The Green, Pink and White Blog (Day 1 Ebor Meeting)

Caption not Required !

Let's hope that we see Sir Henry alongside Frankel at York after his recent illness.  Fingers crossed that he's well enough to watch at the course.

I got so excited when looking at the York card for Wednesday to 'selectively' choose which races to look at in more depth that I got no further than the first race......

14:00 Symphony Group Stakes (Handicap) Class 2 5f 
Stats
With only three previous runnings, there isn't a lot in the way of stats to guide.  A 5yo or 6yo carrying between 9-4 and 9-6 and with a two word name is not going to be a very scientific method of attempting to select a winner!  Mister Manannan is the only runner to tick these 3 boxes and (sprint king) trainer Dandy Nichols assures us that his one or two issues have been sorted out and the owners are coming from the Isle Of Man to watch the race so you never know.
Draw/Running
I have discounted any middle drawn runners as this isn't advantageous.  There is a slight bias towards a high draw and even more for a hold up horse drawn high (unsurprisingly). There is plenty of front running speed with high drawn Le Toreador and Fitz Flyer to ensure a good tow for any closers.  I would suggest that Mass Rally is the likely beneficiary of this scenario.  He is turned out in a hood (known in our house as a gimp mask ever since a horse called Bondage was seen wearing one - true!) as well as blinkers to help him get his head in front at the business end and also has big field form.  Any overnight showers to take the sting out of the ground will be a plus as well.  
Obs
When I see Fallon booked for a Mick Easterby runner in a handicap at a big meeting like the Ebor, my senses click onto full alert.  The pair are teaming up with Ancient Cross in this race and although his last few placings (9-10-8-8) don't look earth shattering (two of these races he was hampered), he has at least been running in class 2s and is now back down to his last winning mark for the first time.  

Skybet are paying out on the first five places which means that I'll be each way on:

• Mass Rally  2nd  (needed a longer neck!)
• Ancient Cross  UP
• Mister Manannan  UP (not quite last - there was one behind him)

15:05 Great Voltigeur Stakes Class 1 Group 2 (3yo)

Stats

Only 3 favourites have won in the past 10 runnings but 9 winners have been in the top three of the betting.  Nine from ten winners have been sired by a group 1 winner. This would leave us with Noble Mission (Frankel's baby brother - full brother).

Draw/Running

With only 6 going to post, the draw isn't so important in this race.  At this level, horses tend to be able to run a race in a variety of ways so the fact that all of them except Thought Worthy have apparently performed best when held up should perhaps not be given too much importance.

Thoughts

I am not convinced that Main Sequence (or his '0/14 in 3yo' and '5/76 overall' at York jockey!) are suited to York.
Al Zarooni and Cecil are both double handed here and both are the top trainers (in this race) at the track.   Thomas Chippendale would need a huge step forward so I can't seriously consider him.  Energizer is the mount of Frankie D who is struggling to ride a winner lately (just 2 from his last 41 rides).  This leaves me pondering between Noble Mission who would be a most popular winner and Encke, the Barzalona booked adversary.  These two are so closely matched it's almost impossible to split them. Noble Mission is a group (3) winner who beat Encke on the nod last time out at Goodwood.  Then again Encke has more potential to improve this time.  They both go on good, good to firm or soft.  So at decent(ish) prices, I shall dutch them and put a reverse forecast (how's that for a cop out?) and if they dead heat then I will gloat forever.

• Noble Mission  UP
• Encke  UP

Note to self - if you going to read the race correctly then back the right horse doh!

PS:  Really I want Noble Mission to win....but I was always taught "I want doesn't get" so "please may Noble Mission win, please"?

When the Betfair server sent down on Sunday afternoon (again!), it prompted me to revisit my opened but never used Betdaq account.  A revelation!  Once you get used to the exchange layout it's really quite usable.  For those wanting to put small stakes on, the minimum bet on the exchanges is 0.50p and the best feature of all is that you can watch any race when logged in with a bet on at least one race so put a bet on the last race of the day!