Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Hoping Mir can shoot for the Sky

The broadcaster and journalist gives his expert opinion on York’s Thursday card.

Thursday, York

ALLIGATOR ALLEY is an infuriating customer, but everything is set up for a big run in York’s TV opener on Thursday (2.15pm). He’s run well here several times, and is now 4lbs better with Equilateral and JM Jungle for their runs in August (only just denied), and loads better off with Korker and Clarendon House from this race last year. Although he’s undoubtedly well treated now, what really matters is that he’s dragged far enough into the race from his draw, which looks assured with Spartan Arrow and JM Jungle not too far away in the stalls. A little cut in the ground at the minimum is fine – I’m sure he’ll run well again.

MIRSKY ran a lovely race on debut for David O’Meara, and he can continue the stable’s excellent record when importing high class horses from France (2.45pm). Some of his form for Freddie and Victoria Head (notably his excellent run behind Facteur Cheval) suggested he wasn’t badly handicapped, but that was confirmed with quite an eye catching run when seemingly unfancied in the Thirsk Hunt Cup. He hit the line well there, was only beaten a length or so, and they’ll know more about him now.

BLUESTOCKING might just get it all together in the Middleton (3.15pm). Although Free Wind is a formidable opponent at this track, the selection has greater to potential to improve this year. She will have frustrated plenty in her Classic campaign, but I like that she drops in trip: there’s a fair bit of miling pace in her pedigree and she strikes me as just a very high cruiser who wants to sit just off the stronger fractions at this distance as opposed to grinding it out over twelve. Any further rain would be a big plus.

ECONOMICS might just be a pretty good horse in the Dante (3.45pm). Granted, he’ll need to be, but William Haggas was quite confident in his ability when I interviewed him for my podcast on Wednesday, and I had a deeper delve into his pedigree. Given how well his dam stayed, his display of relative pace at Newbury was quite impressive. It was only a maiden, but the sixth and eighth (closest to have tested the form) have both bolted up since, suggesting typically strong Newbury form. Clearly a step up in distance should suit, and the easy striding rhythm he seems to possess gives him the look of a horse who should cope well in stakes company.

KYLIAN might just be able to give Big Evs a fright if the rain levels the playing field a bit (4.15pm). There wasn’t a whole lot between then when the ground softened at Goodwood, and Kylian was rather unlucky, as he was in the Gimcrack when getting no run. It’s tough to improve one from Karl Burke, but Archie Watson is someone who could.