Nick Luck’s blog: Will you be Gathering Ye winnings at York?

York, Wednesday

WHITE WOLF might be a rather unconventional answer to a super tough opener to York’s Dante Festival (1.50pm). Smartly bred, and campaigned accordingly, his overall profile has a curate’s egg look to it, but there’s easily enough ability in his turf starts to think that he hasn’t yet realised his full potential. Saeed bin Suroor has gone for Oisin Murphy again – always a good sign – and a truly run race at this trip will suit. Application of headgear in this correct grade makes last year’s Dante sixth a compelling proposition at 8/1.

FIRST FOLIO is the pick at 9/1 in a no-less-difficult sprint that follows (2.25pm). I’m a huge fan of this horse – genuine, consistent and still improving – and his effectiveness at this track is there for all to see. Given he outperforms when turning up here, and that he has taken his overall level of form up a notch, he may well still have a little in hand. Reverting to six furlongs, where the rhythm of the race suits him much better, is another obvious plus.

MARSHMAN has tons going for him at 6/1 in the Duke Of York (3.00pm). It’s not easy for a three-year-old against some top notch established speedsters – particularly Highfield Princess and Emaraaty Ana – but this horse has some real physical heft and speed to burn. He posted a very smart figure on his comeback at Chantilly, will stretch his speed better on this sounder surface, ran a corker here in the Gimcrack for one so inexperienced, and gets stacks of weight for age.

GATHER YE ROSEBUDS might be a bit special, and isn’t a bad price based on that possibility in the Musidora (3.35pm) at 13/2. The ground was bad on her debut, and the margin may have been deceiving, but she beat smart-looking, well touted fillies (runner-up pointing to the Oaks) with a huge amount up her sleeve. This appeared not to surprise connections, who report her to have moved forward from that, and she is now well worth a look at this level.

CHUZZLEWIT might be the bet of the day (4.10pm) at 11/2. You can see the regard in which he’s held by the way he’s been campaigned, and I suspect connections are a bit confused as to whether he’s a sprinter or a miler, but this is probably the ideal trip, and there was a ton of encouragement in his comeback run behind Derby and Dante hopeful Dear My Friend. Back in handicap company, he could have too much class for these.