2023 Friday York Dante Meeting Tips – DS
2023 Friday York Dante Festival Preview
Another decent place yesterday with our 281 e/w NAP Point Lynas. He just failed to get up and was a head away from giving us our second winner of the week. Hopefully one of today’s selections goes in, 2023 Friday York Dante Festival tips are below.
1.50 – Clipper EBF Marygate Stakes (Listed)
A juvenile Listed sprint for juvenile fillies and ten run. Persian Dreamer and Got To Love A Grey both hacked up on debuts and they set a pretty high standard. It wouldn’t be a surprise if those two dominate but it’ll be different ground for them here. It was also soft for Bellarchi’s extremely promising debut at Thirsk and while it probably wasn’t the greatest maiden, there was a lot to like about the run.
She is trained by Grant Tuer, who isn’t renowned for having his juveniles win first time out. For a few strides inside the final furlong it looked like this filly might buck that trend and win but the two horses that had the benefit of the rail beat her and she had to settle for 3rd. She was only 0.75L behind the winner and you’d imagine she’ll improve markedly for that run.
On breeding, there’s a chance this faster ground will suit her too. She is by Mehmas out of a Sepoy mare, the only horse in training with that combination. Sepoy is by Elusive Quality and the numerous Mehmas/Elusive Quality horses that have made the track, have almost all liked quick conditions. Tuer has had six 2yo runners at York, returning one winner and two 3rds. Hopefully Bellarchi can improve on that 50% frame hitting strike rate this afternoon at 80/1.
2023 Friday York Dante Festival Tip: Bellarchi e/w @ 80/1
2.25 – Oaks Farm Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
The one that stands out like a sore thumb in this Listed heat is Glenlaurel. She is the second highest rated of those that have official marks and she has already proved she can be competitive at Listed level. Her debut at Thirsk (6f gd) remains her sole win to date, but she was highly tried subsequently.
On her next start at Royal Ascot she raced prominently and ended up well beat. However, even though she only finished 8th, her last run of 2022 in the Lowther here was better than her finishing position suggests. She was only 3.35L behind the winner Swingalong and more importantly, 1L behind Matilda Picotte in 3rd and 0.75L behind Mawj who finished 4th. They finished 1st and 3rd in the 1000 Guineas.
Kevin Ryan dropped his filly into Listed company on her seasonal reappearance. In that 6f Chelmsford race she stayed on well from the back for 4th, just missing out on black type. On her last two efforts a mile will surely suit and she is bred to stay that far too. Given her page, anything she did as a 2yo was a bonus and she should improve throughout this season. Odds of 28/1 look too big about Glenlaurel and she is the e/w selection.
2023 Friday York Dante Festival Tip: Glenlaurel e/w @ 28/1 NAP
3.00 – Knights Solicitors Handicap (Class 2)
A tricky race to size up. Some would like rain, others are best on the all weather and a few are having their first runs of the season. One horse that is fit, will like the ground and has solid York form is one of the rank outsiders, Maries Diamond.
Trained by Roger Fell, this son of Footstepsinthesand made a nice return to action from a stint in Bahrain at Pontefract 25 days ago. He finished 5th of 15 on good to soft ground, 12L behind Lightening Company. He re-opposes today and Fell’s charge is effectively 13lbs better off when Jonny Peate’s claim is considered.
Maries Diamond is effectively racing off 90 today, 12lbs lower than he was when last winning a handicap at Ayr in July 2021. Much more recently than that, in August of last year, he was beat 3L in a G3 here over 9f behind horses rated 109 and 108 with the 106 rated Masekela (in receipt of 7lbs) a nose back in 4th. He’ll be getting 12lbs from him today, a 19lbs swing. On this fast ground the 10f trip should be within reach and if he repeats that G3 form, Maries Diamond will run a big race at odds of 40/1.
2023 Friday York Dante Festival Tip: Maries Diamond e/w @ 40/1 (4 places) nb
3.35 – Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2)
Not a race that gets my juices flowing. If it were soft, Tashkan might be a bet but on this ground he’ll likely find it tough. Siskany and Broome look the ones to beat but the bookies haven’t missed them. No bet.
