York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tips Dave Stevos
York Dante Meeting Wednesday Preview and Tips
Saturday went alright for us with Third Realm winning at Lingfield at 14/1. Ropey Guest also nicked place money for us at 28s. The rest of our selections didn’t fare so well but at least we finished with a modest profit on the day. The Dante Meeting kicks off at York this week and with rain forecast, the Knavesmire could well live up to its name. Mudlovers may well come to the fore, check out our York Dante Meeting Wednesday tips for all live ITV4 races below.
1.40 – Jorvik Handicap (Class 2)
With conditions to suit, Rhythmic Intent looks a very interesting contender in this 12f handicap. This son of Lope De Vega is a former course winner over 10f (gd/sft) and he signed off last season with a tremendous effort in the November Handicap at Doncaster over today’s trip on soft. There was nothing wrong with his comeback run at Chelmsford a fortnight ago (beat 3L off 96) and he should now be primed for a big run returned to the grass. However, his price has halved in the last 24 hours and I am going to look elsewhere for some each way value.
Another horse who should relish any rain that falls is Dubai Souq. This son of Dubawi is trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and Callum Shepherd rides. His sole run on easy ground came on his second handicap start off 85 back in 2019. He absolutely dotted up that day at Nottingham (10f) but he only managed one run the following season so he must have had some issues.
The son of Dubawi shaped very nicely when narrowly beaten on his first try at 12f last time at Musselburgh on ground plenty quick enough for him. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th home from his Nottingham win have all won races since so off just 5lb higher today he looks to have every chance of being involved at the business end. His trainer has an excellent record at York and at odds of 20/1, Dubai Souk is worth backing each way.
York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tips: Dubai Souk e/w @ 20/1 (5 places)
2.10 – Churchill Tyres Handicap (Class 2)
Another horse that will appreciate the easy underfoot conditions is Hey Jonesy. Trained by Kevin Ryan, this talented 6yo lost his way last season after an excellent win at Royal Ascot. He won the Wokingham by a nose off 99 in first time blinkers but his three subsequent runs were bitterly disappointing. He was beaten nearly 8L off 103 on his final run at York and he may have made a noise because during his winter break he underwent wind surgery.
The son of Excelebration made his return three weeks ago over 7f at Thirsk. Considering the ground was lightning quick and the trip is probably a shade too far, he didn’t run too badly to finish 5th of 6, beat 6L. The blinkers are reapplied, he should be a lot sharper after his comeback and he is a previous C&D winner on good to soft. His career best effort came when beat a head by Donjuan Triumphant on soft at Doncaster and with ground to suit, Hey Jonesy is the e/w selection at odds of 20/1.
York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tips: Hey Jonesy e/w @ 20/1 NB (6 places)
2.40 – Duke Of York Stakes (Group 2)
A dozen speedsters will go to post for this 6f Group 2. It is a cracking race and a case could be made for quite a few of them. At the current prices, the sponsors’ horse Lady Of France looks interesting. This 5yo mare took her form to another level at the tail end of last season. She ran a huge race at Longchamp in the G1 Prix De l’Abbaye, beat just 1.5L on heavy ground. She was doing all her best work at the finish in that contest and this step back up to 6f should suit on that evidence.
Her sole start at today’s trip saw her well beaten as a 3yo in a French Group 3 back in 2019. However, she won at Ayr previously over 5.5f and now that she is an older and stronger horse, this distance could be ideal for her. She is a previous course handicap winner off 100 (5f gd) and she has gone well fresh in the past. Danny Tudhope rides (30 wins/76 top 4s from 163 rides for Burke) and at odds of 25/1, Lady In France is a speculative e/w selection.
York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tips: Lady In France e/w @ 25/1 (4 places Betfair/Skybet)
3.10 – Musidora Stakes (Group 3)
The interesting one here if the ground is on the testing side is Glenartney for Ed Walker and Tom Marquand. This filly was a no show on her debut at Chelmsford back in October but she was a whole lot better on her second outing at Newmarket (7f hvy). That wasn’t the strongest of novices but she still looked very green inside the last three furlongs and she only really hit top gear 100 yards from home. Once the penny dropped she pulled clear inside the closing stages by a length but I got the impression that the further they went, the further this filly would have won by.
On pedigree this step up in distance looks the right move. She is by a quality sire in Le Havre and her dam is a half-sister to a trio of G1 winners from 10f to 12f, including Nathaniel, Great Heavens and Playful Act. Ed Walker’s horses are mostly running well and Tom Marquand has finished in the first 4 in over 50% of his 104 rides for the yard (19 winners). The more rain that falls, the better this filly’s chance will be and at odds of 33/1, she is the each way selection.
York Dante Meeting Wednesday Tips: Glenartney e/w @ 33/1
3.40 – Skybet Handicap (Class 3)
The closing live ITV4 race from York on Day 1 of the Dante Meeting is a 7f class 3 handicap for 3yos only. This looks an exceedingly difficult puzzle to solve because the vast majority of the field have never raced on soft ground. One of the exceptions is Pivoting, a horse we backed a week ago at Chester. He ran a cracker that day off 77 (6f gd/sft), staying on very nicely to grab 2nd. This is going to be his first try at 7f and on the evidence of that last run, he is going to relish the new distance.
This son of Charming Thought is out of a Pivotal mare and he enjoys a dig in the ground. His sole win as a 2yo came in a soft ground novice at Pontefract (6f sft) and he enjoyed the ease in the ground at Chester too. Tim Easterby loves having winners at this meeting and he will be happy to see that the handicapper left this fella’s mark alone after Chester. Cam Hardie, who rode last time, keeps the ride as David Allan is unable to do 8st 4lbs. 14/1 looks a more than fair price and with 4 places on offer, Pivoting is the e/w NAP of the day.
