2022 Friday York Dante Festival Preview – DS
2022 Friday York Dante Festival Tips
Another day, another nice place but not much else. I’m not sure what sort of ride Jawwaal was given but he is one to keep onside. Aristia ran a huge race to nick place money, drifting to 20/1. Snash pulled his chance away and Masekela was withdrawn after getting upset in the stalls. Let’s hope we can get a winner on the board on the final day. Dave Stevos’ 2022 Friday York Dante Festival tips are below.
1.50 – Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
A cracking contest to kick off proceedings on the final day of the Dante Festival. 16 fillies will fight it out for black type in this Listed sprint and it looks extremely competitive. This will surely be run at a furious pace and it might pay to side with one who will be held up for a late run. Two horses we have backed already this season, Primrose Ridge and Lucy Lightfoot, are drawn in 10 and 16 and they’ll both likely want to be in the box seat. Windsor debut winner Miss American Pie is drawn between them in stall 14 so hopefully, those two fillies will give her something to aim at.
Won Cosily
Stan Moore’s daughter of Camacho was pretty clueless on debut. She was a step slow away, was squeezed coming out of the stalls and John Egan was rowing away pretty much from the outset. 2f out it looked like she might finish respectably in midfield but a big gap opened for her and when Egan gave her a couple of liveners, she quickened up best of all and won pretty cosily in the end.
She should have learned bundles from that first outing. The form hasn’t worked out but I really liked her attitude and the way she knuckled down. Stan Moore immediately earmarked The Albany as a target after that race so she’ll need to be running well here to justify going to Royal Ascot. She should arguably be even more effective on the better ground at York and at odds of 28/1, Miss American Pie is the each way selection.
2022 Friday York Dante Festival Tips: Miss American Pie e/w @ 28/1 (5 places) nb
2.25 – Oaks Farm Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
Another listed heat for the girls, this time an 8f contest for 3yos. We backed Arion last time out at Newmarket (10f gd/fm). Trained by Hugo Palmer, she ran a lot better than the distance beaten suggests. She was far too keen in the early stages for James Doyle. They went no pace early on and she wanted to go much quicker but he kept a hold of her and dropped her out the back.
Drop Back In Trip
As the race took shape she travelled into it menacingly and 2f out it looked like she might play a part in the finish. However, those early antics took their toll and it was no surprise that she weakened out of it. It is also worth remembering that it was her first outing of the season. She should strip a whole lot fitter now and on the evidence of her Newmarket run, dropping back to a mile looks a good move.
This filly is bred in the purple, by Dubawi and out of a Galileo daughter of Ouija Board. It would be massive for her owners to get black type for breeding purposes so she should be doing her best. I am hoping James Doyle lets her stride on today and hopefully, she has enough stamina to see it through to the finish. Hugo Palmer had a great week at Chester, hopefully his good form continues here. At odds of 20/1, Arion is the e/w pick.
2022 Friday York Dante Festival Tips: Arion e/w @ 20/1 (4 places) nap
3.00 – Paddy Power Stakes Handicap (Class 2)
Rogue Bear has run massive races the last twice and he deserves to get his head in front. He got a 2lb hike after his superb effort in the Spring Cup. It is never ideal to get a rise in the weights after failing to win twice but he still holds serious claims. However, 11/4 shots in handicaps are not my cup of tea and at a bigger price, maybe Summa Peto can go well for Graham Lee and Keith Dalgleish.
This 4yo son of Dialed In is having his first run of the season. Second twice as a 2yo, he returned to action last season with a 6.5L maiden win at Ayr (8f gd/fm). A 3.75L handicap win followed at Wolves (8.5f) before he ran well below par at Royal Ascot off 92. A couple of weeks later he bounced back with a decent effort behind Redarna at Ayr (beat 1.75L off 92) and he won the Thirsk Hunt Cup off a 2lbs higher mark a couple of weeks ago.
Connections opted to geld this fella after that run and he reappeared with a poor run at Ayr (7f gd). He was arguably unlucky next time at Chelmsford off 90 but he made no mistake next time at Wolves, winning off 88 upped to 9.5f. Summa Peto races off just 1lb higher today and Keith Dalgleish has had a 5th, 4th and 3rd from four runners at York this week. If Summa Peto is fully fit and ready to go, he could run into the frame at odds of 18/1.
2022 Friday York Dante Festival Tips: Summa Peto e/w @ 18/1 (4 places)
3.35 – Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2)
This isn’t a betting race for me. Stradivarius is the star turn and he is bidding for a third win in this race. He has an outstanding record on the Knavesmire, winning 5/5, all Group 2s. Now an 8yo, he isn’t getting any younger so you’d worry that he might just need this run. However, he is the best stayer we have seen in the last ten years and if he runs to 90% of his best, it should be enough.
On ratings Tashkan is the most likely danger. Brian Ellison’s son of Born To Sea has put together a string of excellent efforts and he deserves to win at this level. Thunderous won the Dante at this track and he almost won for us at Chester. He looks sure to make it a proper test and he could go well at 11/1. Search For A Song is class act on her day and can’t be discounted and Max De Vega is no slouch either. I don’t think there is much value to be found in this race so I’ll sit it out. No bet.
