Day Three York Dante Meeting Preview - 14/05/21

The first race of the day is the Listed Marygate Fillies' Stakes over five furlongs and the Andrew Balding trained Nymphadora looks a filly who will improve massively for her debut.

The two year old daughter of No Nay Never is obviously held in high regard being bought for 90,000gns as a foal and then sold again for a further 185,000gns as a yearling.

The youngster made her debut in April in a Maiden over 5f and looked to need the experience when finishing sixth.

That race seems to hold some of the best form in the division, with second since winning, third placing, fourth placing, seventh winning, eighth winning and ninth winning next time out.

Nymphadora will be looking to keep that form line going and will certainly come on for that first run.

It is back to back Listed events at York on the final day of the Dante meeting and in the Oak Farms Stables Fillies' Stakes we can't look past Snow Lantern.

The Richard Hannon trained filly was a big eye-catcher on seasonal debut with the daughter of Frankel out of 1000 Guineas winner Sky Lantern, looking to have a huge future.

Having been seen once as a juvenile last term finishing second in a smart event at Ascot, she bounced back for her first run of this season in a strong maiden over a mile and the extra furlong seemed to bring the best out of her.

Second favourite to Derab, who looks to be an exciting half brother to Enable, the filly went away from the boys in final stages to cement her place in the 1000 Guineas betting market.

The quick ground played to her strengths whilst also showing speed and stamina over her first try of a mile and being nurtured into this Listed event makes her a big player, with bigger targets to come throughout the season.

On Friday in the Matchbook "Best Value" Exchange Handicap over 1m 2 1/2f we think that the Sir Michael Stoute trained Satono Japan looks overpriced.

The four year old has jockey Ryan Moore on board which is a good sign from an ante-post point of view and also race angle, with the rider in fine form.

The son of Deep Impact has been seen four times in his career to date, winning on Debut back in October 2019 at Kempton over 7f, looking like a very smart prospect.

Back for his three year old campaign and he was seen twice, finishing third at Wolverhampton when stepped up to 9.5f and then running no race over 10f in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Lingfield.

This colt has been waited patiently on and was rested until April where he returned over 1m2f at Chelmsford and looked to need the run, but should be much fitter for this event.

He makes his turf debut on Friday on good ground which will suit his pedigree and with both the handler and jockey in fine form and this colt holding bundles of potential, the 11/2 could be a big price.

The feature event on the Knavesmire is the Group Two Yorkshire Cup and we are siding with the bigger priced Mark Johnston runner Nayef Road.

The five year old son of Galileo was stepped up to the staying division last season having finished a close third in the Group One St Leger back in 2019.

In June 2020 the 100,000gns purchase made his seasonal debut in this race at Newcastle and went on to take it in fine style.

He then went into the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and he finished a good second behind Stradivarius, with the superstar stayer giving arguably the performance of his career.

It was a case of playing second fiddle to Gosden's staying star once more in the Goodwood Cup and he ended the term at York in the Group Two Lonsdale Cup when a close third behind Enbihaar.

The gelding made his seasonal debut at Ascot in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes and not for the first time he chased home Stradivarius into third.

Big form claims if coming on for that run and handling the drop in trip.

The big fielded Class 4 Handicap over 7f looks to be a very competitive event on Friday and with that in mind we have two selections.

The first is the Declan Carroll trained Shawaamekh, who is a past course and distance winner who was a strong finishing fourth at Chester last time out.

Off the back of that run he runs off the same weight and having his second run since wind surgery could also bring more improvement.

Big player.

At a slightly bigger price the Roger Fell trained Muntadab could make a bold bid off his current mark, having bounced back to form last time out.

Having been hit and miss over the last six months, he gave a superb account of himself when dropped to a mark of 78 at Catterick last time out, finishing a good second.

Racing off the same mark again in this event makes him a player if staying in similar form.

The penultimate event of the meeting is the five furlong Class 3 Handicap and the David O'Meara trained County Carnival could be a huge price if bouncing back to form.

The three year old filly at the start of her career looked a serious talent, winning on her turf debut at Beverley at a double figure price and then finishing a good third in a Listed race over course and distance.

However, since then she has kind of lost her way and may have needed her seasonal debut at Bath, finishing down the field, with the exceptionally quick ground also going against her.

She is 3lb lower for that run and with James Doyle in the saddle it could see her spark a revival dropping out of Listed and Group Three company into a handicap.

The final runner of the day is the Mark Johnston trained Kondo Islami who although being top weight could be a class above the field.

The three year old has been seen three times during his career, making his debut in November when finishing a good second behind the likeable Teona.

He then went over the same course and distance and was another nice third behind two more smart types in Castlebar and Darlectable You.

Last time out in December he was seen at Chelmsford getting off the mark in a Novice Stakes, showing clear stamina to power away in the final stages.

He steps up in trip for this event and although on a mark of 82 he could be a group horse in a handicap and the 4/1 might be value.