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Joe Logue’s York Tips
13:50 Marhaba the Champ (each-way)
14:25 Courage Mon Ami
15:00 Action Point (each-way)
15:35 Highfield Princess
16:10 Rowayeh
*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 Marhaba the Champ (each-way)
Kevin Ryan’s four-year-old is fairly unexposed – having just had eight runs to date. He won off a mark of 90 at this track in May on good to firm ground with the third and fourth that day Spirit Dancer now rated 9lb higher and Majestic subsequently running second at Epsom behind Cadillac on Derby weekend. Marhaba the Champ was sixth where he didn’t appreciate the tongue strap. The grond at Goodwood last time didn’t suit him either as rattling fast ground is what he wants. He hads a wind op at the start of the season and the step up in trip now shouldn’t be a problem and Ryan Moore is booked. What’s not to like?
14:25 – Courage Mon Ami
The Ascot Gold Cup winner got caught out by what was a mess of a race in the Goodwood Cup where Quickthorn built up a huge lead none of the field got close enough to challenge him until it was too late. The soft ground was probably against him too. If we draw a line through that performance – he’s still the one to beat for me as I find it hard to pin my hopes on anything else in this contest as they all take turns in beating each other. Courage Mon Ami is still unexposed and is possibly still improving despite his successes to date.
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15:00 – Action Point (each-way)
The key to this race for me is getting the favourite beaten. Kylian is a terrible price and looks artificially short from early ante-post markets and I’d be shocked if he went off very short. ACTION POINT took a huge step forward winning a Listed race at Newbury and really took the race by the scruff of the neck. He posted really good time figures that day too and that was his first step up to 6f. I’ll take a chance each-way that there’s more to come over this distance.
15:35 – Highfield Princess
It’s worth pointing out that the two-year-olds have a solid record in this race, they tend to run well in it – even if the last winner in the age bracket was 2007 and before that it was 1992. There have been a few placed down the years though and Big Evs getting 24lbs off the favourite in the weight-for-age allowances is huge.
However, Highfield Princess is a proven mare who went on a great run towards the end of last season winning three Group 1 races in a six-week period, including this contest. She had a slow enough start to the season this year in terms of wins, but she has been running very well and just a bit unfortunate to bump into a few good horses.
She went too quick from the front at Ascot and just did well to stick it out and was narrowly beaten by Bradsell. She’s proven throughout the year that she excels later in the season, and she bounced back to form last time out at Goodwood last time winning by three lengths. I expect her to do the job again this time.
16:10 – Rowayeh
ROWAYEH ran extremely well last time at Goodwood and was probably in the right place that day. She looked outpaced for a long time and just stuck it out over an inadequate trip. She steps up to 10 furling now for the first time and she’s a half sister to a 12 furlong winner and her pedigree is all about stamina. I expect her to improve way past her handicap mark going up in trip.
Shadwell Stud really cut down on their horses over the last few years so I always like their runners in the handicaps as they usually do improve into Stakes’ performers. Owen Burrows is a master at bringing horses slowly along for the big day as he’s very patient with them.
Joe Logue’s York Tips
13:50 Marhaba the Champ (each-way)
14:25 Courage Mon Ami
15:00 Action Point (each-way)
15:35 Highfield Princess
16:10 Rowayeh
*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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