Who’ll win at York Races? Tips for the John Smith’s Cup Meeting 2014

On the first day of the meeting our tipster Turpin came up with two winners and two second places. How will the highwayman’s selections fare today?

1.40

Navajo Chief squeaked home over course and distance in May. This, though, looks altogether tougher, with Bronze Angel and Dusky Queen with sound claims.

But Turpin’s hard-won cash will be firmly on Easterby’s Royal Rascal, edging nicely into form with a good second at Newcastle just 14 days ago.

A decent price could see us off to a flying start. Hit The Jackpot, for the Tudhope/ O’Meara partnership, is well regarded and should give longshot backers a fine run for their money with a good chance of making the frame.

2.20

A tantalising handicap, with Al Saham making most appeal. Two runs, two wins already this season, and Fallon up, what’s not to like about that?

Well, Waila for a start! The Stoute filly is a likely favourite and a clear threat.

But Turpin sides with Fallon to get the five-year-old Al Saham home. Top weight Shwaiman exudes class, but ten stone looks to be enough to keep him out of the frame.

Expect a good showing from Balding’s Debdebdeb on a handy ark of 9st 1lb.

2.55

Can Sir Michael Stoute claim the honours in the feature race of the day with the exciting Bold Sniper? The step up in distance from Newmarket’s nine to Ascot’s ten furlongs saw this gutsy gelding move from third to a close second in his first two outings this year. Now it’s time for Moore to steer him one better.

Expect Clever Cookie, seeking a four-timer, and Farraaj to be in the shake-up.

It would be no surprise if Chancery was in on the action close home too.

3.30

Kingsgate Native is Turpin’s idea of a solid investment.

Last year’s winning trainer, Robert Cowell, saw this offspring of Mujadi and Native Force make a bold showing at Sandown just seven days ago – and he is clearly ready to pounce, at the main expense of Mecca’s Angel and G Force.

Cowell’s other runner, Graphic Guest is not without a chance of making the frame.

4.05

Surely, Easterby’s charge Maatmu must end his string of runner-up medals. Tipped off at Doncaster, Beverley and Carlisle, is he doomed to the same fate again?

Mark Johnston will be hoping so, as his Polarisation really caught the eye in his debut second at Southwell last month.

That experience will have done wonders – and he could be great value on Knavesmire.

With five of the field seeing a racecourse for the first time, there are too many unknown quantities to have anything more than a small flutter here. There is a strong whisper for the unraced Ryan/ Moore colt, Flaming Spear too.

Win: Polarisation; EW: Maatmu; Longshot: Flaming Spear

4.40

Turpin is a great believer in the old adage about handicaps: “If in doubt, back the top weight”. In this case, that would be Rhombus.

The Queally/ Mohammed entry did well with third places at both Ascot and Goodwood recently and should go well.

Hot Spice and Great Fighter make the most appeal of the rest. Nashville could be a lively outsider too.

5.15

This looks made for the Fallon-Hills partnership. Kibaar impressed with a win at Ffos Las at the end of last month.

It was a small field, but the colt did more than enough to suggest there is much more to come.

Epithet is the obvious danger, following a good win at Newmarket. But his flop at Haydock, last time out, is a worry, and Turpin is leaving him out of calculations.

Sea Wolf appeals as a contender for the runner-up slot. Bahamian Sunrise has a decent chance of making the frame too.

 

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Friday’s picks (July 11)

Now the Tour de France has sped over the horizon, York Racecourse is on hand to provide the world class sport with the John Smith’s Cup Meeting (July 11-12). Here’s who our tipster Turpin is backing

1.50

Two looking to step up from debut seconds are Eye Glass and Maljaa. The Haydock performance of Maljaa impressed more than Eye Glass’s good Redcar showing, but there is very little between them, and a close finish is in prospect.

The forecast bet appeals strongly to Turpin, who is always on the lookout for value.

Turpin has also heard a strong whisper for the unraced Muhaarib Al Emarat, and any market move should be heeded.

2.20

All but two of these fillies have won at this distance. It’s a wide open contest, and prudent staking is advised. It may pay to follow the market here. If that’s the case, expect a bold showing from Lady Cecil’s Joyeuse, with Emerald Star and Ladies Are Forever to fill the places.

Artistic Jewel appeals as a longshot selection that is just running nicely into form.

2.55

Turpin always likes to find a selection at long odds; but sometimes he just has to go for the obvious. Only a mug punter would oppose the likely favourite, Pres Rapide, a confident selection on the evidence of his comfortable win here last month. Take Dominic Cork or Stanghow to fill the places.

3.30

Bottom-weight Kings Fete is an obvious choice, but Turpin hates to do the obvious thing and will be looking to oppose the Michael Stoute colt. He impressed at Sandown two weeks ago and is clearly the one to beat.

But the likely short-priced favourite makes Turpin turn instead to Saved By The Bell, looking for a four-timer, following recent wins here and at Hamilton and Ripon. The O’Meara/ Tudhope partnership is formidable and could produce a nice-priced winner.

Recent York victor Pearl Castle is expected to go close too. Nicholascopernicus, a competitive second to Al Saham at Windsor last month, will be looking to improve on his poor showing at Knavesmire in May when he didn’t get the easiest of runs.

4.05

Likely favourite Line Of Reason is expected to run well. But Da’Quonde is just coming to her peak and is weighted to make a bold showing at a tidy price.

Top Boy, Algar Lad, Bondi Beach Boy and Soul Brother all have strong appeal in this highly competitive sprint handicap.

4.40

Can Micky Hammond repeat last month’s Knavesmire success with Only Orsenfoolsies?

We expect a bold showing, but this ten-furlong handicap is wide open and tailor-made for Bishop’s Castle, a recent second at Doncaster over a mile. The extra two furlongs should be enough to make all the difference.

Red Warrior, second at Windsor last month in a 1m 2f handicap, is expected to make the frame.

5.10

Shot In The Sun was eye-catching at the Dante meeting and must be included in the shake-up. But Turpin reckons he saw something really special in Naggers on his second at Pontefract behind the handy Boy In The Bar a few days ago.

The jockey change (Brennan up instead of Lee) might be all that’s needed to get that little extra over the testing seven furlongs. Captain Midnight and Zain Empire are best of the rest