Thursday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
The Dante Stakes is a consistently informative and competitive Derby trial, but even but its own high standards, the renewal in prospect on the Knavesmire this afternoon is a match for any in recent memory.
It is in part because the earlier races in the two-week sequence of major Classic trials have proved inconclusive that so much emphasis is being placed on the result of this race as a pointer towards Epsom next month, but the field includes the first three horses in the ante-post Derby market, who are also the only three at a single-figure price.
The horses in question are Jack Hobbs, the winner of his two starts to date in a maiden event and a handicap at Sandown; Elm Park, last year’s Racing Post Trophy winner; and John F Kennedy, the winter favourite for the Derby but a bitter disappointment on his seasonal debut behind the subsequent Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Success Days. With Golden Horn, a stablemate of Jack Hobbs at the John Gosden yard, and Nafaqa, who was close behind Elm Park in the Royal Lodge Stakes last season, also in the field, it is highly likely that the winner today will set off as the Derby favourite on 6 June.
Aidan O’Brien has had an in-and-out series of results in the Classic trials so far and while John F Kennedy could bounce back from his seasonal debut, it requires a great deal of faith to back him to do so at a top price of 7-2. Elm Park is not so readily dismissed but has not had the benefit of a run this year, which leaves Jack Hobbs and Golden Horn as two colts with a good recent run in the book and the promise of much better to come.
Narrow preference is for Jack Hobbs (3.15), who was most impressive visually when cantering up last time out, but whose performance is also backed up by the time of the race. It is a while since a handicap winner has looked such an obvious Group horse in waiting, and today’s race should prove the point.
Out Do (2.10) was scratched from the six-furlong handicap on the card here yesterday and lines up over five instead, and while his impressive success at Pontefract last month came over the longer trip, he showed more than enough speed there to suggest that the drop back to the minimum distance will not pose any problems. That Pontefract victory was a big step up from previous form and he remains well handicapped.
Off Art (3.45) has clearly been difficult to train and was making his first start for a year when second in the Thirsk Hunt Cup earlier this month. His previous race was also the Thirsk Hunt Cup, in which he started favourite at 9-4, so his potential to win off a mark in the mid-90s is clear. With just seven races - and three of those victories - behind him at the age of five, he could be a horse to follow closely this season.
The admirable Ribbons (2.40) appears to have recent Newmarket winner Bragging to beat in the Middleton Stakes, while Tendu (4.20) should take the Listed Westow Stakes on the way to better things.
Tipping competition, day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Twin Appeal 11-1
Shifting Power 10-11
Divine Law 20-1
Tuesday
Heading To First 11-4
Altharoos 9-1
Golden Amber 11-2
Wednesday
Algar Lad 14-1
Glass Office 40-1
Udododontu 8-1
And our leader is …
paragoncup +11.41
… after a day on which just two people found a winner, both orso (+8.41) and BearRides (+0) getting Udododontu. Clearly, no one saw Glass Office coming. It was a bit more surprising that none of you warmed to Algar Lad.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.15 York, 3.45 York, 5.20 York.
This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to Sandown for Britain’s best evening at the races on Thursday 28 May, featuring the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, the Henry II and the National Stakes. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets here.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -9.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here [ http://guardian.sportinglife.com/GU_Meetings ] for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
