York Races

York races family fun day had something for people of all ages. With various activities from paw patrol to face paint and games and so much more. The pony races saw the stars of the future take to the stage. The races provided a competitive hard to call card. Platform Nineteen continues its winning streak having its four timer.

The first race had four horses in a row with a slight lead to Clan Royale, tracked by Alben Spirit, No Mercy, Ishvara and Lady Nectar. Unifier dwelt towards the rear and Leapers Wood had a tricky start before chasing the leaders. Halfway along the race headway was made by Unifier but  Willing To Please began to chase the leaders. With two furlongs to go Alben Spirit moved up the field with Sam's Call, Ishvara and Leapers Wood being ridden out. One furlong out Clan Royale was leading comfortably with Unifier beginning to challenge. Alben Spirit was close too. Unfortunately No Mercy's jockey Ben Curtis lost his whip effecting his running going into the final furlong. The rest of the field in the closing stages merely kept on whilst despite drifting Clan Royale held on well. Unifier just couldn't catch the leader. First was Clan Royale by a neck to second Unifier by 2 lengths. Third was Alben Spirit. The second was well worth an each way bet coming in at 66/1!

In the 2:55 Dakota Gold made the running, tracked by Danzeno, Yolo Again, Marnie James and Perfection. Rock On Baileys was towards the rear and Princes Des Sables raced wide on the stands rail. Marnie James and Rock On Baileys moved towards the front at two furlongs out as Perfection made an effort. But some of the field weakened. At one furlong out Dakota Gold was driven along but it was clear from here he would not be caught. Danzeno did try to challenge as did Marnie James. But eventually Perfection, Marnie James and Danzeo kept on at the same pace. The winner was Dakota Gold by 1 3/4 lengths to Danzeno by 1 3/4 lengths and third Marnie James by 3/4 lengths.

York races

The glorious sunshine had the ground firm, despite many believing that the ground would be softer due to predicted rain. In form trainer Declan Carroll had another winner at York in the first race with Spartan Fighter, only adding to his tally for this year. Also apprentice jockey Cian Macredmond rode a winner on the day at a 22/1 shot, showing the ability he has to bring the best out of the horses. I tipped Archie Perkins a few weeks ago to win on firmer ground. This prediction came true in the fourth race on the card. Additionally Danny Tudhope had a double on the day, dominating the first two races.

The second race had Oasis Dream running alone on the far rail setting the pace whilst on the other side the leader was Final Rock. He was tracked by Anythingtoday whilst Speed Company, Dance King and Maifalki were held up. These positions did not change until three furlongs out where Oasis Dream needed to be pushed along, weakening as the rest of the field moved forward. At two furlongs out the lead was close between Anythingtoday and Oasis Fantasy being chased by Speed Company. The backmarker Maifalki was making headway. With one furlong to go the leader was clearly Anythingtoday while the rest of the field were strongly being ridden including Speed Company, Maifalki and Final Rock. But Oasis Fantasy was headed easily. Anythingtoday went well clear and gamely went on, the others not being able to catch him despite keeping on. First was Anythingtoday by 1 1/4 lengths, second Speed Company by a short head and third Maifalki by 4 1/2 lengths.

The main race of the day was the William Hill Summer Stakes at 3:15. Until the final couple of furlongs it was difficult to see who was leading as many were the same paced. The leading pack included Royal Intervention, Shades Of Blue, Glass Slippers, Foxtrot Lady and Archer's Dream. A few were unsteady at the start and never really got involved in the race. With two furlongs to go some were being pushed along including Archer's Dream and Foxtrot Lady. But others made headway like Fairy Falcon (who managed to challenge the leaders at this stage), Queen Of Desire, Stay Classy and Red Balloons. The lead was taken by Royal Intervention who was hassled by Shades Of Blue. This battle only further developed into the closing stages when it became neck and neck, both vying for the win. The rest of the horses simply couldn't keep up, regardless of  Red Balloons, Glass Slippers, Stay Classy and Queen of Desire staying on well. Royal Intervention and Shades Of Blue were clear of the rest of the field. Royal intervention just found a little bit more than Shades Of Blue winning by a neck. This pair were 3 3/4 lengths clear of the next horse.  Third place by 1 1/2 was Red Balloons, who in the early stages had a lot of cover. Fourth was Glass Slippers.

