I also really like THUNDER ROAR of those drawn in single figures and this one is in Stall 1, its best win was on the soft at Ayr and that's soft enough, Billy Loughnane rides so likely some late money so take the price now if you can.
My 3 most fancied though ticked every box -: Going, Mark, Trip but are drawn 17, 15 and 14, so that's the only imponderable for me.
In order of preference though DANZAN ; PERFECT THUNDER and UGO GREGORY look exceptional. DANZAN and UGO GREGORY are regulars here , perhaps the outlier is PERFECT THUNDER but look far enough back and there is some compelling Irish form in these conditions.
Tips (1) Kalganov / (2) Thunder Roar / (3s) Danzan / (4s) Perfect Thunder / (5s) Ugo Gregory