Paul Ferguson brings us two selections for us at York on Saturday; Lyric Street at 2.30 and Cill Rialaig at 3.40. Compare odds and bet.
A fantastic final day to York’s Ebor meeting with a couple of extremely competitive 20-runner 1m6f handicaps the highlights.
The big race looks a red-hot contest and a case could be made for any number of the runners.
As you know (from the amount of times I’ve selected him) Modun is a horse I like a lot, but the ground maybe softer than ideal for him, while fellow market leader Lost In The Moment is one for any shortlist. He has rattled home the last twice, but often meets trouble in running and that could be the reason he is so often the bridesmaid.
The one I’m taking a chance on is Cill Rialaig (3:40) who won the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot last year, after which she was a beaten favourite in Listed company.
Her Royal Ascot win worked out well, with Martyr (3rd) winning his next two before going off favourite for last year’s Ebor, Australia Day (4th) improving out of all recognition over hurdles and Sweet Lightning (5th) going on to score at this meeting last year.
The grey mare, who won two bumpers over 1m5f before racing on the Flat, returned at Newbury recently when running an encouraging race in third and, with the Hughie Morrison stable in fine form, she can run well at a big price (22/1 with Coral & Hills or 20/1 with SkyBet & Paddy Power who offer an extra place).
The Melrose Stakes, over the same course-and-distance for three-year-olds, is an equally fascinating race. Again, there are plenty in with chances as you would imagine, the first being Communicator who’s fourth behind Brown Panther and Census reads well after their exploits in last Saturday’s Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
The pair I like, however, are Lyric Street (2:30) and Motivado. The former was considered a Derby possible in the spring and, after beating subsequent Listed winner Wild Coco in his maiden in May, he looked a colt of some potential.
The son of Hurricane Run, who doesn’t mind a bit of cut in the ground, then ran a fair race behind the classy Dominant in a valuable sales race on the July course at Newmarket, but he could be a completely different proposition now he’s up in trip.
The same comment applies to Motivado and he is worth considering as a saver at 16/1. He flopped last time, but quite a few horses flopped that day at Ripon and he previously looked a stayer when failing to peg back Lexington Bay at Musselbrugh.
Lyric Street is just preferred, however, as he is potential Group horse over this sort of trip and rates a solid each-way play at 10/1 with Hills.
Saturday’s selection:
2:30 York: Lyric Street (10/1 Hills)
3:40 York: Cill Rialaig (22/1 Hills & Coral)
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- AL FEROF won Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 10-1
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- (plus Grade 1 in Ireland 16-1)
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