York races

Friday's meeting at York was dry and cloudy with very few favourites and some big outsiders winning including 25/1 Auxiliary and 22/1 Amnaa. There was also a double for trainer Declan Carroll (Music Seeker 2:20, Shawaamekh 3:30), which gives him a 38% strike rate. Definitely a trainer to watch.

The 2:20 saw Declan Carroll have the first winner of his double and highlighted his skills in finding top apprentice jockeys. The race had Beverley Bullet and Archie Perkins soon competing for the lead before Beverley Bullet took the pace maker position on. They were tracked by Addis Ababa, Ghalib, Sputnik Planum and Empress Ali. Delph Cresent and Music Seeker were held up towards the rear but little changed in positions in the field until 4 furlongs out when Pioneering, Top Notch Tonto and Sputnik began to be driven. Three furlongs out saw steady headway be made by Music Seeker, Addis Ababa, Mikmak and Archie Perkins who were clear of the field. Beverley Bullet at two furlongs out was being pushed along and was being challenged by Addis Ababa. Music Seeker, Mikamak and Archie Perkins. At the one furlong marker there was a battle between Music Seeker and Addis Ababa, they went well clear of the rest of the field. Music Seeker kept gaining momentum and went on to win by 1 length, second was Addis Ababa by 2 lengths, third was Archie Perkins who kept on in the final furlong at the same pace, fourth was Beverley Bullet. The winner was ridden by Cian MacRedmond, a 7lb claimer who keeps the winners coming, this being his 8th winner in total.

The fifth race was a listed race, in which there were only five horses. Throughout the race Wadilsafa and Happy Power were the leading pair. They were chased by Oh This Is Us. Sir Dancealot, Raakib and Alhawa were held up in the rear. These positions did not change until three furlongs out when Wadilsafa quickened the pace, Happy Power responded continuing to be close up. Some headway was made by Sir Dancealot and Oh This Is Us. Happy Power headed Wadilsafa at two furlongs out but Oh This Is Us and Sir Dancealot were both soon pushed along. Raakib Alhawa was never really in contention. In the final furlong Happy Power merely extended the lead to the rest of the one paced field. Happy Power was first by 1 1/4 length, second was Wadilsafa by 2 3/4, third was Oh This Is Us by 3/4 length.

Next blog up date will be Tuesday from Thirsk.

Thirsk and York races

The unpredictable weather meant that there were some surprising outcomes at both York and Thirsk races with some big prices coming in at Thirsk including a 33/1 and 22/1 winner. Both were very fun days for the Go Racing In Yorkshire Festival. Unfortunately Tom Jones was cancelled due to thunder storms not allowing his helicopter to fly, resulting in some very sad members of the crowd.

Thirsk Races

The first race on the card saw the runners split into 2 groups, three horses Raypeteafterme, Dream Of Honour and Baldwin went up the stands side rail and Raypeteafterme led. While the centre had Sosume leading followed by The Defiant and Four Wheel Drive. This changed very little and it looked at three furlongs out as though Raypeteafterme was only keeping on, as Baldwin, Dream Of Honour and Frosted Lass were all making headway. At two furlongs to go Raypeteafterme picked up the pace. Baldwin, Four Wheel Drive and Sosume were then tracking the leader. Many only kept on in the final furlong such as Sosume, Four Wheel Drive, Baldwin and Frosted Lass. Plenty of the field were never involved in the running, Raypeteafterme was quickly driven home to win for trainer Declan Carroll by ¾ of a length, second was Dream Of Honour by a head to third Baldwin. The rest of the field were further behind.  It’s no surprise that Raypeteafterme ran so well after the prior run at Beverley where the saddle slipped potentially effecting its running and nearly unseating Hayley Turner.

