What they’re tipping for York: Saturday July 28
Race | 2.05 | 2.35 | 3.10 | 3.45 | 4.20 | 4.50 | 5.20 |
YorkMix | Certral | Quick Wit | Planteur | Van Ellis | Bachoteque | Itlaaq | Our Diane |
Sporting Life | Anjaz | Haamaat | Wigmore Hall | Farlow | Burning Blaze | Dazinski | Blue Lotus |
At The Races | Popular | Noble Citizen | Planteur | El Viento | Bachoteque | Dazinski | Three Crowns |
The Sun | Anjaz | Citrus Star | Wigmore Hall | Head Space | Ajmany | Dazinski | Three Crowns |
Daily Mail | Hippy Hippy Shake | Dimension | Jet Away | Kaldoun Kingdom | Titus Titan | Dazinski | Lady Poppy |
The Times | Anjaz | Dimension | Wigmore Hall | Van Ellis | Medicoe | Eagle Rock | Our Diane |
Daily Telegraph | Certral | White Frost | Premio Loco | Colonel Mak | Burning Blaze | Reem Star | Dutch Masterpiece |
Guardian | Anjaz | Citrus Star | Sri Putra | Van Eillis | Bachoteque | Eagle Rock | Mayfield Girl |
GG.com | Hippy Hippy Shake | Quick Wit | Afsare | Klynch | Ajmany | Bilidn | Dutch Masterpiece |
If music is your first love, and racing is your second you’ll be in seventh heaven this weekend.
Because it’s the return of the fabulous Music Showcase Weekend at York Racecourse.
Topping the music bill are reality TV stars turned pop band McFly (or should that be the other way round?) They hit the stage tomorrow night.
And a host of Eighties legends are performing on Friday night, including Tony Hadley and Marc Almond. Before all that, however, there’s the little matter of horse racing to attend to. See below for Graham Orange’s full guide to the meeting.
In the meantime, our tipster Dick Turpin is hoping to improve on his results from York’s last meeting. His picks top our tipsters’ table, everyone’s predictions in one handy print-out-and-throw-away format.
Whoever you back, have a great day of racing and music.
What they’re tipping for York: Friday July 27
Race | 6.00 | 6.30 | 7.00 | 7.30 | 8.00 | 8.30 |
YorkMix | Henry Allingham | Barney McGrew e/w | Mandeville e/w | Elas Diamond | Dubai Dynamo | Lupin Pooter (nap) |
Sporting Life | Miss Ellany | Green Park | Related | Momentary | Lord Aeryn | Lupin Pooter |
At The Races | Henry Allingham | Green Park | Related | Elas Diamond | Anderiego | Pea Shooter |
The Sun | Henry Allingham (treble) | Barkston Ash | Related | Firdaws | Barren Brook | Lupin Pooter |
Daily Mail | Sound Advice | Showboating | Ebn Arab | Mid Mon Lady | Dubai Dynamo | Almond Branches |
The Times | Giorgio’s Dragon | Showboating | Related | Mid Mon Lady | Crown Counsel | Lupin Pooter |
Daily Telegraph | Henry Allingham | Medici Time | Red Refraction | Emirates Queen | Anderiego | Just Like Heaven |
Guardian | Eastlands Lad | Barkston Ash | Red Refraction | Mid Mon Lady | Dubai Dynamo | Almond Branches |
GG.com | Henry Allingham | Prodigality | Related | Mid Mon Lady | Anderiego | Lupin Pooter |
Graham Orange of Go Racing In Yorkshire previews the two-day meeting which starts today
York’s two-day Music Showcase weekend on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, supported by Sky Bet, combines Pattern race quality action on the track and live performances on the music stage after racing has finished by some of the best known artists from the Eighties to the present day.
On Friday evening, racegoers will also be able to see live coverage of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on dedicated screens.
Some of the biggest names from the Eighties – Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet, Marc Almond, ABC and Altered Images will perform on Friday evening. At the conclusion of racing on Saturday afternoon, McFly known now as much for their reality TV appearances as for their chart hits, are sure to prove a big hit when they take to the stage.
The only evening fixture of the season at York gets underway at 6pm on Friday with gates open at 4pm.
The richest-ever evening card at York ever staged has as its highlight the fifth running of a Listed race for fillies and mares, the EBF Stobart PJA Testimonial Lyric Stakes offering a total prize fund of £35,000.
As the name suggests is part of programme of events that will raise money for injured jockeys, specifically Rodi Greene and Phil Kinsella who suffered life changing riding injuries. The Stobart Group are supporting the occasion demonstrating their support of riders, an ongoing partnership with the Professional Jockey’s Association (PJA) that sees the leading haulage company also facilitate an insurance scheme that will help any jockeys in the future who suffer career ending injury.
The fundraising activity has been switched to York after Carlisle lost it’s evening fixture to the weather. Leading riders from both the flat and jumping codes will sign autographs and help racegoers find some winners. Last year, Frankie Dettori won the big race aboard Sajjhaa so some star signatures should be on offer.
Also featured on Friday evening is The Sky Bet Mobile Stakes (one mile) – part of Sky Bet’s commitment to The Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival, with this meeting part of the initiative that links the eight flat courses in the county over nine days of fantastic racing.
Apprentice jockeys are in the spotlight in the opening race, The Future Cleaning Services Handicap Stakes. Tourism body Welcome To Yorkshire supports a handicap contest for three-year-old sprinters, as part of their Back Le Bid campaign to host the Grand Depart of the Tour de France 2014.
Handicap sprinters take part in the second race, The Seddons Property Services Stakes, while two-year-olds are catered for in The Batleys Cash & Carry Maiden Stakes.
Away from the track, the Minster FM team will also be broadcasting from the course prior to racing.
Saturday’s quality seven-race programme, with over £200,000 in prize money, starts at 2.05pm with the entire card sponsored by Sky Bet.
The principal race on Saturday is the seventh running of The Sky Bet York Stakes, a £100,000 Group 2 contest, run over the extended one mile and a quarter, won previously by the powerful Newmarket stables of Sir Michael Stoute, John Gosden and Godolphin (twice), Luca Cumani and Sir Henry Cecil.
The latter produced last year’s winner, Twice Over, a precursor to the colt’s success in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes – the flagship race on the opening day of next month’s Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
Also featured on Saturday’s strong card is the ninth renewal of The Sky Bet Dash. This £50,000 competitive Handicap is contested by sprinters over six furlongs. Last year’s winner was Hoof It – part owned by top golfer, Lee Westwood and trained at Sheriff Hutton near York by Mick Easterby.
Both days of this meeting are part of the 2012 Yorkshire Racing Summer Festival, a partnership between the eight flat courses to showcase all that is best regarding racing in the county.
There’s a special racecard competition each day of the festival up to and including the final day at Pontefract on Sunday, with the overall winner receiving a luxury break for two at Goldsborough Hall near Knaresborough.
Former racehorses now in the care of New Beginnings, a Yorkshire-based community interest company, are in attendance throughout the festival including on Saturday at York, enabling racegoers to see them at close hand.
Also on Saturday, racegoers will be able to obtain information regarding some of the local racing syndicates and racehorse ownership from the Go Racing in Yorkshire mobile information unit.
A quintet of giant screens will enable racegoers to enjoy even more of the action from both the track and the stage on both days. The popular totepool Punter’s Panel takes place prior to racing helping racegoers to identify possible winners.
For the best in racing and live music York is the perfect venue.