Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Saturday; Dal Harraild in the 2.35 at York and Extra Elusive in the 3.05 at Ascot.
A course-and-distance winner last May Dal Harraild (2:35) can land the John Smith’s Silver Cup at York this afternoon.
William Haggas’ lightly-raced five-year-old has been absent since running in the Dubai Gold Cup in March, before which he was a really impressive winner at Chelmsford. Good-to-firm ground isn’t an inconvenience and on the best of his form, he stands out here.
I was going to put up Buzz in the John Smith’s Cup at a big price, but he is a non-runner and I would probably have to side with market leader Dash Of Spice now. He arrives here on a real roll, is ahead of the handicapper and shouldn’t be too inconvenienced by the drop in trip. He is a solid favourite, but I am loathed to put him up given that I had already backed Buzz each-way. If you do want to back him, he is 4-1 with Bet365 at the time of writing and they’re paying ¼ odds to 4 places.
Down at Ascot, I’ll be siding with the unbeaten Extra Elusive (3:05) on his handicap debut, despite having plenty of respect for fellow three-year-old Elwazir, who impressed at Sandown last time.
The selection was a taking winner on debut at Newbury last October and made a belated reappearance in a weak event at Nottingham recently. Entered in the Great Voltigeur at York next month, the Mastercraftsman looks potentially well treated on an opening mark of 86 and is, therefore, fancied to make it three-from-three.
Saturday’s selections:
2:35 York: Dal Harraild; 11/10 bet365
3:05 Ascot: Extra Elusive; 6/4 Paddy Power
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