2026 York Dante Meeting Friday Tips – DS
2026 York Dante Meeting Friday Preview
It was a dire start for us at York on Wednesday with only Dark Moon Rising running any sort of race. The misery continued in the first race on Thursday but at least Point Lynas stopped the rot with a 16s place. Dave Stevos is determined to try and finish with a winner, his 2026 York Dante Meeting Friday preview is below.
2.55 – MacMillan Handicap (class 2)
The Glen Rovers was a brilliant winner for us at Newcastle last time but he’s not 33/1 today and he has to prove his effectiveness on turf. I’ll be leaving him alone today and instead, I’ll take a chance on the Richard Fahey trained Castle Stuart.
A winner of two races for Karl Burke, he has had two previous runs over this C&D. The first, on good to firm ground last August on his debut for Fahey, saw him going down by half a length in a Heritage handicap off a mark of 93.
Two starts later, off the same mark, he ran a very creditable race in another valuable handicap here, beaten 3.25l into fourth when ridden forward, tactics that don’t suit him. He pitches up here having had a satisfactory pipe opener at Doncaster and he’s 2lb lower than when beaten in that heritage handicap over C&D last August.
Hopefully, Barry McHugh takes his time on him tomorrow and comes late with a run, if he does Castle Stuart is capable of hitting the frame here at odds of 18/1.
2026 York Dante Meeting Friday Tip: Castle Stuart e/w @ 18/1 (5 places) NAP
3.30 – Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
The 2yo fillies take centre stage here and from a personal perspective, I’d like to see Persian Force’s filly Lady Blanche win as I’m involved in a broodmare with a colt of his on the ground. If the ground stays decent, she should go well but at bigger odds, I am going to take a punt on Lake Muritz.
After showing promise under an ‘educational’ ride on debut at Thirsk over 5f (good), this daughter of Oasis Dream got off the mark at the second attempt at Beverley (5f gd-sft). She won by a length but that doesn’t tell the whole story. She looked like she would win by much further but she ran extremely green when asked to stamp her authority on the race.
Tim Easterby is a trainer who does very little with his 2yos and they usually learn their trade on the track. It isn’t always the case, but when he has one run well on debut it is usually a sign that they possess a fair amount of natural ability and the fact he is pitching this filly into Listed company now is an encouraging sign.
From a decent looking draw in stall 5, Lake Muritz is the each way selection at odds of 20/1.
