Racing
York Place 6 Preview: Euchen Glen a value outsider
Jack Nunn has taken a look at the racing at York on Saturday and delivered a top notch York Place 6 preview. Read his tips for the Boosted £7,000 Place 6 and join his Syndicate.
York Place 6 Preview
12:15 – Novice Stakes
A 5 furlong 2-year-old Novice Race to kick things off our York Place 6 preview on John Smiths Cup day.
This does not look the strongest of novice races at the course with only the 4 runners going to post. Normadic Empire brings the best form to the table and could potentially be smart, running a good race to finish 3rd over Course and Distance on debut, behind Windsor Castle third, Muker. That is strong form and a repeat of that would make him very hard to beat with improvement likely.
Ancient Times and Max Oclock are two unknown quantities who have no previous experience, while J R Cavagin made an encouraging debut behind the useful Ubettabeleiveit at Doncaster, and with improvement likely a case can also be made for him. For the purposes of the Place 6 it is worth having 4 lines covered here.
Selections: Normadic Empire, Ancient Times, Max Oclock and J R Cavagin
12:45 – Handicap
A very competitive 5-furlong Handicap Sprint where it is hard to look past the front two in the market, Garsman and Chairmanic. Garsman has been ultra-consistent this year having only been out of the first two once in 6 starts. On his last run he arguably ran a career best when going down by only a neck to the talented Rayong at Pontefract. His prominent running style will suit the 5 furlongs at York and Group 1 winning apprentice, Cieran Fallon takes off a valuable 3lbs.
Another horse on the upgrade is Chairmanic who scored nicely on his handicap debut at Haydock after some nice runs in Maiden and Novice company. The drop back to 5 furlongs could eek out more improvement after he travelled so strongly last time out and he can run another good race here. Things did not go right for Clareyblue last time after running a good race on handicap debut. He still retains lots of potential and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to form here.
Selections: Garsman, Chairmanic, and Clareyblue
1:20 – Novice Stakes
The third race on the card is a 1-mile Novice race where a very interesting newcomer makes his debut in the form of El Ray. The Kevin Ryan trained 3-year-old colt is a half brother to recent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix of Spain. Every single one of his brothers and sisters have managed to win a race, with not just Phoenix of Spain performing to a very high level and it would be surprising if El Ray did not show a large degree of ability on his debut.
Of the horses with experience Tasaamuh made a very encouraging debut when third at Kempton after getting too far back in the field and running green before finishing with a flourish. She should come on for that and looks likely to go very close here. My Oberon should also take a massive leap forward from his debut after also running green and finishing strongly as he hit the rising ground at Newmarket in what was a very strong Novice race. These 3 all look very interesting well-bred 3-year olds who could all have a big future ahead of them.
Selections: El Ray, Tasaamuh, and My Oberon
1:55 – John Smiths Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3)
Only the five runners go to post for this Group 3 staying contest, the fourth leg of the York Place 6 preview.
Universal Order would be my pick here after winning a similar contest at Newmarket last time out, shaping as if the extra 2 furlongs will suit. He is very consistent, improving and should come on for his last run. The main danger could be Moonlight Spirit who showed very good form last year over staying trips before disappointing in the Gold Cup. That run can be forgiven as he probably did not stay, especially on the soft going on his seasonal debut. If he bounces back to form here, he could prove hard to beat, however there are question marks over how much his last run will have taken out of him.
Selections: Universal Order and Moonlight Spirit
2:30 – John Smiths Cup Handicap
Always one of the most fiercely competitive Handicaps of the summer, the John Smiths Cup is a race that is often a long-term target for many horses before the season starts.
The four I have chosen here include the last two previous winners of the race – Pivoine and Euchen Glen. They were both impressive winners of the race, with Euchen Glen taking the spoils in 2018 with an impressive 2.25 length victory over subsequent group 1 placed Thundering Blue. He made all that day and could again race prominent which may suit in a race where there are not too many obvious pace setters.
He was off for nearly two years after this before an encouraging comeback when third to subsequent group 2 scorer Red Verdon. Euchen Glen then ran very well in the Old Newton Cup, taking up the running on the bridle 2 furlongs out before fading into 9th on the soft ground. Down in trip here on better ground I think he can run a big race if the long absence before those two runs hasn’t done him much harm. He is only 3lb’s higher than when he won the race and if reproducing anything close to that would see him go well here.
Pivoine is 2 from 2 here at York over course and distance taking this race last year off only 2lbs lower. He was then tried in higher class subsequently and ran some good races in defeat. Despite not performing quite so well this year, it looks like this has been the main target and everything looks perfect for him to run a big race here.
The other two that take my eye are Fifth Position who looked to be crying out for the step up to 10 furlongs last time where he won nicely. He looks like he has a big race like this in him and can run well here.
Great Example is also very interesting on his seasonal debut after running two excellent seconds off 4lbs lower towards the back end of last season. With the talented Cieren Fallon taking 3lbs off, he is effectively only 1lb higher than for these runs and better off with current favourite Caradoc on their close finish at Newbury last season.
Selections: Pivoine, Euchen Glen, Fifth Position, and Great Example
3:05 – City Wallis Stakes (Listed)
The final leg of the York Place 6 preview and it is hard to get away from the brilliantly consistent sprinting pair of El Astronaute and Major Jumbo. Both horses always seem to run their race. A repeat of Major Jumbo’s run behind Far Above in the Palace House Stakes would see him go very close here. He then ran an ok race to be third in the Chipchase stakes at Newcastle. A return to 5 here at York looks sure to suit having won over course and distance in the past.
El Astronaute also loves York and returned this year in spectacular form, looking as good as ever. The five furlongs here suit this front runner massively and it would be surprising were he not to go close again.
Selections: El Astronaute and Major Jumbo
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