4.50pm York Tips & Betting Preview 24/08/2017

Some decent sorts line up for this valuable seven furlong handicap. David O’Meara has won it twice in the last five years, so it will be interesting to see how top weight Lincoln Rocks gets on. Read below for our runner by runner race preview and our selection ahead of the 4.50pm at York this afternoon.

IN SUMMARY: A tough race to call, but it appears a few are black type sorts masquerading as handicappers, with CRISTAL FIZZ taken to come home in front for William Haggas after an acceptable effort in the German 1000 Guineas last time out. She may be too good for Lincoln Rocks at these weights and is the value for money suggestion here.

1 LINCOLN ROCKS – Top weight for David O’Meara’s filly who is having a rewarding season, with two wins and seven top four finishes so far. Although she was beaten in Listed class last time, she was well clear of the third. Each way chances and deserves top weight, she could well be much better than your average handicapper. Stable are back in form with a 15% strike rate.

2 CRISTAL FIZZ – Won both her races last year aged two, but has perhaps been overfaced by the William Haggas team this season with a fifth in the German 1000 Guineas last time out. Dropped into handicap company, she really ought to do much better, and this gives her every opportunity to return to winning ways. Her stable have been in form all season and are currently hitting the 18% mark and she should be there, or thereabouts, at the finish.

3 BREAKABLE – Tim Easterby loves a winner at York, but Breakable will need to build on her fifth to Raising Sand to take a hand here. The daughter of Firebreak has won eight of her 34 starts and is heading to £100,000 in prize money, but never off a rating as high as she has this afternoon. She may well struggle in this company, regardless of her trainer’s expectations and decent enough recent form.

4 BINT ARCANO – Julie Camacho has worked wonders with the daughter of Arcano, winning two of her last three starts at Catterick and more recently at Doncaster in a Class 3 handicap over the seven furlongs she faces here. Up a big six pounds for that, she will find this tougher, however she may well challenge for the places with a clear run.

5 GHEEDAA – Lightly raced after six starts and perhaps the William Haggas first string here. Steps up in trip after a 6 1/2 length fifth here over six furlongs in the Group 3 Summer Stakes. She has every chance to go well if she stays the trip based on her previous 3 3/4 length fourth to top sprinter Battaash. Could be even better based on her breeding and is well worth some serious each way consideration.

6 CARTOGRAPHER – NON-RUNNER.

7 CLEAR WATER – Left Saeed Bin Suroor for Michael Wigham in mid-June and ran her best race since last time out when runner-up to Sainted over six furlongs at Haydock, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. Up three pounds for that, but she should be better suited to the seventh furlong and could get involved. However, her stable are none from four in the last two weeks which is a worry.

8 SUMMER CHORUS – NON-RUNNER.

9 WHISPERED KISS – Made all the running at Yarmouth last time out to make it five wins for the season from seven starts and did it by five lengths with plenty in hand. She has been put up a big nine pounds for that win which will clearly hurt her chances, as will the step up in class. Nevertheless, she is improving quickly and arrives here looking to land her four-timer with every chance.

10 LAVETTA – Moved from Alan Swinbank to Sally Haynes in May and ran her best race since when runner-up to Mitchum Swagger at Thirsk last time out. Left on the same rating here, she may well be reaching her peak and could go well. However, it is worth noting that there are some classier sorts higher up in the handicap this afternoon. Stable are one from eight in the last fortnight, but she has bit to find today.

11 PERFECT MADGE – One win from seven starts as a juvenile, but none from four this season with a best yet second to Mojito last time out at Newmarket. Up a pound today, she has John Egan replacing Adam Kirby in the saddle now and looks to have plenty to find in this company to get involved.

12 POET’S PRINCESS – 11th of 12 to Raven’s Lady at Newmarket last time out over six furlongs, weakening late on in a race perhaps best forgotten. Her one career win was over the same six furlong trip at Newbury in June last year and, with a lack of decent recent form to her name, even her two pound drop in the weights seems unlikely to be enough to see her challenging.

13 GHADAAYER – Two wins from four starts this season, but a less inspiring fourth to Shenanigans at Goodwood over the mile last time out, beaten two lengths at the line. Drops in trip here which is not guaranteed to suit as a daughter of Shamardal. However, trainer Sir Michael Stoute is on an amazing 35% strike rate in the last two weeks which may yet improve her chances.

14 CHEVAL BLANCHE – Not at her best last time out when only sixth at Newmarket, beaten over nine lengths at the line and impossible to suggest in that sort of form. Earlier efforts include a win at Salisbury over this trip, but that was on rattling fast ground and she may not be as effective on this slower surface. Michael Bell stable are going well with four wins from their last 23 runners (17%) but that may not be enough to help her here.

15 CARIDADE – Won her maiden last time out by an easy six lengths over this trip on good to soft going which is encouraging. That said, a handicap rating of 83 seems more than enough for that win, with runner-up Ember’s Glow losing by 15 lengths next time out. Going the right way and could surprise us all, however she looks to have more than enough on her plate for trainer Kevin Ryan who is going well with a 21% strike rate in the last 14 days.

16 ANGEL OF DARKNESS – Two wins from 11 starts at Lingfield and Goodwood over six furlongs and a good second at Windsor last time out off the same mark as this afternoon. This is a deeper contest, but she is undoubtedly well weighted here and could possibly get involved if the race unfolds her way.

17 ACADIAN ANGEL – Won at Doncaster over this trip last month, but that was on much faster ground and the daughter of Dark Angel out of a Hawk Wing mare may not handle this surface as effectively. Has to carry four pounds more than her allotted mark and, therefore, has very little chance. Likely to go off at huge odds here.