Day one of York’s Dante meeting takes place on Wednesday with a seven-race card including an Oaks trial, the Musidora Stakes, and an excellent renewal of the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes.
There’s also several competitive handicaps on the card and our expert, Colm Doyle, gives us his best fancies for the action on the Knavesmire.
Wednesday’s tips
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2.15 York – Flash Bardot
Wednesday’s action kicks off with a competitive handicap and last time out winner, Flash Bardot, has plenty in her favour.
Jack Channon’s filly has won three of her last four starts including when bolting up on her return at Doncaster last time and she’s only gone up 8lb for that success, perhaps lenient given that she was good value for the near three length winning margin that day.
She’s a filly that is clearly thriving. While her best recent efforts have come on testing ground, she also won on quicker ground at Epsom last season and that success was a career best at the time, therefore, a return to good ground may not be an issue.
This is a race that often goes to a horse ridden patiently, tactics that have been deployed in a couple of her recent victories and there should be plenty of pace to aim at with the likes of Oneforthegutter and Chillingham likely to go forward.
If she finds any improvement from her reappearance outing, she looks overpriced with her yard running at a 30% strike-rate in recent weeks.
2.45 York – Makanah
There are also a few reasons to think that Makanah can outrun double figure odds in race two on Wednesday’s card at York.
He didn’t manage to get his head in front last season but he ran two belters at this venue, including a close up fifth in this race last year and he was only beaten a head in this contest back in 2022.
He did a bit too much too soon that day but he’s got a high draw again, which is often an advantage over this course and distance and there was plenty to like about his return outing at Newmarket when only beaten roughly two lengths. He generally comes on a bundle from his return outing and he’s been dropped 1lb for that run, somewhat lenient given the distance he was beaten.
This Mayson colt is now down to a mark of 94, his lowest for nearly five years and he looks primed to run well at decent odds.
3.15 York – Swingalong
No fewer than 15 runners have been declared for the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes in what looks like a fascinating renewal.
It often pays to be on the front end over six furlongs at York and one that may be able to dominate from the front is Swingalong.
She was highly progressive last season and her yard excelled with their sprinters, so there could well be more to come from her as a four-year-old this term. Most interestingly, she clearly loves it on the Knavesmire and is two from two at the track with both victories coming over this distance. She gets weight from all but one of her rivals and may be hard to catch.
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