York Placepot: Thursday May 17

Matt Gardner
17 May 2012

Jamie Spencer will be aboard Pearl Secret in York's 15:35.

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York's Thursday card is a fascinating one, and that is where Timeform's Matt Gardner heads for today's placepot permutation...

Pearl Secret was most impressive at Doncaster last month, winning in a time over a second quicker than the two events for older horses over course and distance later on the card...

13:30 - An incredibly open sprint handicap kicks off proceedings, and the hope is that the Easterby family can see us safely through. Ancient Cross, trained by Mick, landed the corresponding race last year and made an encouraging seasonal return at Doncaster last month, travelling well before not being knocked about, whilst nephew Tim saddles Hazelrigg and Cocktail Charlie. The former isn't the most trustworthy character but made a decent return at Beverley and is feasibly treated, whilst Cocktail Charlie shaped as if in need of the run when finishing four places behind his stablemate at Beverley, and is of definite interest from a BHA mark of 85.

14:00 - Sajjhaa ran an excellent race when finishing runner-up to Midday in the same race 12 months ago and holds solid claims of going one better, let alone making the places. Set To Music is intriguing, but she may just be vulnerable at a mile and a quarter on her reappearance, so is taken on with Beatrice Aurore who, if repeating or building upon last month's third behind Questioning and Twice Over in the Earl of Sefton at Newmarket, holds definite place claims.

14:30 - Ptolemaic and Dream Tune make no real appeal, but it is easy to make a case for any of the remaining quintet. The two that make the cut are Bonfire and Ernest Hemingway, the former an entry in Timeform's Horses to Follow publication after creating a big impression when unlucky not to push French Fifteen, who went on to finish second in the 2000 Guineas, closer in a French Group 1 last year, and he is expected to make his mark at the highest level this season. Ernest Hemingway could hardly have been more impressive on debut at Dundalk last month, slamming his rivals by 10 lengths in an excellent time, and he is open to significant improvement.

15:00 - Mijhaar showed smart form last year, winning a Haydock maiden before putting up two solid efforts at Ascot and Newmarket. He can improve further this year, likely to be tackling better races before long, and ought to cope with the drop in trip. Justonefortheroad has won his last two starts and has a victory at this track in 2011 to his name, so makes plenty of appeal from a fair mark.

15:35 - Our sole banker for the day is Pearl Secret, who is unbeaten in two starts. The three-year-old was most impressive at Doncaster last month, winning in a time over a second quicker than the two events for older horses over course and distance later on the card, and is an exciting prospect for the season ahead.

16:10 - Selecting one with experience and an intriguing newcomer is the way to go in the last leg, with Dust Whirl and Artigiano making the list. The former has run to a similar level on both starts, making the places on each occasion, and could be suited by the extra furlong faced, whilst Artigiano is well-bred, being the second-foal of a US Grade 1 winner who is a half-sister to a pair of useful two-year-old winners, and represents a top yard.

Selections:

13:30 - 2, 14, 15
14:00 - 3, 9
14:30 - 1, 4
15:00 - 3, 7
15:35 - 5
16:10 - 1, 4
= 48 lines

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There was a 36% profit to be made backing Timeform top-rated horses at the York May meeting last year. Get Race Cards HERE.