Horse Racing Tips: Timeform’s best bets at York on Thursday

The clever folk are back for day 2 of the Dante Festival.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 2 years ago

York Racing Tips

13:50 Designer
14:25 Free Wind
15:00 Cruyff Turn
15:35 Epictetus
16:10 Changeofmind
16:45 Impressive Act
17:20 Land Legend

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

13:50 Designer

DESIGNER shaped as if retaining all her ability after six months off when finishing fourth in a listed event at Bath last time, keeping on well to be beaten only two and three-quarter lengths. She is back in a handicap today and can line up from the same mark as when filling the runner-up spot at Doncaster on her final start of last year. Previously a winner over this course and distance at the Ebor Festival, she seems sure to be thereabouts once again if stripping fitter with her reappearance under her belt.

14:25 Free Wind

FREE WIND proved better than ever when last seen winning the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock in July, overcoming significant interference to land the spoils by two and a quarter lengths with plenty in hand. Her subsequent absence suggests she possibly hasn’t been the easiest to train, but she has a good record when fresh and her form is certainly the best on offer in this line-up. With further progress also likely after just seven starts, Free Wind is very hard to oppose on her belated return to action.

15:00 Cruyff Turn

CRUYFF TURN probably needed the run after seven months off when finishing down the field at Thirsk last time, briefly making headway entering the final two furlongs before his effort flattened out. He is likely to be closer to form with that outing under his belt and it’s easy to make the case for him from a handicapping perspective. After all, he lines up from a 1 lb lower mark than when winning this race 12 months ago, so it could be worth siding with him as he seeks a third course-and-distance success in total.

15:35 Epictetus

EPICTETUS was a smart two-year-old last season and didn’t need to reproduce that form to make a successful reappearance in a listed event at Epsom a few weeks ago, just needing to be kept up to his work late on to land the spoils by three quarters of a length (had a bit in hand). He is entitled to strip fitter for the run and the better ground here is likely to be in his favour, too. His juvenile form marginally sets the standard in this line-up and he is fancied to establish himself as a genuine classic contender by coming out on top in a wide-open edition of the Dante.

16:10 Changeofmind

CHANGEOFMIND has looked a good prospect in winning both his starts to date, first making a successful debut in a Chester maiden in June and then returning from a long absence with a decisive win in a novice event at Catterick last month. He was well on top at the finish on the last occasion, drawing right away in the final two furlongs to land the spoils by three lengths. That was a fairly useful effort to defy a penalty and, with further progress on the cards, he can take the step up in grade in his stride to maintain his unbeaten record.

16:45 Impressive Act

IMPRESSIVE ACT is bred to be at least useful (by Dubawi and out of the Fred Darling winner Dabyah) and the fact he cost 650,000 guineas as a yearling suggests he clearly looks the part as well. He has since joined the Charlie Appleby yard which is well capable of readying a newcomer and those with previous experience in this maiden don’t set an insurmountable standard. There are several other interesting debutants in opposition, but Impressive Act gets the vote to kick off his career in the best possible fashion.

17:20 Land Legend

LAND LEGEND took a big step forward to get off the mark on his handicap debut at Newcastle in March, quickening clear entering the final furlong to win easily by five and a half lengths. That was his first run for two months (gelded in the interim) and the manner of that victory suggests he was full value for an 11 lb hike in the weights. The step up in trip here is likely to eke out further improvement and another big run seems assured in his follow-up bid if proving as effective on turf.

York Racing Tips

13:50 Designer
14:25 Free Wind
15:00 Cruyff Turn
15:35 Epictetus
16:10 Changeofmind
16:45 Impressive Act
17:20 Land Legend

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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