York Betting: Full day two preview including the Dante Stakes

Events / Graham Cunningham / 14 May 2008 / Leave a Comment

Graham Cunningham marks your card for a very strong day of racing at York

1.40
It will be important to check how much water has been put on the track - it could be plenty given that Twice Over's connections have been threatening withdrawal - but this will be fast and furious either way. Fast conditions are ideal for Fantasy Explorer, who appeals as a live long shot here. John Quinn has hit form and Fantasy Explorer is a proven York performer who is back on a useful mark now. Granted, he was well held at Nottingham on his reappearance, but he travelled well for a long way on softish ground and the fact that Moore is booked again suggests Quinn still feels he has a good horse on his hands. Bertoliver and River Falcon are the pair who appeal on the lay side. Bertoliver got the perfect trip after a lightning start at Chester last week and needs a lifetime best to defy his penalty, while River Falcon goes well here but could find his come-from-behind style problematic on this fast surface.

Suggestions: Back Fantasy Explorer win and place. Lay Bertoliver and River Falcon in the win market.

2.10
The vast majority of turnover here will revolve around Promising Lead and, provided Sir Michael Stoute's filly is tuned up for her reappearance, the layers look set to be on the wrong end of the business. In short, Promising Lead is a borderline Group 1 filly based on her narrow Longchamp defeat last October who competes off level weights in a Group 3 contest here. She was turned over at odds-on in a conditions race at this meeting last year but is a different model now and can take this on the way to higher things this summer. Samira Gold looks one of the most likely to trouble the favourite, but don't be surprised if Under The Rainbow runs well at a big price now she returns to a more suitable grade.

Suggestion: Back Promising Lead

2.40
Three of the last four Derby winners won this and, as John McCririck never tires of telling us, no horse has ever gone on to Epsom glory having been beaten in the Dante. The stats are persuasive, right enough, but can Twice Over follow in the hoofprints of North Light, Motivator and Authorized? In short, he probably can. Among his rivals, Frozen Fire and Tartan Bearer are both unproven out of maiden company and anyone backing them is effectively taking a punt on the skill of messrs O'Brien and Stoute. McCartney came up well short in last year's Dewhurst, while the fact that Frankie swerves him for Young Pretender, who also fell short at Group 1 level last autumn, is hardly a boost to his chance. That leaves us with Centennial and Twice Over. Centennial is a bold galloper who proved he had trained on well with a gutsy Sandown Classic Trial success, but Twice Over showed much better form to pip subsequent Guineas fourth Raven's Pass in the Craven and can run the Gosden colt down late on provided fast ground doesn't prompt his withdrawal.

Suggestions: Back Twice Over and lay Tartan Bearer

3.10
The key point here relates to how well Lang Shining reacts to his first encounter with a fast surface. It's possible he will relish it, and his Newbury Spring Cup win looks very solid in the light of what Zaahid and Proponent have achieved since, but his effectiveness under the conditions has to be taken on trust against some seasoned northern milers. Blythe Knight is a stone higher than when winning this last year but should go well again, while Annemasse and Fishforcompliments provide Richard Fahey with a strong hand. The freewheeling New Seeker is very hard to assess after failing to beat a single horse in his last four starts of 2007, but Mia's Boy has thrived for Chris Dwyer and will probably be sent off at longer odds than he ought to be.

Suggestion: Small lay of Lang Shining

3.45
Only five runners, but a race full of questions. Is Charlie Farnsbarns still the same horse who chased home Authorized in the 2006 Racing Post Trophy? He's plainly had problems to have run just once since, while Docofthebay thrived in big fields last year but is a quirky type who may need a bigger field and stronger pace than he will encounter here. Royal Power and Striving Storm have much to prove after going off the boil last season, but Benandonner is in the form of his life after going down fighting off a mark of 92 in a highly competitive Spring Cup at Newbury. Richard Fahey's gelding is an uncomplicated ride with no fitness doubts and looks bound to go close again.

Suggestion: Back Benandonner

4.20
A very hard race race to assess. Four Star General didn't show a massive amount on his debut but is bred for the job and plainly thought capable of better and O'Brien has won this before, while Lord Shanakill came home strongly at Thirsk and is plainly good enough to show up well in maiden company. However, this has often fallen to a newcomer and Awinnersgame and Shaweel are both bred to be well above average. All in all, this looks one for the paddock posse rather than those sitting in front of their laptops.

Suggestion: Watch and learn

4.55
Any number of possible winners in a complex stamina test. Kayf Aramis has to be on the short list back on the mark he won this from last year, while Lady Dedlock has been hiked 11lb for her emphatic Kempton win but remains open to progress having left Charles Cyzer to join Jamie Poulton. Accordello, Bugsy's Boy and Mister Arjay also boast fair claims, but the value here could lie in a place lay of Inchpast and Noddies Way. Inchpast has revived on the all weather of late but looks likely to find life tougher from his revised mark of 80, while Noddies Way finally broke his duck at Lingfield but this looks a great deal more competitive.

Suggestion: Place lay Inchpast and Noddies Way