This Saturdays Sky Bet York Stakes Betting Guide

26/07/2012

Sky Bet York Stakes Betting Guide

3.10 York (Saturday 28th July) - Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) CH4 Good To Firm 1m2f88y

This Group Two contest is the highlight on a decent-looking York card this Saturday and with the last four winning yards represented again then we should be in for a cracking affair.

Run over 1m2f, this year’s race is sure to be run on much faster ground than we’ve been seeing in recent weeks due to the current hot spell, while with 5 of the last 6 winners aged between 4 and 6 then it should pay to focus on this age group.

I’ve already mentioned that previous winning stables are targeting this race again, so let’s start with last year’s victor – Sir Henry Cecil.

The Warren Place handler landed the spoils 12 months ago with one of his stable stars – Twice Over – and although not quite in that class yet their runner this time- JET AWAY – is certainly respected.

Yes, he was well beaten last time we saw him at Pontefract, but a combination of the soft ground and possibly the 1m4f trip are good enough reasons to put a line through that run. Back to 1m2f, a distance he’s already won five times over, plus on an expected faster surface (won 5 times on good or faster ground) then he’s sure to have his supporters.

Some might question if he’s up to this step up in class, but add in that he’s already won over this course and distance, plus the horse he beat back in May (Fiorente) having since franked the form then, for me, he rates a very solid each-way play.

Next up is the winning yard of 2010 – Luca Cumani – and this time they run Afsare, who is sure to go off as one of the market leaders.

This 5 year-old won three on the spin back in 2010, but rather lost his way as a 4 year-old with no wins. However, the yard has been patient with him and a recent victory at Sandown in a Listed affair duly rewarded their hard work.

He’s another that will love the trip, with 3 of his 4 career starts coming over 1m2f, and having won on ground from good-to-firm up to good-to-soft then there will be no issues on that front either. This will be his first visit to York, but there are no obvious reasons why he won’t handle the track – the biggest concern for me is whether he’s capable at this level.

Okay, he’s run second in a Group One, but that was over in Italy and arguably not the strongest race ever run at the highest level. All his wins to date have been at Listed level or lower, and despite clearly one for the shortlist he’s overlooked.

Godolphin (Saeed Bin Suroor) are the next 'past-winning yard' that are sure to have a runner or two. They actually took the race in 2007 and 2009, and with the Bin Suroor stable in red-hot form too then anything they run should be respected.

At this stage Hunter's Light, under Frankie Dettori, looks their only runner – he was last seen running seventh behind Sea Moon at Royal Ascot, but that was a hot race and will find this a lot easier - He's also another one that will love the quicker ground as well as the return to this 1m2f trip and rates a fair option for the each-way players out there.

Enjoy the race!

Best Bets

JET AWAY (each-way)

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