York and Sandown take centre stage on ITV4 this Saturday and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns to mark your card for the terrestrial action.
2.35 York - Darkness @ 5/1
2.50 Sandown - Perdika @ 3/1
3.05 York - Israr @ 6/4
3.40 York - Quinault @ 7/1
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The 7f handicap (2.35) at York is a wide-open contest, but none come into the race in better form than DARKNESS and he can get his reward for some consistent efforts in defeat recently.
Darkness overcame an early bump to finish second in a 7f handicap at Epsom on Oaks day a couple of weeks ago and he was three lengths clear entering the final furlong. He was still in front in the shadows of the post but just couldn't hold the late rattle from winner Spanish Star.
He went even closer to winning at Goodwood last Sunday, again putting clear daylight between himself and the rest of the field entering the final furlong and looking sure to score.
This time he was run down in the final stride by winner Mister Bluebird, finishing a short-head second, and the front two pulled a length and a quarter clear of the rest.
He is able to race off the same mark now turned out quickly and should go one better.
Graeme Rodway's tip:
The Molson Coors Scurry Stakes (2.50) is the feature sprint at Sandown and Perdika is an improving three-year-old who looks capable of taking another step up the sprinting ladder.
PERDIKA was third behind subsequent Duke of York winner Azure Blue at Newmarket on her last outing in Britain and has shown improved form on her last two outings on the continent.
She was beaten only a length and a half by the progressive White Lavender over 5f at Longchamp last month and went one better in a Listed event at Chantilly two weeks ago
Perdika and runner-up Vicious Harry pulled three and a half lengths clear of the rest of the field in a good time for the grade in that 6f contest and a reproduction may be good enough.
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Graeme Rodway's tip:
The Race To The Ebor Grand Cup (3.05) at York provides a good opportunity for ISRAR to go one better than when second in what looked a strong running of the Aston Park at Newbury.
Israr went through that race like a class act and travelled well enough to trade at 2.04 in running. He hit the front inside the final furlong and looked sure to win, but was mugged on the line by the classy filly Haskoy. He was conceding a 3lb female allowance to the winner.
That is the best piece of form on offer in this race and there should be plenty more to come from the lightly raced Israr, especially now that he is stepped up to 1m6f for the first time. His Dubawi half-brother Almighwar was a strong stayer whose best effort came at 2m½f.
Graeme Rodway's tip:
The Oakmere Homes Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap (3.40) is the feature sprint at York and the speedy QUINAULT should make a bold bid for five wins on the spin from the front.
Quinault won twice in the space of three days at Newmarket last month and nothing got near him either time. He stormed down the centre of the track to score by a length and a half on the first occasion and was even better when dominating a hotter contest there next time out.
He made all the running that day to win a traditionally strong three-year-old handicap by a length in a quick time for the grade and the form is already working out well as the fourth Funny Story won next time at Nottingham, beating Quinault's rival today, Spirit Of Applause.
Quinault is only 5lb higher and a track like York should be ideal for him. This straight 6f often suits horses who race on the pace and my selection will almost certainly do just that.
Graeme Rodway's tip:
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2.35 York - Darkness @ 5/1
2.50 Sandown - Perdika @ 3/1
3.05 York - Israr @ 6/4
3.40 York - Quinault @ 7/1
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