Daily Placepots 
/ Phil Thompson / 11 May 2011 / Leave a Comment York Races
"The Musidora Stakes only has the five-runners and Arizona Jewel is a confident selection to reach the first two."
Phil Thompson is in the placepot hotseat for the first day of the Dante meeting...
13:30 - We start with a really competitive 20-runner handicap and the best way to tackle it is to take the two Timeform top-rated, who are also the least exposed members of the field. Taqleed was all the rage for the Lincoln in March before being ruled out on the day of the race and the same situation followed in the City and Suburban handicap at Epsom last month. However, Taqleed is taken to finally justify the hype this afternoon. He'll will be suited by the step back up in trip and could well confirm the promise he showed last season. Pekan Star was another to miss a recent engagement when declared a non-runner at Chester last week. The Roger Varian-trained colt was impressive when landing his maiden at Nottingham last season. This course promises to suit the prominent running style he displayed there and he could take some catching off bottom weight.
14:00 - A trappy little handicap here and we will take the top-weight Shropshire to see us through to the next leg. Barry Hills has hit form of late (five winners from last nine runners) and Shropshire is expected to appreciate this drop in class. After winning on his debut at Haydock as a two-year-old, Shropshire then shaped as if amiss in the Gimcrack on his only other run as a juvenile. Given plenty of time to recover, he made an encouraging reappearance when third in the Greenham at Newbury. Understandably no match for Frankel that day, he was not knocked about once the front two extended and should do better now granted a more realistic assignment.
14:30 - The Musidora Stakes only has the five-runners and Arizona Jewel is a confident selection to reach the first two. She showed plenty of promise in maidens, readily winning at Sandown over today's trip on her reappearance. That performance marked her down as filly to follow and with this event maybe not having as much strength in depth as recent renewals, Arizona Jewel might not have to improve an awful lot to win.
15:00 - Having taken a couple of gambles earlier, we can now have a fair crack at the Duke Of York. Dalghar is having his first run for Andrew Balding today having left Alain de Royer Dupre. A smart performer, he has been placed on his last four starts, inclduing when second to Lady Of The Desert in the Diadem at Ascot last season. He probably won't need to improve on last season's form to go close. Delegator is a bit of a mercurial character, classy but frustrating at times. He is dropping to six furlongs for the first time in his career, but has always shown a lot of speed and won over seven furlongs last year. He has a good record fresh and so today might just be the day to catch him. The third selections is the dual-Group 1 winner and Timeform top-rated Regal Parade, who is unpenalised for his win in last season's Prix Maurice Du Gheest at Deauville. He shaped as if in need of the run when only fifth at the Curragh on his reappearance, but should strip fitter now and the recent rain on the Knavesmire is in his favour.
15:35 - Becausewecan won comfortably at Hamilton earlier in the month and given that he stays two miles and is the only confirmed front runner in the field, has a good chance of being placed if allowed to dominate. This isn't one for a banker so we will also take Kathleen Frances. A progressive filly last year, Kathleen Frances won on three occasions and confirmed her effectiveness at the track when a good third to Tepmokea here on her final outing. Tom Queally is an eye-catching jockey booking and with the promise of more to come, Kathleen Frances rates a good bet to make the four.
16:10 - This is surely the best two-year-old race of the season so far, with seven previous winners lining up. It looks tricky, but we will keep the lines down and bank on the Mick Channon-trained Gatepost. The selection is the Timeform top-rated and made a good impression on his debut when winning at Folkestone. Gatepost impressed with the way he travelled that day, looks sure to improve for the experience and should hit the three if running to a similar level.
Selections: 12 lines
13:30 - 4, 20
14:00 - 1
14:30 - 2
15:00 - 2, 3, 10
15:35 - 1, 4
16:10 - 2
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