Hen commands respect in York dash

Saturday’s racing fare is all about future stars. While all eyes are looking ahead to next week’s Royal Ascot, there is plenty of prize-money to be had at York, where the Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap is worth £100,000.

The 6f handicap for three-year-olds is loaded with unexposed horses, and won in the past by the likes of Henry Candy’s subsequent dual Group 1 winner Twilight Son, who beat another Group winner in Magical Memory (third) in 2015.

No fewer than 20 runners go to post for the dash. The Easterby yard has saddled three of the past five winners of the race, with Tim Easterby scoring with Golden Apollo last term.

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He is dual-handed again with European Free Handicap fourth Staxton and Pontefract novice scorer Angels, who takes a step up in class following defeat as favourite in a her first try in handicap company at Carlisle last time.

Richard Fahey saddles four runners, with Gabrial The Saint on a hat-trick following successes at Chester and Leicester. Fahey said: “Gabrial The Saint is progressing really well and you can’t knock his last two wins. The handicapper had his say and put him up 11lb for the second of those but he’d have won with that much more there and hopefully he can still be competitive.”

Preference, though is for Commander Hen (3.35, York), trained by Kevin Ryan. The Siyouni colt showed plenty of speed over 7f here last time and tries 6f for the first time, having exclusively raced over further. There was plenty to like about the way he won at Chelmsford in February and he is well drawn in stall four. At around 12/1, he rates as each-way value.

York also offers a decent Listed contest in the shape of the Grand Cup Stakes, where Frankie Dettori, who is being very cautious with his rides ahead of Royal Ascot after missing the meeting last year through injury, partners the John Gosden-trained Weekender (3.00, York). The fact that he is riding at all after missing what he describes as “racing’s Olympics”, is a tip in itself. He went off a little too quickly at Sandown last time in a Group 3 contest but looked an improving young stayer previously, and while Marmelo holds obvious claims on his fine second in a Group 2 contest at Longchamp last time, the value in the 1m6f contest may side with Weekender.

The decent 7f JCB Handicap is also televised by ITV4, and Spanish City (2.35, York) seeks a third win in four starts for Roger Varian, following success over the same trip at Doncaster. He has only gone up 3lb for that and may be able to handle the fair rise.

The terrestrial card kicks off with the 1m4f Queen Mothers’ Cup Handicap for Lady Amateur Riders and Mukhayyam (1.50, York) would appear to hold an obvious chance for the Easterby yard. The six-year-old was runner-up in this last year and appeared to be running into form when a fine second to stablemate Aasheq at Chester last time. He also looks fairly well handicapped, officially rated 2lb below his previous winning mark.

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ITV4 also shows two races from Sandown, with a strong renewal of the Listed 5f Scurry Stakes with last year’s Royal Ascot Windsor Castle Stakes winner Sound And Silence giving 5lb or more away to nine rivals. One of them is the improving youngster Koditime (2.05 Sandown), who was a narrowly-beaten favourite at Windsor last time. It is hoped that the blinkers work again, despite Clive Cox’s runner having a difficult draw to overcome.

On what is a difficult afternoon for punters, it is hoped that a Almoreb (3.15, Sandown) can land the 1m Randox Health Handicap for trainer Richard Hannon and jockey Jim Crowley. The four-year-old has taken a little time to come to the boil this year, but he ran a fair second at Newmarket under today’s pilot on his penultimate start and has run well here in the past. The step up in trip also looks certain to suit.

Saturday’s Selections:

York: 1.50 Mukhayyam, 2.25 Spanish City, 3.00 Weekender, 3.35 Commander Hen, 4.05 Duck Egg Blue, 4.40 Rathbone, 5.15 Fantasy Keeper

Sandown: 2.05 Koditime, 2.35 Shamshon, 3.15 Almoreb, 3.50 Tadbir, 4.25 Ibraz, 5.00 Jamih, 5.35 Vis A Vis

Bath: 1.45 New Street, 2.20 Howardian Hills, 2.55 Be Be King, 3.30 Swift And Sure, 4.10 Poet’s Society (NAP), 4.45 Sir Jamie, 5.20 Indian Pursuit, 5.55 Spanish Star

Chester: 2.10 Dark Thunder, 2.40 Austrian School, 3.10 Lady In Question, 3.45 Angel Force, 4.20 Maghfoor, 4.55 Casterbridge, 5.30 Lorelina

Hexham: 2.15 Hurricane Rita, 2.45 High Jinx, 3.20 The Unit, 3.55 Sweet Holly, 4.30 Kick On Dottie (nb), 5.05 Shine Away, 5.40 Minella Fiveo

Fontwell: 5.50 Versifier, 6.25 Mercian King, 6.55 Mill Green, 7.25 Midnight Bliss, 7.55 The Black Squirrel, 8.25 Midnight Gem, 8.55 Starcrossed

Leicester: 6.10 Chaleur, 6.40 Rita’s Man, 7.10 Etisalat, 7.40 Lashabeeh, 8.10 A Sure Welcome, 8.40 Panko, 9.10 Misty Spirit

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