York Thursday Preview - 16/05/19

The first race of Day two of the Dante meeting is the Class 2 Handicap over five furlongs and this sprint contest is very much a minefield with plenty of runners.

With that in mind we have looked at an each way angle with the Amanda Perrett trained Ope Wide who has been in some decent form of late and although will need everything to fall his way in a big field like this he holds a live chance.

These races normally hold a strong pace from the start and that will play into this five year olds strengths who has pace in abundance.

The first big race of the day is the Group 2 Fillies Stakes over 1 mile 2 furlongs and we have gone with the John Gosden trained Lah Ti Dar.

This four year old filly looks a class above the rest in this field and should get back to winning ways all being well with the only negative it being her first run of the season.

A previous listed winner who has ran well in defeat in Group 1s behind some really smart horses and if on her game and wintering well she is certainly the one to beat in this less than impressive field of runners.

The feature race of the three day festival at York is the Group 2 Dante Stakes and in this 1 mile 2 furlong contest that always gives an early indication into what the Derby betting market will look like, we have gone for Too Darn Hot.

This three year old colt for master trainer John Gosden was superb last year winning all four of his races and on his final outing landed the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

Stepping up in trip should not be a problem for this capable youngster and if being fully fit after a minor setback he will take all the beating on his seasonal debut.

The Class 2 Hambleton Handicap is next on the agenda at York and we have sided with the David O'Meara trained Escobar in what looks a tricky, big fielded contest.

This five year old gelding last season was frustrating at times but when he ran his race he looked to hold a huge amount of potential and now down to a low mark can be dangerous.

David O'Meara has made a bright smart to the season and will be looking to carry that on at this meeting and has a great chance with this smart horse if he turns up.

Another classy race on the card is the Listed Westow Stakes over five furlongs and we have gone with the David Elsworth trained No Nonsense.

Gerald Mosse gets the nod on thus colt and he looks to have a great chance off the back of his recent form line finishing just four lengths behind the incredible Calyx last timeout in second at Ascot in a Group 3.

That looks some of the best form on offer and also having a run this season means he should come on for that and is bred to cope with this drop in trip.

Hong Kong is our next selection in the Class 2 Maiden Stakes over six furlongs and this Aidan O'Brien trained debutant looks to have the smartest pedigree on offer.

This two year old was bought for $1,000,000 out of the Triple Crown winning American Pharoah and is a half brother to five winners.

The most well known of those winners is the frequent Group 1 winning Caravaggio who was superb over the same trip as this race and the Ballydoyle handler looks to have am exciting new recruit.

The final race of the second day at York is a staying contest over 2 miles and in this Class 3 Handicap we have gone for the Nicky Henderson trained The Cashel Man.

This seven year old gelding has recently tried it over hurdles having previously just ran on the flat and he has not been in bad form with some good seconds.

Before that he was in some good form on the flat going over distances further than this so there should be no problem about getting the trip and now without the obstacles he should be able to get back on track.