The 3:45 had Kyroc in the lead, with the chasers behind being No Lippy, Big Ace and So Hi Storm. Princess Power was slow away and was out back. With two furlongs to go Kyroc, No Lippy and Big Ace were ridden along. At one furlong to go Princess Power began to move up the field but No Lippy, Kyroc and Big Ace kept on at the same pace and some were struggling, So Hi Storm hung left but managed to keep on gamely. First place went easily to Princess Power by 2 lengths, second Kyroc by 1/2 length and third was So Hi Storm by 1 3/4 lengths. 

York Races 

In the 7:30 Snowy Winter was the pace setter leading narrowly to trackers Stage Name, Desert Diamond and Rasima. Singyoursong and Pleasant Surprise were held up at the back. At three furlongs out positions began to change; Desert Diamond and Stage Name began moving further up the field. At two furlongs out Desert Diamond was in touch and joined Snowy White although Stage Name and Singyoursong were going well there was little catching Diamond Desert one furlong out who eventually went well clear of the field who were single paced or keeping. First was Desert Diamond by 6 lengths to Snowy Winter in second and Stage Name in third by 3/4 of a length. In the closing stages of the race there really was no challenge to Desert Diamond. 

We saw a rising new talent in the 8:00 race in the form of seven pound claimer Oakley Brown as he went on to win the race on Third Time Lucky. Lamloom led the race, shadowed by Kings Gift, Bertog and Kaeso.  Presidential, Bravery and Third Time Lucky were in the rear. Kings Gift alongside Withernsea and Bertog made headway at three furlongs out. At two left Third Time Lucky had movement up the field, but so had many of others in the field. In the final furlong Third Time Lucky kept on well just heading Lamloom and Kings Gift, Bertog and Kaeso struggled under the pressure. In the end Third Time Lucky was unstoppable and went ahead to win by 2 1/4 lengths, second was Lamloom by 1 1/1 length and third was Kings Gift by a head. This was another well timed ride by Oakley Brown after being involved in  four professional races since getting his license. He has been placed in every race since converting from an amateur rider. 

Next update will be from Pontefract tomorrow. Let's hope it stays dry without anymore thunder storms. 

York races

A glorious day of racing, with four favourites winning and a double for Ed Greatrex. There were also many close calls, leading to lots of photo finishes. It was also lovely to see retired jockey Sammy Jo Bell in her new job at York Race course and successfully predicting a few horses to win.

The 4:15 had Broken Spear take charge of the race early on with Julius Limbani, Showu and Pacino chasing the leader. This for a lengthy time in the race did not change and I Am A Dreamer was close up with Moyassar was held up. Moyassar made headway along side Julius Limbani and Jfoul but with one furlong Broken Spear was ridden along. Moyassar kept making up ground and I Am A Dreamer began to hang left and quickly took up position of leader as Moyassar challenged. Yet Broken Spear and Julius Limbani had little more to give just keeping on at the same pace. I Am A Dreamer held on strongly for first place by a nose to second Moyassar and third Broken Spear by 1/2 a length.

In the 4:50 Akvavera led the race, being tracked by Desert Diamond and Club Tropicana with Shazzab being well out paced with Brexitmeansbrexit until 3 furlongs out where Brexitmeansbrexit made headway to join Desert Diamond and Akvavera, with Club Tropicana being ridden along. At two furlongs to go Akvavera was ridden along as well and Brexitmeansbrexit who began to give chase. At one furlong out Desert Diamond took the lead from Akvavera and Brexitmeansbrexit who continued at the same pace, Club Tropicana was outpaced. Desert Diamond finished first gamely by 1 3/4 lengths to second Akvavera and third by 1 length was Brexitmeansbrexit the rest of the field reasonably far behind.