Channel 4 Racing Tips: A Lady catches the eye at York

I am sure that the York management will insist that Wednesday's card focuses more on quality rather than quantity, and with a classy line-up in the Juddmonte International that holds some validity.
 
But, looking at day one of the Ebor meeting a whole, I don't really buy that line. 
 
In private, the course must be a touch disappointed with the field sizes given the amount of money on show. It isn't as if connections can have been scared away by extremes of ground, with the meeting set to start on perfect going.
 
Considering that eight horses took on Frankel last year, a field of just six for the main race of the meeting has to be deemed disappointing - and I appreciate there seems a dearth of top-class 1m2f horses this season, as evidenced by the fact that only seven lined up for the Coral-Eclipse - and Wednesday's back-up races are little better size-wise.
 
The Acomb Stakes has attracted a mere six runners with only maiden wins to their names at best, and no Group placings, while among the seven-strong Great Voltigeur Stakes there only lurks one Group 3 winner.
 
And none of the above races offer each-way punters the chance of three places.
 
But that doesn't bother us, as we are tend to be win-only in this column, and there is no reason why there can't be value in below-par renewals.
 
And I think the outsider of the party in  the Acomb at 14:30 is set to spring a big surprise. Back Lady Lara at 21.020/1 or better.
 
She may not have the sexy profile of being a once-raced maiden winner like First Flight or The Grey Gatsby - who, incidentally, I am very surprised to see dominate the market to such an extent - or be a Glorious Goodwood winner like Brazos or a 5-length last time out winner like Il Paparazzi.
 
But she has performed to a similar level of form as those, and is arguably the form choice.
 
Granted, it was disappointing to see her beaten at Haydock, but her efforts either side have seen her perform very creditably in Group 3 company at Ascot. She ran even better than her 8 length 8th to Kiyoshi in a very decent Albany first time out suggests, and may have even improved on that when a decent 4 length 6th in the Princess Margaret Stakes last time.
 
She stuck on well on both occasions, so I think the step up in trip to 7f will suit. And her pedigree suggests that, too. She is worth chancing in a very winnable Group 3.
 
I am finding it hard to reason - which normally means I am talking nonsense - but I feel there may just be an upset in the International at 15:40. 
 
The case against Toronado at around the 15-8 mark is obvious enough at this trip, especially when confronted with a top-class horse such as Al Kazeem whose connections, you'd expect, will not let this develop into a sprint. But the favourite has been on the go since April.
 
Trading Leather and Hillstar will want to make this as thorough a test as possible, with Toronado and Declaration Of War looking to pounce late.
 
In fact, Trading Leather could get the run of the race from the front and may be the back-to-lay option. But in truth it is probably a race to watch, rather than bet on, for me.
 
And the same probably applies to the Voltigeur. There was some nonsense spoken about how disappointing Telescope was at Haydock last time, and I suppose he was if you were one of the punters who sent him off at a ludicrously short 4-9 there.
 
I can see his progression continuing over this longer trip, but is he a betting proposition at the likely odds? Not for me, with unknowns like Aidan O'Brien's Foundry in the race, his only runner from eight entries at the five day stage.
 
So for my final bet of the day I go to the opener at 13:55. Step forward Demora.
 
Michael Appleby is one of my favourite trainers, and this was cemented when Shirley's Pride won first time out for the stable at Catterick in April at 12-1. Up 23lb in the handicap since, he is still improving her.
 
He has guided Demora up the handicap ladder to an even more impressive degree, and if things had fallen her way over course and distance last time - well, nearly, as 89 yards appears to have been added to the 5f track today - then she could be coming here on a real winning roll.
 
She couldn't dominate as she likes to there, but she ran a great race to finish fifth, especially as she was drawn on the wrong side too. In stall five here, hopefully she can grab the far rail and make a bold bid from the front. 
 
Being near the far rail will be an added advantage as she can hang left, as she did when winning at Nottingham previously.
 
She is set to run a big race and rates a bet at 15.014/1 or bigger. 

Recommended Bets 
Back Demora @ 15.014/1 or bigger in the 13:55 at York 
Back Lady Lara at 21.020/1 or better in the 14:30 at York