5.30pm York Tips & Betting Preview 14/07/2017

A good quality 0-95 handicap to finish the Friday card a York, a chance for the apprentices to shine. Read on for our expert tip and preview.

IN SUMMARY: Pennsylvania Dutch is likely to be popular but he has a soft ground pedigree and ideally wouldn’t want to see the ground dry up too much. SILENT ECHO has been a perfect 2/2 since being gelded, beating a smart yardstick in Chessman at Haydock last time. He can take full advantage of remaining at the same Class 3 level as last time. He has plenty more improvement in the tank and can continue his rude vein of health here.

1 SILENT ECHO – 2/2 since being gelded, including beating the well regarded Chessman at Haydock last time. The runner up finished seventh in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot since, while the third won at Sandown last weekend to give the form a rock solid look. That was on very quick ground, something that he’s unlikely to get here, but that form is standout in this field. His dam is a half sister to the dam of four time Group 1 winner Twice Over, so there is likely plenty more improvement in the tank.

2 MEDICI BANCHIERE – Not disgraced when highly tried last season behind the likes of Mehmas and Blue Point at Group 2 level, after slamming a Carlisle maiden field by ten lengths. He has not shown anything like that form so far in 2017 but, already dropped eight pounds by the handicapper for a pair of disappointing efforts, he should find his level soon.

3 LUALIWA – Showed the benefit of a gelding operation, belatedly breaking his maiden tag this season. He has improved since moving up the handicap ranks, winning a better contest than this at Chester last time. The best of his form has come with cut in the ground, so connections will be hoping that it doesn’t dry out too much. The Kevin Ryan yard are still struggling for form a little since their enforced closure, but there will be other days for him.

4 PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH – A perfect 2/2 so far in his career, he made the most of being able to run in Class 4 company at Haydock last time, getting up close home, suggesting that a step up to this trip would produce more. That win came on soft ground, he won on good as a juvenile, but he has a soft ground pedigree, so is another that connections won’t want to see the ground dry up for.

5 KREB’S CYCLE – In danger of becoming disappointing, he was last in a Sandown handicap at the weekend. The trip shouldn’t have been a problem as he produced his best two year old effort over seven furlongs, Ian Williams adding cheekpieces now, so evidently wasn’t happy with his effort. They may well sharpen him up, but he needs more on the back of that poor run.

6 DEREK DUVAL – Stayed on strongly down the outside to pick up his first handicap win last time, over this same trip. Newmarket would be a stiffer test at this distance than York, so he will need to get into top gear a little earlier here, especially as this is a deeper contest. There should be more to come, but he has a little to prove at this level for now.

7 SIR REGINALD BROWN – Scored on his debut –  at Redcar in April – but has failed to back that impression up in a pair of handicaps since. They were both on soft ground, his maiden win coming on good to firm, so perhaps the step back to a quicker surface will help him. He travelled well at Haydock last time, but could only muster the one pace under pressure. If the quicker ground does help, he could be in with a place shout.