2022 Wednesday York Dante Meeting Tips – DS
2022 Wednesday York Dante Meeting Tips
It was a mixed bag for us on Saturday. Barn Owl ran no sort of race, something looks amiss with him. Mandoob ran a blinder to grab 2nd for us at 12/1. The race wasn’t run to suit Zechariah but he was a shade disappointing. Ingelby Hollow ran a lovely race for us in the Swinton to grab place money at 33s. Three Priests got hampered at a vital time, Rosemary and Thyme was out for a spin and the ground was too quick for Orbaan. The focus now switches to the Knavesmire this week, check out our 2022 Wednesday York Dante meeting tips below.
1.50 – Jorvik Handicap (Class 2)
The one that makes most appeal at an e/w price in this 12f heat is Dark Jedi. Tim Easterby loves having winners at York and this 6yo son of Kodiac has gone close here before. On his two attempts over 12f at York he has been beat 0.75L off 89 and 1L off 95, both on quick ground. He is in off 97 today, just 2lbs higher than he was for that second excellent run.
Dark Jedi should be piping fit after three runs this term. He was entitled to need his return when 4th at Doncaster and he then ran a blinder at Musselburgh when 2nd off 96 (14f gd/fm). Last time at Newmarket he was far too keen but the return to York and drop back to 12f both give cause for optimism. The Appleby and Haggas horses both rate as potential dangers but Dark Jedi has definite place claims at odds of 16/1.
2022 Wednesday York Dante Meeting Tips: Dark Jedi e/w @ 16/1 (4 places W Hill) NB
2.25 – Churchill Tyres Handicap (Class 2)
At odds of 18/1, Makanah could be the one to be on in this 6f sprint. Paul Mulrennan rides this 7yo son of Mayson and he will appreciate the return to quicker ground. It has been a while since this lad has had good or better and while he is effective enough om easier ground, four of his six career wins have come on fast ground.
Last time out Makanah ran a lovely race on his return to action at Musselburgh (5f gd/sft). He was a bit short of room at a crucial time and by the time he found daylight, the race had gone. Julie Camacho’s charge hasn’t won over 6f since scoring in a maiden at Redcar in 2018. His last five wins came over 5f but I don’t see any reason why he isn’t capable of winning over today’s distance.
He has run big here twice over 5.5f, the second time when beat 1.5L by Dakota Gold off 96. His overall form figures at York read 35444, including a pair of 1.25L defeats in May 2021 and August 2020 off 101 and 102 respectively. In fact, he has only been beaten further than 1.25L once in five previous visits to the Knavesmire. He is in off his last winning mark and at odds of 18/1, Makanah should be bang there at the finish.
2022 Wednesday York Dante Meeting Tips: Makanah e/w @ 18/1 (5 places Coral) NAP
3.00 – Duke Of York Stakes (Group 2)
After the defection of Happy Romance, just the ten will go for glory in this 6f Group 3. It looks a very open race for the grade and a case can be made for plenty. Charlie Fellowes fires two bullets and the bookies rate Vadream as his most likely winner. She has run well on good ground a couple of times. However, her best form has come on an easier surface. It is her first run of the season too whereas his other runner, Ejtilaab, will be piping fit.
He had a winter campaign in Meydan where he ran three superb races without winning. On his return to the UK he absolutely hosed up in a Kempton handicap off 105, a win that saw his mark rise 7lbs to 112. The uphill nature of Newcastle’s finish may have found this speed merchant out last time but he should be well suited by the fast 6f at York.
This front runner may be able to get an easyish lead on Wednesday. Highfield Princess is the only other possible pace angle but she is best over 7f. The likes of Minzaal and Dragon Symbol have G1 form in the book but both are having their first runs of the season. Emaraaty Ana has had two poor runs in a row and of those at the top of the market, Garrus probably rates as the biggest danger. However, Ejtilaab is almost twice his price and at 18/1, he is the e/w selection.
2022 Wednesday York Dante Meeting Tips: Ejtilaab e/w @ 18/1 (4 places W Hill)
3.35 – Musidora Stakes (Group 2)
Just the five 3yo fillies will line up in the stalls for the day’s feature, the 10f G3 Musidora. Emily Upjohn was very impressive last time in a Sandown Novice (10f gd). Frankie Dettori steered her to a facile 9.5L victory but the runner up did nothing for the form next time out. Her debut win at Wolverhampton hasn’t exactly worked out either. This will be a huge step up in class for her.
Life Of Dreams also won impressively on her debut at Newbury (10f gd). Afterwards connections immediately earmarked her as a likely Oaks horse. However, again, that form has taken a lot of knocks. Ten of the fourteen horses she beat have run since and only one has won. The daughter of Dubawi clearly has ability though and given who trains her, it would be madness to write her off.
Can Algarve Shine?
Aidan O’Brien and ‘The Lads’ landed this race last year with Snowfall. She then went on to win the Epsom, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks. Like The Algarve, she had an underwhelming 2yo campaign. So, even though her form is nothing to write home about, the daughter of American Pharoah has to be entitled to maximum respect as O’Brien’s horses can often improve dramatically physically from 2yo to 3yo. However, on bare form you couldn’t be backing this filly at 13/2.
The two outsiders in the field are Ching Shih and Luna Dorada. The former horse is out of soft ground lover Madame Chiang and it looks like she follows in her mother’s hoofsteps. After an ordinary debut she took a massive step forward next time at Newbury, landing an 8f soft ground novice by 4L. She is by Lope De Vega so she might handle the ground but if it rained, it would massively enhance her chances.
Luna Looks Too Big
Ralph Beckett has a knack with fillies and he sent out Albaflora to be 2nd in this in 2020. This year he runs Luna Dorada, a once raced daughter of Golden Horn. This filly scored on her sole start last season over 8f at York. The ground was soft and it’ll be very different today but she won well and the race has thrown up a couple of subsequent winners. Her dam hasn’t produced much so far but she is very well related and a half sister to Kissable who was placed in the G1 Moyglare and also at the Breeders’ Cup on fast ground.
Luna Dorada’s grand-dam is a half to Sea Moon and Brian Boru, both of whom won group races on good. Golden Horn hasn’t exactly set the world alight as a sire so far but it is still early days for him. So far, he has a winners to runners strike rate of 30% on good ground, compared to 21% on soft. She won in spite of the 8f trip last time and 10f should suit her much better. She is proven on the track, her 2yo form worked out well enough and if she handles the ground, she could surprise with a big run at 20/1. I just hope Rob Hornby doesn’t do us again!
