Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: York Dante Meeting Day 3 Tips
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Friday’s racing from York, where the Yorkshire Cup is the feature.
York, Friday
PACIFIC MISSION comes from an outfit in blinding form, and can land the Michael Seely (2.20), which kicks off the final day of coverage from York’s Dante meeting on ITV. She’s the highest rated horse in the race, was a particularly progressive 2yo, who would have won the May Hill but for softening of the ground, and ran a stormer in the Breeders’ Cup. She was considered a Guineas filly until time beat these blindingly in-form connections, and this looks a good starting point.
CASTLE STUART gets the vote in another ridiculously competitive handicap (2.55). He ran okay on his seasonal debut, but you’d like to think that sharpened him up for this, and he’s now eased down to a mark below that from which he ran a screamer here at the Ebor meeting. He’s had no help out of the ground since then, and should really appreciate a return to a sounder surface.
PRINCESSE D’ORANGE looks the right market leader in the Marygate (3.30). Plenty of these have made an impression, but hers was the deepest at Beverley, and she arguably has the most appealing pedigree to kick on to Ascot and beyond. Lover Girl – who has run quite sharp numbers on both starts – is easily feared most, but the selection looks to have a bit of star quality.
FURTHUR can keep up the good work in the Yorkshire Cup (4.05). He was a really taking three year old, belying his size to progress as he did. He is open to easily the most improvement this year, particularly at this distance, and it’s not hard to find the positives even in his two well beaten runs in the Leger and Melbourne Cup. That sort of experience will have stood him in good stead.
OLD IS GOLD should give a good account in the sprint handicap (4.40). This is a bit easier than the races that he normally contests, and he probably should have won at Sandown last time when very well backed, but did enduring a shocking run. If he gets the run of the green here, he should go very well.
