Day One York Dante Meeting Preview - 12/05/21

The first race of the afternoon at York is the Jorvik Handicap over 1m4f and at a nice price Taqareer for John & Thady Gosden could be an interesting each way player.

The four year old son of Frankel has been seen five times in his short career, starting his racecourse life in September when finishing second over a mile at Chelmsford and then a few weeks later got off the mark when stepping up to 10f.

He gave the worst run of his career in October at Wolves, but bounced back after a break in March on his turf debut at Doncaster when a good second to rival Throne Hall.

Last time out in April he was stepped up to 12f and finished a good second behind the favourite in this race My Frankel.

He will have to reverse the form with that colt, but he looks to be improving with every run and having settled well at this trip, he looks to be worth taking a chance on at this price.

The big fielded six furlong Churchill Tyres Handicap sees some very familiar sprinters come back to the track and Mr Lupton for Richard Fahey could be a big player.

The course and distance winner very rarely runs a bad race at this track, having won handicaps and Listed events over the years here.

In August/September last year the gelding put together some strong performances when finishing third at Ripon over 6f and then backed that up when landing the Premier Sprint Handicap at The Curragh off a mark of 100.

Up 3lb for that he went to Ayr for the Ayr Gold Cup and finished another superb third of 24 runners to grab some value prize money.

Since then he has been struggling on a high mark and has suffered with his finishes, but now back to only 1lb higher than his Curragh win and heading back to a track he loves, he could be a huge each way player at a double figure price.

One of the feature events on the card this Wednesday is the Group Two Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes over six furlongs and at a big price Final Song looks overpriced.

The 12/1 shot is fairly unexposed in the sprinting sphere only racing four times during her career over 6f and she is yet to finish outside the top three.

The filly is getting a weight allowance which is a big bonus and for the form she has been in of late over in Meydan, 12/1 looks far too big.

The four year old in February was tried at 6f and finished a good second in a Listed Handicap at Meydan, and then backed that up next time out over the same course and distance when getting off the mark in a Group Three event.

Last time out at Meydan in March she was sent into the Group One Al Quoz Sprint and finished a narrow second and that looks some decent form dropping back into a Group Two event.

She has revelled in the drop in trip having been wrongly tried over further for most her career and getting her good ground should see her outrun her odds.

The feature event on day one of the meeting is the Group Three Musidora Stakes and the Roger Varian trained Teona could be a class above the field.

The daughter of Sea The Stars has been seen twice to date, finishing second on debut over a mile at Newcastle in October and when stepped up in trip a month later got off the mark in taking style.

The step up to 1m2f was the making of this horse as she dominated a decent field by nine lengths and now making her turf debut, she could well and truly stake her claim for the Oaks next month.

A horse with bags of potential and now she just needs to show it on the big stage.

The penultimate event of the afternoon on The Knavesmire is the Class 3 Skybet Handicap over seven furlongs and Rifleman could be a class above the field.

The three year old has been seen four times during his short career, needing the experience on debut when out the back at Newbury.

However, he learnt a lot for that run and finished a superb second next time out over seven furlongs at Kempton behind the expensive Noble Dynasty.

He, again came on for that run and finally got off the mark on his second to last start over the same course and distance at Kempton, with the second placed horse since going on to win next time out.

The son of The Gurkha looks set for a big three year old campaign and nearly started it perfectly on seasonal debut at Sandown when looking to sure to go close in the Esher Cup but unfortunately jinking late on and unseating Ryan Moore.

Gosden has now applied the blinkers for this race and although going up in the handicap by 7lb, he still looks to have more in the locker.

With no bet in the Novice Stakes we move straight onto the final race of the day which sees a Class 4 Handicap over 1m4f and Flyin' Solo still looks to be feasibly treated.

The four year old made his debut at Kempton in November and needed the experience, but bounced back from it to get off the mark at the second time of asking at Wolves.

Given almost three months off he returned at the scene of his win and finished a fair fourth, before backing that up with a closer third at Wolves.

Making his turf debut last time out, he was a smart winner of a Class 4 handicap over 1m2f and only up 4lb for that run he looks a serious player once more.

The step up in trip should suit according to his pedigree and he looks a nice each way chance.