York - Thursday 20th August

Work on York's Thursday card is a bit thin on the ground after not returning from yesterday's attendance until midnight. Still, there are a few fancies today. 

14:25, Harry's Half Million By Goffs

Tokaido 5/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

Sun Goddess is undoubtably the horse to beat in this on all known form but she's had a pretty hard time of things lately and easy ground poses a question. Amy Murphy's star juvenile Tokaido is a worthy adversary and conditions will pose no problem to the classy colt. He must shoulder a heavy penalty but the son of Ubetterbelieveit was a ready winner of a Group 2 last time out and holds big chances despite the weight. 

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15:00, Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap

Cerulean Bay 12/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)
Yorkshire 20/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

Centigate holds obvious chances here and so does last year's winner Bullet Point. It's an open affair though and perhaps it's worth chancing a couple at bigger odds. Cerulean Bay has been knocking on the door all season long and was 2nd in this race last year. Ease in the ground won't hold any fears and this looks a slightly more winnable race than some he's been contesting of late even tough he's off a career high mark. Yorkshire on the other hand has been tumbling down the weights but showed better form when finishing 2nd and 3rd on his last 2 runs. Now Ed Bethell's gelding is returning to form, now might be the time to strike. Odds of 20/1 are appealing. 

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15:35, Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks

Minnie Hauk 9/2, 1.5pts each-way (3 places)

Not many King George winners end up in the Yorkshire Oaks but we have that here in the shape of Andrew Balding's star mare Kalpana. The consistent 5 year old is the one to beat but she has been fallible in her career and it was a hard race she had last time out. Perhaps it's worth chancing Minnie Hauk to bounce back to form. The classy 4 year old filly was the star of last year's division, winning this race by a wide margin before going agonisingly close in the Arc. She didn't run her race in the King George but has otherwise run well this season, as shown when finishing 2nd in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Easy ground will help her let herself down more and she's shown she handles the track. It's may be that she's starting to regress but at the likely odds, she's the preferred play here.