Yesterday’s Review
1pt win Powerful Nation (113) – A career best performance on turf from the selection who tracked the leaders and made nice headway over a furlong out before leading inside the final furlong. Conditions were ideal for him, and while he handles a bit of cut in the ground connections have always felt that he is a fast ground horse. His next target will be the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at The Curragh next month. Result 1st 9/4 adv…6/5F SP (Rule 4 10p)
Today’s Advice
MOONSTONE BOY (5f 15y) – Chester has seen 11.6mm fall overnight and the going has changed from Good to Good to Soft (Soft in places) and with around another 6mm due before the (2.10) it may pay to side with those contestants who have Soft ground form. The selection falls into that category with a win on Heavy and Soft already to his name. Last time out at Carlisle on a Good to Soft (Soft in places) surface he raced in touch with the leaders before leading inside the furlong for a comfortable 2.25 length victory in a Class 4 contest under five pound apprentice Mohammed Tabti.
The handicapper has raised him seven pounds for that win, and he steps up in class today, but he has won a Class 3 last season and looks to be improving at the moment. Tabti takes the ride again, and he should enjoy conditions better than most of his rivals.
Dangers include the eleven-year-old veteran Copper Knight (who has found a bit of form recently with a win at Pontefract) and Rosenpur who has course form and it will be interesting to see how he copes with conditions.
MARCHOGION (6f Hcap) – This three-year-old won impressively last time out at Newmarket recording the top speed figure performance (110) on turf of today’s field. Trainer Andrew Balding and jockey David Probert have combined well at York in the past four years with horses priced at 14/1 or less with four wins and three places from thirteen runners.
The handicapper has raised him seven pounds for his latest victory where he raced prominently before leading over a furlong from home for a comfortable one length win. He is still unexposed on turf, and he looks a shade overpriced in the market if he can repdroduce his latest effort.
There are plenty of dangers in opposition and the Charles Hills trained Double Rush was very impressive on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton back in March before winning on a Good to Soft surface at Newmarket fifty nine days ago from subsequent winners Invictus Gold and Gallant. However, he does have that absence and faster going to overcome today.
1pt win Moonstone Boy (3/1 William Hill, 11/4 General) 2.10 Chester
0.5pt e/way Marchogion (11/1 General 5 places) 3.35 York