YORK

3:10 DUKE OF YORK HEARTHSTEAD HOMES STAKES (GROUP 2) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) 6f

SOLDIER’S TALE 9-12 ~ Winner of the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last year but Jeremy Nosedas sprinter hasn’t seen a racecourse since. He needed the run in this race last year and a similar scenario is extremely likely. The fast ground will also be against him so he can be taken on.

WAR ARTIST 9-12 ~ Top Group 1 winning sprinter in South Africa and this big framed colt has been progressing nicely in only two starts in this country. He was sure to need a couple of runs to get him back to his peak after travelling over from South Africa. He ran well enough in a Listed event on the all weather and then caught the eye at Newmarket last time out. The latter was in the hotly contested Listed Abernant Stakes when he wasn’t given the best of rides. He was held up too far out the back, suffered interference before coming home with a late rattle once the race was already lost. He was also giving away 10lbs to the winner so with his penalty he emerged as arguably the second best horse in the race behind Assertive. He has to carry another Group 1 penalty again today but he is conceding only 5lbs to the likes of Sonny Red who beat him at Newmarket. He only has a 1lb pull with Assertive but with a clearer run and improved fitness he has a chance of reversing the form with Richard Hannons colt. He is sure to appreciate this firm ground given he would have been racing on a fast surface in South Africa. He is hotly tipped to put in an improved performance and has to enter calculations.

HAATEF 9-10 ~ Ran a fine race in the 2006 Dewhurst behind Teofilo but disappointed many a punter when failing to stay the extra furlong in the 2000 Guineas. After winning a couple of bloodless races over 6-7f in Ireland he was brought over to England for the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot. He showed his class to get up near the line beating course specialist Dark Missile with Assertive only a neck back in 3rd. Assertive has a 1lb pull in the weights but Haatef may be in need of the run after 8 months off the track. Also given how well the horse stayed on over 6f at a stiff track like Ascot he could be taken off his feet over this sharp 6f. Another with obvious claims in a competitive race but those rivals with race fitness and bags of speed may have the edge.

ASSERTIVE 9-7 ~ No surprise to see the 5yo run a fine race on his seasonal reappearance as he has produced one of his best performances of last season first time out. That was again in the Abernant Stakes, when he also finished 2nd and just as last season he tries to go one better in todays race. In last years renewal of the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes he finished 5th but still ran a good race behind the likes of Red Clubs and Soldier’s Tale. His run last time out behind Zidane in the Abernant Stakes was arguably a career best effort and he could have improved over the winter. However he has done all his winning outside of Group company and he always seems to find at least a couple too good in the final furlong. He also wasn’t the most consistent of performers last season and in such a competitive race his price doesn’t make much appeal given his overall profile.

BALTHAZAAR’S GIFT 9-7 ~ Another sprinter who can’t be relied on but on his day he can be right up there with the best. For example 2nd in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes, 3rd in the Wokingham (off top weight) and 3rd in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup are some of some of the horses’ finest performances, all of which put him in with a great chance today. However he is also capable of producing the odd shocker and his run last time out at Newmarket was one of those (despite racing on the wrong side of the track). He is more than capable of bouncing back though, as he showed last season when winning the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes in impressive fashion after finishing almost last in the Group 1 July Cup the run before. He likes to be held up before coming late and there is the worry that at this track the prominent runners may get first run. The ground also appears to have gone against him as he is a better animal when he can gets his toe in and away from his beloved Ascot he is passed over.

BEAVER PATROL 9-7 ~ Ideal trip and ground but no more than a fair handicapper. Handicappers are more than capable of making the step up into pattern company, especially sprinters, but this gelding looks like the best he can hope for is some prize money. The jockey booking of Richard Hills is interesting though as with few pace angles in the race he might be able to nick a few lengths from the front but the horse will still need to show some considerable improvement to win.

BECKERMET 9-7 ~ One of two confirmed front-runners in the race and he proved last year he can make his mark in Group sprints. He hasn’t really been in the same form at the beginning of this year but the return to 6f will suit after running the last twice over 7f. This speed track is also likely to play to his strengths and he could prove hard to peg back so he has a chance of running into a place.

BIG TIMER 9-7 ~ Group 3 winner as a juvenile but showed nothing like that form in three starts as a 3yo last season. He showed improved form in Dubai this winter though and then produced a career best effort when chasing home Utmost Respect in a Thirsk conditions race. That was his debut for Amanda Perratt and it proved he is back to his best. Has about 2 lengths to find with Utmost Respect but the winner won with plenty in hand and it’s difficult to see how Big Timer can reverse the placings. The front two pulled clear from a couple of decent performers and not unreasonable to suggest that the form could be very good and he could run into a place behind Utmost Respect.

