2.20pm York Tips & Betting Preview 16/06/2017

This is a Class 3 handicap over 1m 2 1/2f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a competitive affair and it’s no surprise to see Big Country at the top of the betting. He has been in good form since arriving at Mick Appleby’s but his progression may have been halted for now and a chance is taken on DANCE KING. He’s been in good form of late and races off a fair mark in this having shown himself to be more than capable in this grade. He can make good use of the weight he receives and take this for Tim Easterby.

1 MYTHICAL MADNESS – Not certain to feature having held an entry yesterday but he ran a fine race last time out behind the decent G K Chesterton. He’s only been raised a pound for that effort which is more than fair and he’s stepped back up in trip by 2 furlongs which shouldn’t be an issue. The yard have a 12% strike rate at present and he would enter calculations if he were to run in this.

2 BIG COUNTRY – Lightly-raced sort who has been in good form since arriving at Mick Appleby’s yard earlier this year. He’s won two races and wasn’t far away in a decent Class 2 handicap at Newmarket last time out. He’s been given some time since then and remains on a mark of 94 which looks fair and he gets the assistance of Andrea Atzeni. Likely to have a big run in him and he should be popular in the betting.

3 BURGUILLOS – Extremely consistent sort who has only failed to finish out of the places once in nine career starts. He’s up 2lbs for a 6-length second at York last time out and that looks fair given he’s likely to come on again for that making just his third start of the season. The drop back in trip will suit and the return to faster ground should entitle him to go close again today. The yard are without a winner from their last 15 runners which is a negative.

4 INNOCENT TOUCH – Hasn’t been beaten all that far in three decent handicaps so far this season and he went ever so close last time out at Epsom. He finished second, beaten by a neck and he’s been left on a mark of 92 which looks fair and he should be able to run a fine race again today in what looks a slightly weaker Class 2 handicap. The yard have been operating at a 12% strike rate in the past fortnight.

5 STIPULATE – Without a win since August 2014 and he’s been slightly inconsistent this season. He finished third in the Thirsk Hunt Cup in early May but was then beaten 6 1/2 lengths at Epsom next time out off the same mark. He’s been dropped 2lbs in the weights which leaves him on a his lowest mark for a fair while although more is needed now stepped back up in trip. Others are preferred.

6 POWER GAME – Makes his stable debut for David O’Meara today having left Saeed bin Suroor’s yard following some average form towards the end of last season. He completed a treble on the All-Weather over the winter of the 2015/6 season but has struggled off marks in the 90’s and he’s probably going to need this run off a break. Any support in the betting would be significant though for a yard that can get one ready.

7 EUCHEN GLEN – Ran a career best over 1m 2f on fast ground at Ayr last month and he was beaten a fair way off a 5lb higher mark next time out. He remains on a mark of 88 today but he should be able to get competitive again albeit with questions to answer off this career high mark. The conditions will suit but he can race quite keen and will need everything to fall perfectly to score in this.

8 JUST HISS – Third run off a break today and he’s shown some modest form in two lower grade handicaps than this so far this season. He’s stepped back up in trip today which is slightly surprising having looked stretched on his previous attempts over this distance and this step up in grade will require more off a mark of 88. Others make far more appeal today for a yard with a 6% strike rate in the past fortnight.

9 MULLIGATAWNY – Well-beaten in a Class 3 All-Weather handicap last time out and that was disappointing having gone close in a couple of Class 4 handicaps previously. He’s stepped up in grade today off the same mark and whilst better is expected today, he remains without a win on turf and has questions to answer now back up in trip and grade. Others are preferred in this.

10 RAINBOW REBEL – Has gone close on his last two starts and his second place finish at Redcar last month gives him form claims in this. He remains on a mark of 87 following some consistent form and whilst back up in grade, has shown he’s capable of being competitive in this company. Mark Johnston has a 14% strike at present from his last 93 runners and Franny Norton remains in the saddle today. Respected in this.

11 STORM KING – Won a decent handicap at the Chester Festival last month and he is 3lbs higher following that success. He finished ninth of fourteen last time out but was only beaten 2 1/2 lengths in a similar handicap to this and he shouldn’t be far away again. He’s the likely pace angle in this and will have to do much of the donkey work but he could be in with a chance if Daniel Muscutt can judge the pace perfectly.

12 DANCE KING – Takes a step up in grade today following a couple of decent efforts in Class 3 company. He was only beaten 1 1/4 lengths last time out off a mark of 82 and this mark remains workable although this is a tougher race. He gets plenty of weight from his rivals today and he could put that to good use having shown himself to be in a good vein of form lately. He could be dangerous with a good break.

13 MICA MIKA – Recorded a hat-trick of wins in the spring of 2015 and he’s struggled off marks in the low-90’s right down to today’s mark of 82. He remains 3lbs higher than his last winning mark and the step down in trip will help today although he’ll probably want a bit of rain to put some ease in the ground. Paul Hanagan remains in the saddle (12% strike rate in the past fortnight) and others look more reliable.

14 MADROOS – Lightly-raced sort who makes just his sixth career start today. He was only beaten a length in a decent enough handicap at Catterick in April and he wasn’t far away when dropped in grade in a 19-runner handicap at York next time out. There was plenty of money about for him that day and he has a tongue tie applied today which should help. This will be a big ask though against some battle hardened handicappers.