Friday Tips
- Le Samourai (York, 13.50) – 1pt each-way @ 18/1 (- BetMGM- )
- Hell Of A Spin (York, 15.00) – 1pt each-way @ 33/1 (- Bet365- )
- American Affair (York, 15.35) – 1pt each-way @ 8/1 (- William Hill- )
- Master Builder (York, 16.10) – 1pt each-way @ 11/2 (- Bet365- )
Horse racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge brings us his horse racing tips from a fabulous Friday card at York using the best odds from betting sites.
Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (13.50, York)
I’ll probably live to regret opening with this line but, come on folks, there are few things in Flat racing that stir the blood like a big field York handicap and this £100,000 contest is one such race.
Had he not been drawn out near the stables, Welbury would have strongly interested me here for the in-form Edward Bethell. It will be some effort if he can overcome stall 19 but racing being racing, nothing is impossible.
And speaking of nothing, nothing has won this race from a draw higher than eight in the past decade and all but two winners have come from stall five or lower.
That brings into play Blue Courvoisier but the one I’d like to take a chance on, on his handicap debut, is LE SAMOURAI.
Trained by Ralph Beckett, who has his string ticking nicely, this New Bay gelding has made big leaps forward in two starts since a moderate debut effort. He won a 7f Kempton novice event on his second start and went very close to defying a penalty when stepped up to 1m at Thirsk (good) last time.
What he lacks in experience, he makes up in promise and he looks to have got into this on a very workable handicap mark. I also like the fact that he’s been ridden prominently on his last two starts, making all when he won, which should serve him well on the Knavesmire.
His sire relished getting his toe in, so the slightly slower ground they’ve had at the track this week won’t be a problem and the 18/1 on offer as I write this looks tempting.
Friday York racing tip 1: Le Samourai (York, 13.50) – 1pt each-way @ 18/1 (BetMGM)
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) (15.00, York)
It’s time for the juvenile sprinters to do their stuff and it’s not difficult to see why the unbeaten Arapaho Gold is the ante-post favourite for this race. He’s improving nicely and you can probably mark up his latest success after a spot of early bother in the race.
There’s been some pre-race money for the Ballydoyle representative, Marco Polo, whose price has crashed from 20/1 to 6/1 at the time of writing. That suggests they think plenty of him but he’ll need to come on plenty from his recent debut second to win this and Aidan O’Brien hasn’t won this race in the past decade.
Adaay Of Scarlett must have decent claims and first-time cheekpieces could help him eke out a bit more, so he’s feared but I’m taking a punt on a big prices runner here in HELL OF A SPIN.
Adrian Keatley wouldn’t be known for many Group 2 winners at York but he can do the job and this Naval Crown colt made a huge leap forward at Goodwood last time, when third in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes (5f, good to firm) at 66/1.
If you watch that race back, I don’t think there was any fluke about it and he’s a massive price here.
Sure, he will also need to step up on that at this higher level but he is going the right way and he looks likely to appreciate this extra furlong, so at 33/1 (at the time of writing) on horse racing betting sites, we can play each-way to small stakes and hope that he comes on enough to make the first three.
Friday York racing tip 2: Hell Of A Spin (York, 15.00) – 1pt each-way @ 33/1 (Bet365)
Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) (15.35, York)
Favourites have a poor recent record in this, just one winning in the past decade and double-figure priced winners are not uncommon. I’ve already tipped several of these in various big races this season and certainly haven’t always got it right, Mission Central in the July Cup being the prime example.
As ever here, a single figure draw is preferable, with few winners coming from those drawn high. A win or big performance by Hell Of A Spin in the previous race on the card would be a fillip for the chances of Pershaada, who beat him at Goodwood.
I like Rayevka but her draw is off putting and at the prices, I think the value bet looks to be AMERICAN AFFAIR each-way at 8/1. He is a Group 1 winner, a C&D winner and he won’t mind whether the ground is quick or on the slow side of good, while he also has a good draw to work with.
He has backed up a win before now, so there’s hope he can do so again and he’s also been gradually working back towards his best as this season has gone on. He’s already shown he’s got it in him to put up a better performance than that Goodwood success in the Group 2 King George Stakes (5f, good to firm) last time and he can go very close.
Friday York racing tip 3: American Affair (York, 15.35) – 1pt each-way @ 8/1 (William Hill)
Assured Data Protection Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (16.10, York)
Not particularly original, I know but I would like to be with the ante-post favourite here in MASTER BUILDER and here’s why.
To me, it looks like a rare race at the track where you can strike out about half of the field and concentrate on the rest and this David Menuisier-trained gelding fits the bill for me.
He has a good draw in stall five, he may well have his ideal conditions by Friday, which look to be good ground, although if it’s softer he won’t mind at all and he has been placed here on good to firm, although it doesn’t look to be his optimum ground.
Three of his best seven performances have come at this track, which is a good thing to have on our side, while his trainer has realised that he appears to be best when fresh and has therefore kept him off the track since he won over C&D at the May meeting here.
He’s nicely treated on his best form and I’m happy to play each-way again at 11/2 on betting apps, for a bit of insurance.
Friday York racing tip 4: Master Builder (York, 16.10) – 1pt each-way @ 11/2 (Bet365)
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