It is getting on for two years since Bogart (2.55) actually won a race but the old star quality still hangs about him. At 11-1 the six-year-old from Kevin Ryan’s in-form yard is fairly priced, now that he drops down to the minimum trip at York for a Saturday handicap that looks like the day’s big betting race.
The chestnut won at York as a juvenile and again at the 2013 Ebor meeting, giving weight and a beating to Goldream. He did not win last year but he still had a productive three-race spell when he was second behind an impressive Portland winner and was third in Ayr’s Silver Cup.
When last seen, he led into the final furlong of a six-furlong handicap but could not quite finish his race. This shorter trip and the return of cheekpieces, if they help at all, may make the necessary difference this time.
1.45 York
It has also been a long time between drinks for Highland Colori but he is back below the mark from which he won the Ayr Gold Cup in 2013. There was renewed promise from his last run, four weeks ago at Goodwood, when he was a close third and did best of those who forced a strong pace. Although unplaced, he ran well on his two previous visits to this track in the autumn.
2.00 Haydock
The best recent form on offer here is Talmada’s second in the Middleton behind Secret Gesture. She is certainly good enough to win at this level and may now be mature enough to cope better with the mile and a half than she could last year.
2.20 York
Much will depend on the state of the ground here after recent rain but there should be enough juice in it for Clever Cookie to give his true running and that may be enough. He dead-heated for first in this race last year and produced a still better effort when landing the Ormonde at Chester on his recent reappearance. That means he is giving weight away all round here but he has the potential to do better yet after only seven races on the Flat.
2.35 Haydock
Now that Charlie Hills’s string is winning races again, this looks a good chance for Cable Bay, who ran a huge race when beaten just over a length in the Lockinge a fortnight ago. He had the expected favourite here, Breton Rock, behind him that day and not for the first time. His three-year-old season was difficult and winless but he went close in the Richmond, the Gimcrack and the Dewhurst as a juvenile, so there is no shortage of quality in his form. If he is a shirker, he will find a way to lose here but that is not the only way to interpret his losing run.
2.45 Newmarket
Peacock’s second placing behind Golden Horn at this course in April is looking pretty good now. He won at this level on his previous start and seems likely to appreciate the extra distance here. This race has sometimes thrown up a late Derby entrant, so a particularly impressive success could prove significant. John Gosden’s Snoano is better than he was able to show on his reappearance and is feared.
3.10 Haydock
This is shorter than Music Master has ever tried but he has travelled so well in better-quality races over six furlongs that it does not seem likely to be a problem. In any case the softish ground will take the edge off any rival with superior acceleration, if there is one. He is unpenalised for his Group Three win last July.
3.20 Newmarket
Penhill got tired on his first run for Luca Cumani, which was also his first start since October, but he held on to win by a short head and remains well handicapped in consequence. He has more to offer.
3.45 Haydock
Here is another step up the ladder for the classy Limato, who showed that he had maintained his progress over the winter by scoring at Ascot last month. Soft ground, if it is soft, would be a potential concern with Toocoolforschool in opposition but Limato has passed every test so far and it would be surprising if he fell down here.
