I kick things off with Farhan in the 1m4f handicap (1.50pm). He won a nice race at Doncaster last year and his two runs this year haven’t looked like they’ve gone to plan.
However, coming back to a track like York, which is quite similar to Doncaster, he might just show the spark that he’s been missing.
Chuzzlewit goes in the Group Two Gimcrack (3.00pm). It’s nice to pick up a ride for Kevin Ryan who I’ve won it with twice before.
It is a big step up in class and it looks a very strong renewal, but if this was a maiden, he’d probably be odds-on in the betting.
I think I’d be very pleased if he ran into the top four. I really like Royal Scotsman and after the way he won at Goodwood, he’s definitely the one to beat.
In the 1m2½f handicap I’m on The Flying Ginger for Roger Fell (4.10pm).
She’s becoming quite well-handicapped and has been dropping down the ratings. She’ll have to step up to be competitive here, but on her best form she’s more than capable of doing that.
In the 7f maiden I ride No Barrier (4.45pm). Kevin [Ryan] always brings some nice two-year-olds to York and he has a few in this so we’ll have to see which is the best on the day.
The ones in here who have raced have pretty strong form and I think that’s testament to the prize money on offer. It’s over £40,000 to the winner and York must be applauded for that.
Where in England in the last 10 years would you race in a maiden for that sort of money? They’re putting on huge prize money and it’s attracting big fields with class horses.
While everyone is trying to figure out how to solve the problems in racing, York already has the answer.
FIRST PUBLISHED: 18th August 2022
