The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: Verdana Blue, (1540 York), 2pts win, 9/1:
The Ebor is one of the top handicap races of the season. We won well on favourite Fujaira Prince at Ascot and he hasn’t been unduly punished for that easy win, but he may just be best fresh. Pablo Escobarr is tempting as he should enjoy a strongly run race, and Alright Sunshine has a big each way chance. But this looks the day for old blog favourite Verdana Blue. She never gets the headlines over hurdles where the ground is always too soft at the main events, but she looks on a fair mark on the flat. We got away with leaving her alone at Ascot where we were worried by the marathon trip and she very nearly won. A fast run race at this trip should be her game, and with Ryan Moore booked again it looks like this could be much more her scene than Ascot.
Favorite Moon, (1425 York), 7/2: always one of the most loaded handicaps of the year full of progressive types and usually not a race to take a short price in. But Favorite Moon simply looks thrown in off his mark of 87. Didn’t get much luck when beaten by the roguish Indigo Lake at Donny, but made no mistake when winning a protracted struggle with the useful Subjectivist when stepped up to this trip on soft ground at Haydock. That form is working out really well and the front two pulled miles clear, and a 7lb rise gives a Haggas-trained improver plenty of wriggle room.
Barossa Red, (1440 Sandown), 6/1: has become a bit of a nearly horse as a 4yo, looking like he doesn’t have much in hand. But he does handle soft ground well, and he looks likely to go well at the track. A line through Confide suggests he has a few pounds to find with Golden Force, but we’re not sure that rival is wholly trustworthy, and this can be Barossa’s day.
One Master, (1500 York), 2/1: Some useful 7f types in here including the rock solid Safe Voyage who sets a decent standard as a horse who enjoys softer ground. That said, so does One Voice. We were on this filly when she finally showed she could win somewhere other than Longchamp when getting out of trouble with a flying late run at Goodwood. This is not the track for similar antics, but provided she can avoid traffic woes this time, this should be easier task.
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