York Dante Festival Review

While the three days on the Roodeye last week failed to set the pulse racing, the action on the Knavesmire at York over the last couple of days has been on a different level. Group 1 winner Inisherin got his career firmly back on track with victory in the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes on Wednesday. Ryan Moore took over in the saddle for the first time and Kevin Ryan's stable star got the better of Flora of Bermuda scoring by a neck with nearly four lengths back to the third Night Raider. The winner was fortunate to get a gap along the rail once the pace setting Night Raider tired and edged to his right. However, the Shamardal colt showed a fine attitude to fend off the strong challenge of Andrew Balding's runner-up, who didn't encounter the smoothest passage. The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot (21st June) will be next for the first two, while it would be no surprise to see the third dropping back to five furlongs for the first time on his next start - Karl Burke's runner is entered in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday week (24th May) but that is likely to come too soon. I was working at York on Wednesday and a number of jockeys reported that the ground was well watered and 'loose' on top. Such conditions wouldn't have suited Night Raider, who showed a lot of speed through the first three furlongs - 10.76, 10.93 and 11.30 seconds. Provided the ground is genuinely fast, he looks tailormade for races such as the Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood (1st August) and Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over C&D (22nd August). 

There were a fair share of hard luck stories on day one including the well regarded Utmost Respect in the juvenile event over five furlongs. Trained by Richard Fahey, the Invincible Spirit colt had been an expensive buy (220,000gns) at the breeze-ups last month and a bold showing was expected beforehand. Unfortunately, Oisin Orr's mount raced keenly during the first couple of furlongs before meeting traffic problems. Pulled to the outside, he was set an impossible task and did remarkably well to finish half a length second behind fellow debutant Ballistic Missile. Utmost Respect covered the final furlong in 11.88 seconds compared to the winner (12.12 seconds). This was one which got away. Despite his reversal on Wednesday, the Musley Bank runner is considered Royal Ascot class and he will have one more run before heading to Berkshire next month.

The seven furlongs handicap for three year old was won in last gasp fashion by the improving Rare Change, who had proved frustrating to follow last term. The favourite Gallant was denied a run on the far rail and finished on the bridle. Drawn in stall one, Oisin Murphy's mount was always going to need luck in running and it never happened for him. Andrew Balding's charge is handicapped to win races, while the other eyecatcher was the fast finishing Eve's Boy. Michael Dods invariably runs his better two year old's at Ayr's Western meeting and this Expert Eye gelding scored on the west coast of Scotland last September. Racing here off a mark of 83, he was drawn wide in stall 13 and hampered soon after leaving the gates. In rear, Connor Beasley's partner was travelling strongly but was another who couldn't get a clear run when starting his challenge. Staying on strongly once in the clear, he was beaten two lengths in sixth. Covering the last furlong in 12.31 seconds, he was the second fastest behind Richard Hughes' winner. Out of a ten furlongs winner, he will have no trouble staying a mile and is a nice prospect. 

The Talking Trainers section in Ahead On The Flat had a field day at York on Thursday with Old Cock (9/2), See The Fire (8/11), Pride of Arras (18/1), Tropical Storm (4/1) and Merchant (5/2) all winning, plus two more at Kempton, namely Al Joory (6/1) and Dash of Azure (11/8). Thank you to those clients who emailed after Old Cock's win in the Hambleton Handicap. Having selected Ed Bethell's four year old for the Lincoln Handicap in the Cheltenham Festival Update, I am glad clients stayed loyal to the Middleham trained runner. Ed is adamant the gelding would have been a Pattern performer if Old Cock hadn't been plagued by breathing issues. 

See The Fire was reportedly in need of the run on her reappearance at Sandown and the four year old made a big step forward with an explosive performance in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes. Ironically, stablemate Kalpana was due to be the Balding number one for the ten furlongs event but was ruled out earlier in the week. The Jeff Smith owned filly proved a more than able deputy though annihilating her seven opponents by upwards of a dozen lengths. Cruising into contention under Oisin Murphy, she led with over two furlongs to run before powering clear. The winning times was in excess of two seconds faster than the Group 2 Dante Stakes run half an hour later on the card. Andrew Balding's filly hit a topspeed of 38.73mph and covered the final three furlongs in 11.78, 11.65 and 12.89 seconds. The Dante winner Pride of Arras covered the last three furlongs in 11.38, 11.43 and 12.32 seconds. Connections nominated the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood - a race she was finished a close second in last year - as one of her principal targets followed by the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes over C&D in August. Similar to Bluestocking twelve months ago, she looked a top notcher here.

Talking of the Dante Stakes, Pride of Arras looked another very smart prospect when quickening up off a slow early gallop to win going away. Absent for 280 days, the New Bay colt had impressed on his sole start at Sandown last summer - in the same maiden former stablemate and Irish Derby winner Westover had won three years earlier. Ralph Beckett's runner had reportedly had an 'away day' and a bold showing was expected. Rossa Ryan's mount moved into contention in the homestraight before squeezing through a gap between two opponents and hitting the front. Pushed out to win with plenty of authority by a length and a quarter, he threatens to be even better over an extra couple of furlongs. A well balanced colt, his dam won over a mile and a half and he is a half-brother to Patient Dream who won at Epsom for the same connections in 2021. As discussed, his sectionals in the last three furlongs compare favourably to See The Fire and he will take plenty of beating in Flat racing's Blue Riband early next month. The runner-up Damysus improved markedly from his run in the Sandown Classic Trial in April - John and Thady Gosden's colt came from further back and covered the last three furlongs in 11.41, 11.33 and 12.33 seconds - he was quicker in the penultimate furlong than the winner and only 0.01 seconds slower in the final furlong.

Finally, Jim Goldie has handled some useful sprinters over the years, including Orientor, Hawkeyethenoo and Jack Dexter amongst others. The fast improving American Affair hasn't looked back since dropped back to the minimum trip winning three times last season, including the Portland Handicap at Doncaster. The five year old's official rating climbed from 70 to 94 in 2024 and the Washington DC gelding has continued to progress this year winning the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh last month. Lining up in a competitive five furlongs handicap at York on Thursday, Paul Mulrennan's overcame a wide draw before pulling away to win readly off a mark of 98. His trainer indicated afterwards that his stable star is likely to tackle Pattern company for the first time in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday week (24th May). Very much at home on a flat speed track, his form figures on such courses over five furlongs are 5112311. Placed twice at the Merseyside track last year, American Affair handles any ground and looks overpriced at 16/1 (Bet365, William Hill). There are 25 entries at the moment but expect the field to cut up at the next forfeit stage on Monday and now is the time to get involved. Don't be surprised if he is lining up in the Nunthorpe Stakes in August.