TimeformBlog

[b]Thursday at York is Ladies' day in more ways than one, with the fillies and mares taking centre stage in the Yorkshire Oaks. Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham is backing Crystal Capella in the feature and is looking for a big run from a dark horse in the opener on day two of the Ebor Festival.[/b] [b]Capella and Wonder can call the Oaks tune...[/b] The first point to make about the Yorkshire Oaks at 15:40 is that Midday's (and now Snow Fairy's) absence places a completely different complexion on the race. And the second point to make is that new complexion is attractive from a punting point of view. In short, I'm keen to be with [b]Crystal Capella[/b] and [b]Wonder of Wonders[/b] and happy to be against Blue Bunting. Snow Fairy, who is now likely to go to Deauville,...

[b]A slight lull in proceedings this week as the anticipation builds ahead of 'Super' Thursday. Nevertheless Stephen Molyneux has identified a trio of bets at Meydan to keep us going.[/b] The 16:15 is probably the most competitive race on the card but that should at least guarantee a good price about Persiste Et Signe who is taken to reverse form with Sweet Lightning. They were both comfortably put in their place by Golden Sword last time, no disgrace in that, Sweet Lightning finishing second but it was the performance of Persiste Et Signe back in seventh that caught the eye more. He was responsible for a sound gallop and was briefly clear off the home turn, no disgrace in eventually getting swallowed up and he can also be expected to come on for the run given it was his first outing...

Rarely a Carnival meeting goes by without a Mike de Kock-trained winner, yesterday very much an exception, so the South African will be keen to get back on the board today and Absolute Heretic looks to hold sound claims in the 15:50. He very much caught the eye on his reappearance when set loads to do by Jamie Spencer before flying home to finish seventh behind Lolamar, sure to have gone much closer all things being equal. He doesn't boast quite the same profile of most of his stablemates, relatively unproven in pattern company, but at the same time he is still fairly unexposed and the way he was finishing last time gives every hope of him staying the extra three furlongs here. Godolphin have had several imports from Australia over the last year or so and it's fair to say they have ...