GALEOTA 9-7 ~ Finished 2nd in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes when Royal Ascot was run here at York. Missed the whole of the 2006 season and returned last year in decent nick winning a couple of Listed events and finishing 3rd in a Group 3 behind Greek Renaissance and Beckermet. He would have chances if in top form but his return at Newmarket was a major disappointment as he finished 23/25 in a handicap. He has something to prove at present and he looks the second string on jockey bookings.

GARNICA 9-7 ~ Multiple Group winner in France but his finest effort came when chasing home Marchand D´Or in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest last season. That proved he is equally effective on all types of ground so todays ground shouldn’t be a concern. He makes his debut for sprint king Dandy Nicholls so if he can bring the best out of the 5yo then he has a serious chance.

HOH MIKE 9-7 ~ Has an excellent record at Sandown and has bags of speed. 6f here at York shouldn’t be a concern and has he looked in need of the extra furlong when finishing 6th in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes here last season. He is well held by Prime Defender when running over 6f at Haydock last season and away from Sandown there is the suspicion he needs to improve to win in this company. He may also need the run after several months off the track but one to keep an eye on with a view to backing in future Group sprints, especially at Sandown.

HONOURED GUEST 9-7 ~ 3rd in last years French 2000 Guineas but the way he stayed on raises serious doubts as to whether he possesses enough speed for a top 6f sprint at York. He has the class, as he showed when easily winning a hot Listed event last season at the Curragh, but will he be able to show it in this race? His effort when making his seasonal reappearance was also a concern but the yards runners have a knack of improving considerably for the run. However the horse has clearly had his problems having had almost a year off the track and he has plenty to prove at present.

PRIME DEFENDER 9-7 ~ Hinted as a sprinter with a bright future at the beginning of last season but for whatever reason he didn’t deliver on this promise. He had some excuses but now has the look of an exposed sprinter who is shy of top class. He was well held in the Listed Abernant Stakes last time out and he needs to bounce back to his early season form last season to be in with a chance of winning but where is the improvement going to come from?

RISING SHADOW 9-7 ~ 4th in this race last year for David Barron but he’s shown nothing since then and the switch of yards doesn’t seem to have helped. Not easy to pass over given his current form means he will struggle in this company.

SONNY RED 9-7 ~ Has returned better than ever this season and is running consistently well. 4th in a bunched finish last time out in the Listed Abernant Stakes and given his proven speed this track should see him to better effect and despite the revised weights he could reverse form with Assertive. Equally effective on fast ground he should be more than capable of again running into a place, at least.

US RANGER 9-7 ~ Looked a serious recruit to the sprinting sphere when bolting up in a Curragh 6f Listed event. That was on easy ground but he should handle todays faster ground no problem. However York is an easy 6f and there are serious doubts about whether he will be able to go the pace in this race. He could be outpaced before running on well late on and it all depends whether the leaders have gone beyond recall or not. At such a short price it is a concern but he is sure to have improved for his seasonal reappearance and is a deserved favourite.

UTMOST RESPECT 9-7 ~ Winner of the Ayr Silver Cup last season before failing to see out the extra furlong in the Challenge Cup at Ascot next time out. That was his final run of last season and back sprinting at Thirsk he ran out an easy winner of a conditions race (Big Timer 2nd). A lightly raced sort he is sure to improve but this quick ground is an unknown. Danetime progeny tend to prefer soft ground so the conditions are a worry but if handling it he is sure to be there at the finish.

WI DUD 9-7 ~ Failed to win a race last season after winning the Gimcrack as a juvenile and Kevin Ryans colt just looks short of the standard to win these competitive Group sprints. He also has something to prove after a shocking performance at Thirsk last time out. So over a trip and on ground that isn’t ideal he can be passed over.

CONCLUSION

York is an easy 6f so horses will need plenty of pace and those racing near the front may get first run. That is a big concern for US Ranger but also the favourite is drawn in stall 17 which historically has proven to be a bad draw with low drawn horses dominating. So it could prove wise to go for those drawn low and who don’t need to be held up too far at the back. Beaver Patrol and Beckermet are the pace angles with preference being for Beckermet who will probably shoot a couple of lengths clear and could be in with a chance of holding on for a place. Haatef might struggle to go the pace whilst Utmost Respect may not like the firm ground. War Artist looked to have bags of pace at Newmarket last time out and was a real eye catcher when finding trouble everywhere Kerrin McEvoy went. He has already proven his class in South Africa and given how well Southern Hemisphere horses have done in this country he could be a real star able to defy his Group 1 penalty.

1pt EACH WAY – WAR ARTIST @ 18/1
0.5pt EACH WAY – BECKERMET @ 50/1

RESULT

WAR ARTIST 2nd = +3.5pts
BECKERMET 3rd = +5.75pts