2.05pm York Tips & Betting Preview 29/07/2017

A field of eleven go to post as the ITV action at York kicks off on Saturday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Battered won over course and distance two starts ago and was far from disgraced at Sandown when last seen after a nine pound rise, so has to be considered. The pick though has to be VON BLUCHER for Rebecca Menzies, who finished a good sixth in the Bunbury Cup and has gone down two pounds in the handicap since. He has placed in tougher races than this off higher marks and looks very tough to beat under PJ McDonald with conditions to suit.

1 SALATEEN – Front runner for the out of sorts David O’Meara team who won this race two years ago for another yard, running well to finish third over course and distance in June. He was last seen at Chester where he was a well beaten fifth in Listed company and he will be happier back into handicaps. He is only a pound higher than his placed effort here in June and he looks a big danger if given a soft lead from the front.

2 VON BLUCHER – Son of Zoffany who ran two great races towards the end of his 2016 campaign, finishing third in two big field, competitive handicaps for Rebecca Menzies. He got back to his best this season on his latest start when sixth at Newmarket in the Bunbury Cup, not beaten far in sixth and he’s now two pounds lower in the handicap. He is very much competitively weighted, a pound lower than when third at Newmarket last season and a reproduction of that form should see him tough to beat under PJ McDonald with conditions to suit.

3 RIGHT TOUGH – Now only two pounds above his last winning mark for Richard Fahey, but he’s not been going the right way this season and more is needed. He could only manage sixth at Newcastle when last seen in a less competitive race than this and despite dropping a pound in the handicap, he wouldn’t be towards the top of the list under Tony Hamilton. Conditions will suit but he can only be given each way claims.

4 GET KNOTTED – Won this last year for Michael Dods off a two pounds lower mark and is back up in trip after two runs at the six furlong trip the last twice. He acquitted himself well when fifth at Hamilton in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup, keeping on strongly but clearly needing further to show his best. Paul Mulrennan takes the ride and he looks a big danger with conditions to suit, especially as he usually runs well here as a general rule.

5 START TIME – Runner up in a Group 3 back in 2015 for Saeed bin Suroor, but he has only run once since, a well beaten effort in a conditions race at Meydan in February 2016. Makes his first start today for Paul Midgley after a 534 day absence and it will be minor miracle if he can get this horse to race winning fitness first time out. A mark of 92 does demand him to be on his toes and unless the market says otherwise, he is entitled to need this.

6 TWIN APPEAL – In good form at present for David Barron, last seen finishing seventh in a competitive race here two weeks ago. He remains on the same mark and couldn’t be discounted for placings if holding his form, but he is clearly vulnerable to well treated horses and he doesn’t win very often. Callum Rodriquez takes off a useful five pounds but others look far more likely for win purposes.

7 FINGAL’S CAVE – Won three starts ago at Catterick in softer ground, but he’s now four pounds higher and has struggled to be competitive the last twice. He was well below form when last seen at York, finishing thirteenth of fourteen and never competitive at any stage. He still looks high in the weights and if he bounces back from that latest start, others make far more appeal.

8 AL KHAN – Bounced back to some sort of form when fifth at Ayr on his latest start and the drop back in trip will be a definite plus. That said, he is still two pounds above his last winning mark and others looks far more competitively weighted, with his inconsistent profile another negative. Kevin Stott takes the ride but he is likely to find a few of these too good on the day.

9 BATTERED – Won over course and distance two starts ago when storming through to win by two lengths and he was raised nine pounds as a result. He raced off this new mark at Sandown back in June, finishing third and only beaten around three-quarters of a length. Clearly one who remains of strong interest as this mark is certainly not beyond him, but this is a tougher race and he will face some stern opposition. Likely main danger to the selection however and has to be respected.

10 STARLIGHT ROMANCE – Two wins from four starts this year for this daughter of Excelebration who didn’t have the best of runs when second to Lualiwa at Chester earlier this month. That form puts her close to Battered who beat that rival by two lengths back in May, so she has to be considered a threat with Barry McHugh taking the ride. Conditions are fine and she should hit the frame with a repeat of her latest performance.

11 AARDWOLF – Won five starts ago at Doncaster off a one pound lower mark, but he’s only back down to a handicap rating of 90 after four poor performances since. He was only fifth at Hamilton when last seen and it’s hard to know what you’ll be getting from him. Conditions will suit and George Wood is in good form at present, but others make far more appeal and have much less to prove.