4.15pm York Tips & Betting Preview 25/08/2017

An always competitive seven furlong maiden, William Haggas won this last season with Rivet who rewarded favourite backers at odds of 15/8. This season features a huge field of 19; read on for our full race preview and tips.

IN SUMMARY: There is more black type potential than in a run of the mill maiden here, with some holding hopes of going on to be competitive in Group races later in the autumn. Doswell seems sure to go well, but may have to play second fiddle again today after having finished second on debut – this time to Sir Michael Stoute’s GABR. He was an expensive buy, but will look worth every penny if he can build on his debut to win here today.

1 ARROGANT – Represents the smaller stable of Jose Santo. Although he showed some improvement last time out when fourth over this trip at Epsom, he’s out his depth in this race.

2 BROKEN FORCE – Nicely bred half-brother to the 97 rated Diaz, but went through the sales ring for a relatively small £60,000. Should stay this far and further with age for the in form Karl Burke stable (21% strike rate in the last two weeks) but his inexperience will count against him here.

3 CAPITAL FLIGHT – Ran a race full of promise when third at Goodwood for trainer Paul Cole and still holds a Group 2 entry in the Royal Lodge Stakes next month. As a son of Zoffany, the better ground will bring about more improvement and this €115,000 purchase won’t be far away today.

4 COMMANDER HAN – Well regarded sort who went up in value from £62,000 as a yearling to 400,000 Guineas as a two-year-old and needs to be able to win better races than this to justify that price tag. Holds Group race entries later in the season and an interesting Each Way option if everything clicks on debut.

5 CORROSIVE – Cost 150,000 Guineas as a two-year-old and is by Uncle Mo out of Freud, who won all of her four starts at home in the USA. Trainer Hugo Palmer does as well as any with his newcomers so a market watch is best advised, although he does not hold any fancy Autumn entries.

6 DOSWELL – Very easy to back when sent off a 20/1 chance on his Newmarket debut, yet he belied his odds with a head second to Being There (fourth in Listed company last month) when narrowly failing to get up. Sure to improve for the experience, trainer John Gosden is still going well and the son of Giant’s Causeway deserves his place towards the head of the betting.

7 DREAM TODAY – Another interesting unraced option, only cost 42,000 Guineas but a full brother to Al Wukair who won at Group 1 level and was last rated at 120. Entered in the Champagne Stakes later in the season and, if he is anywhere near as good as his brother, he ought to go well for trainer Mark Johnston and jockey P J McDonald.

8 DUBAI EMPIRE – Once raced with an acceptable fifth to Wells Farhh Go. That horse won the Acomb Stakes here at York on Wednesday which upgrades the maiden form. Beaten less than five lengths that day at odds of 14/1, he is sure to improve, but has plenty to find with a number of these

9 GABR – Expensive purchase at 300,000 Guineas as a yearling and looked the part when second on his only race to date at Newmarket. Slowly away that day, he lost six lengths at the start yet ran on strongly over this six furlongs to be beaten a neck at the line. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute is in excellent form and a better break – plus the extra furlong – should see him come out on top today.

10 GANTON PAR – Hard to make much of a case for after an eleven and a half length fifth of ten here at York over five and a half furlongs. He stayed on nicely at the end and will be better suited by this step up in trip. However, plenty of others have already produced better performances and he seems to deserve his huge price on his form so far.

11 KANNAPOLIS – The second Mick Easterby runner and perhaps the better of the pair. He finished second to Jedi Master (now rated 81) over six furlongs at Thirsk on his only run to date, despite being allowed to go off a 40/1 shot. He is overpriced at 100/1 and may be interesting with any bookmakers paying an extra place.

12 LAUGH A MINUTE – Now the mount of Andrea Atzeni with Sam Gold a non-runner. He has some interesting form and an experience edge over some of the more fancied contenders, having had two career runs so far. A third at Ascot on his debut promised much for the future, and he built on that with a second to Wells Farhh Go over this course and distance. That form was franked by the winner taking the Acomb Stakes here on Wednesday and any further improvement will see him get involved in the finish. That said, he has less potential upside than his lesser exposed rivals.

13 NEWBOROUGH – This son of Farhh cost £170,000 at the Goffs Sales last August. Others look a little more precocious and he may well need the experience. Likely to go off a huge price despite Luke Morris’s excellent level stake profit at York in the last five years (+£17.50).

14 NICKLAUS – Ran a lot better than it appeared on his only run to date when last of six at Newmarket after this son of Exceed And Excel weakened rapidly and was allowed to come home in his own time once his chance had gone. Likely to benefit from that educational introduction and the booking of Ryan Moore looks significant for the in form Haggas stable who won this last season.

15 PORT SWTAN – Looks to be the Charlie Hills number one and surely capable of winning a race after a good second to Zoffalee at Chester over six furlongs last time out. He ran on well that day, with the front two pulling well clear. He should do even better stepped up to this trip, but this does look a much tougher contest and even Paul Hanagan may have a problem getting him to the front where it matters this afternoon.

16 SAFRANI – Cost £115,000 at the breeze-up sales in April and then went on to finish just fourth in a weak Ayr novice stakes. A son of Lope De Vega, this trip could bring improvement. However, he’ll need to find at least 30 pounds of improvement from debut to win this today.

18 SHA LA LA LA LEE – Unraced son of Helmet who only cost 52,000 guineas as a yearling and is a half-brother to the 96 rated Rafiqa. Others look more choicely bred and early market signs aren’t positive.

19 MISS MUMTAZ – Beaten into second on her debut at Wolverhampton, failing to put up much of a fight to the mid-80s rated winner. This race comes just seven days later and is much tougher.

20 ZILARA – Bred to enjoy fast ground, she did better than expected when fourth on Soft at Goodwood on her only race to date, beaten just a length and three quarters at the line. She really should do a lot better on this going, especially with that run under her belt and could run well today. However, she will probably need further than this seven furlong trip.