Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Quick could be a Thorn in the side of his rivals

York

YORKSHIRE LADY looks a biggish price at 11/2 in the TV opener, the Queen Mother’s Cup (2.00pm). She ran a perfectly encouraging comeback, staying on nicely from an unpromising position, and now looks ready for a step up in trip. She’ll find this opposition less formidable, and her rider knows exactly how to economise her effort.

ADMIRAL D (17/2) has claims of running a whole lot better in the next (2.35pm). To be honest, he hasn’t been running too badly, but has hit softish ground every time this year (finished one place in front of favourite Darkness in the Victoria Cup) and the handicapper has now granted him a real chance on a better surface.

QUICKTHORN can take the Grand Cup (3.05pm) at 15/8. He was devastating here in last year’s Lonsdale, and it might be that we’re underestimating the Yorkshire Cup form – after all, Siskany (fifth) came out and bolted up at Belmont last weekend. His main rival here is having his first go at the trip, but there’s loads of pace on here, so there will be no hiding place on that score.

RABAAH might be the answer to the feature sprint handicap (3.40pm), often a stepping stone to greater things. He looked absolutely a stakes class horse in his two all weather wins, and there was more encouragement than the finishing position in a strong race behind Commonwealth Cup fancy Shaquille at Newbury. Bluntly, he was too fresh and keen, but this big field should help him race more kindly, and he retains bags of potential. 10/1 could be a steal.

Sandown

MAYSONG is a wild price at 25/1 in the mile handicap at Sandown (2.15pm). Admittedly he wins infrequently, and is completely exposed, but he was running a mighty race at Epsom until repeatedly checked in his run down the inside, but for which he’d have beaten a few of these. His last win came at today’s venue on a slick surface under an inexperienced rider and – off his low mark and with seven pounds off – he’ll feel like he’s running loose.

LADY HAMANA is another big swing in the Scurry Stakes (2.50pm) at 16/1. This lot are much more closely matched than the market suggests, and this filly might finally have found the right race. She’s done a fair bit of racing in France, but nothing in her pedigree suggests she wants soft ground, and she comes back to the minimum trip here, which ought to suit. She has some speed from the stalls, which should enable her to get a crack at that favoured far rail, and cheekpieces will hopefully help her hold her position a little better. Not without hope.

Chester

SOPHIA’S STARLIGHT looks the answer to the TV race at Chester (3.20pm) at 9/2. She’s responded really well to being asked to race handily, and is ideally drawn to capitalize on that natural advantage. She never looked in any danger at Wetherby, and won with loads in hand, but the handicapper has only been able to nudge her up three pounds, which should ensure she remains competitive.