Day Two York Dante Meeting Preview - 13/05/21

The first race of the day at York on day two of the Dante meeting is the five furlong Class 2 Handicap and with such a big field heading to post we have two selections.

The first is the experienced Copper Knight for Tim Easterby, who has been dropping down the weights and looks to be on a very handy mark.

The seven year old has been around the block and then some over the last few years and has been raced frequently in these types of events.

Having been a very talented sprinter over this distance and on soft ground, he went up to a rating of 106, but since then has been slowly dropping down the handicap and now races off the same mark as he did at Chester last week when finishing a superb second behind serial winner Jabbarockie.

He nearly exploited his mark at 85 last time out and now 7/1 to do the same he has a big chance over a course and distance he has won before.

At a bigger price Venturous for trainer David Barron could also have a big each way chance who now seems to be well handicapped off the back of his each way form.

At the back end of 2020 and early part of 2021 the classy sprinter landed five races in seven events, going up through the handicap but beating some decent sprinters.

However, having gone up to a mark of 105 he has struggled and now coming back down to a mark of 97, he could go close having won off 6lb higher already this year.

His fifth last time out at Chester was a better performance than his recent ones and although needing to reverse the form with some of these, he is a very pacy type that could raise his game.

The first big race of the day at York is the Group Two Middleton Stakes over 1m2f and Queen Power for the inform Sir Michael Stoute gets our verdict.

The daughter of Shamardal has been highly consistent throughout her career placing in seven of her 10 outings, whilst also going on to win twice.

Tried between a mile and 10f throughout her career, last season she was seen finishing second in the Group Two Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket behind the smart Terebellum on seasonal debut.She then dropped to a mile at Ascot in the Group Two Duke Of Cambridge Stakes and was beaten by the smart Nazeef, who went on to land two Group One events in that year.

The mare was outclassed in Group One company next time out finishing fourth in the Nassau Stakes, but was then dropped in class at Salisbury and was a better third.

Queen Power returned as a five year old this term and finished a head second on her first run in the Dahlia Stakes behind Lady Bowthorpe.

That run should set her up perfectly for this event, but she is now without a win in seven and needs to stop that run.

Next up is the Class 2 Handicap over 7 1/2 miles and with another large field heading to post we have two each way selections that may pay to follow.

The first one is the Michael Dods trained Brunch, who made a superb comeback on his seasonal debut and overall is a very consistent horse.

The gelding ran seven times last season, starting at Newcastle over a mile on the all weather and getting off to a winning start.

He then went to Haydock and finished fourth behind some nice horses, but bounced back to winning ways next time outa at York over 7f on quick ground.

He seems to really like York and landed the Mile Stakes Handicap at the Ebor meeting, seeing off 16 runners which was his best run of the year.

The four year old then went to Ayr and finished a short head second to the top weight in this Johan and getting weight off him here should see him reverse the form.

Brunch then finished third and sixth in his next two races on soft ground which can be discounted.

Dods' horse made a superb seasonal debut when a narrow second to Haqeeqy in the Lincoln Mile and only 1lb higher for that run makes him a player.

He will not want any more rain on the Knavesmire with good to soft being his limit.

At a bigger price the top weighted What's The Story is a bit of a York specialist and heads here in fine form having ran well on his seasonal debut.

The seven year old is landed two races from three outings over course and distance, picking up this race two years ago in taking fashion.

In November the gelding finished a good second over 1m2f at Chelmsford and then after a break returned in March at Doncaster in the Listed Mile Stakes and finished a good second behind Top Rank.

The fourth and fifth in that race have since come out and ran to a fair standard and he is only 3lb higher than his win in the race two years ago.

Big player.

The feature event of the three day meeting is the Group Two Dante Stakes 1m2f and Hurricane Lane for Godolphin looks the value in the race.

The Charlie Appleby trained Hurricane Lane is an extremely smart prospect for Godolphin, being seen twice to date and is currently unbeaten.

The three year old son of Frankel made his debut last term at Newmarket in a decent Novice Stakes over a mile on heavy ground and he ran out an easy winner.

Saved for this season, he was stepped up in trip on seasonal debut in a good Conditions Stakes over 10f and again ran out a good winner, doing his best work near the finish.

The form of that race does not look to bad with the second since placing in a better event and the fourth placed runner since winning.

He looks to be highly progressive and at the odds looks the value in the race.

The Listed Westow Stakes over five furlongs sees a decent field head to post and the progressive sprinter Acklam Express for Nigel Tinkler could take some beating.

The three year old landed a hat-trick last season winning over five furlongs at Hamilton, Goodwood and then at the Yorkshire Ebor meeting in a Listed event.

After that he ran twice more in Britain, being stepped up to better quality and finding some of the runners just too good.

Having a small break he came back in October and returned at Meydan over five furlongs and finished a good second behind Equilateral for Charles Hills.

He then backed that up with another close third in a Group Three event over 6f at Meydan and on his final run in Dubai he was again a narrow third in the Group One Al Quoz Sprint Stakes.

That sets the form standard in this race and being a course and distance winner, having also won on both good and soft ground makes him a solid bet.

The penultimate event on the afternoon is the six furlong Maiden Stakes and Secret Strength for Richard Hannon looks to be a very smart son of Mehmas.

The 155,000gns purchase as a two year old made his debut at the start of May over five furlongs on quick ground and finished a good second behind a nice type for Hugo Palmer.

He is sure to improve for that run and if as impressive on slower ground than the colt could have a decent future, especially with the inform Ryan Moore on board.

The final event on the second day is the Class 3 Handicap over two miles and Frankenstella for John Quinn looks a very interesting runner.

The four year old was sent over staying trips early on in her career and since then has not looked back, winning three of her six events over two miles or further.

Having won on her second start over two miles at Pontefract, she then had a slight blip but got back on track at Redcar in August, showing she can win on both soft and good ground.

Her final run as a three year old came in September over course and distance getting better the further she went.

She made her seasonal debut at Newcastle in what looked to be a pipe cleaner and now off a mark of 83 should be bang there, if fitter for that experience.