Horse racing betting: Frankie Dettori all set for another Flying dismount
Connections of last season’s St Leger runner-up Bondi Beach have opted to miss Friday’s Betway Yorkshire Cup (4.05pm) in favour of a tilt at Sunday’s Vintage Crop Stakes back home in Ireland.
His absence has paved the way for in-form Frankie Dettori to potentially ride his fifth winner of the feature race on the final day of York’s Dante Festival aboard the John Gosden-trained FLYING OFFICER.
The evergreen 45-year-old first won the 14-furlong Group 2 prize 25 years ago aboard the Luca Cumani-trained Arzanni and has an outstanding chance of improving on his four wins in the race.
Flying Officer rounded off an impressive season last year with victories at Salisbury and Newmarket before going on to land the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on his final start in October.
He was beaten less than a length on his reappearance a few weeks ago back at Ascot in the Sagaro Stakes when only narrowly failing to shoulder a 5lb penalty.
Given a typically confident ride by Dettori, the six-year-old attempted to make virtually all only to be reeled in late on.
Stepping back up to Group Two company means he lines up this afternoon without a penalty and he should take plenty of catching at 7/4 with Betway.
His biggest danger looks sure to be Luca Cumani’s Second Set who won the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance last term so definitely goes well fresh.
Clever Cookie seems to be returning to his best form but is 5lbs worse off with Flying Officer and would appreciate more rain.
Trainer Mark Johnston has made a great start to the season with his two-year-olds and plenty will fancy his Boater to land the Listed Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (2.55pm).
She showed blistering speed when landing a weak looking maiden at Kempton back in March by seven lengths and could be very special.
That said, she looked far more streetwise than her opposition that day and may well have been a bit flattered by the winning margin.
It’s also a worry that the second, third and fourth have all been beaten out of sight since.
I’m keen to take her on with the Richard Hannon-trained STORMY CLOUDS who seems to be improving with each start.
It wasn’t what she beat at Salisbury last time, it was the manner in which she did it and I’ll stick with her.
The five-furlong handicap (2.20pm) which opens the card looks an impossible puzzle to solve.
We were a bit unlucky with El Astronaute at Chester last week against an in-form Kachy and he may well be the answer back on this more conventional track.
However, a better bet could well be the rapidly improving BARSANTI for Roger Varian in the Betway Jorvik Handicap (4.40pm).
Unbeaten in both starts for his new stable since switching from Luca Cumani, my selection ran out an impressive winner at Kempton when last seen back in March and has relished stepping up in trip.
Ed Dunlop’s Dutch Uncle was beaten four lengths back in second that day and has since won easily at Lingfield.
Dunlop is represented by Oasis Fantasy who bounced back to form at Newmarket last time.
He could well have turned a corner but still remains a risky betting proposition.
A bigger threat could well come from three-time course winner Chancery who loves it on the Knavesmire and won on his last visit here too.
Pointers
Stormy Clouds 2.55pm York
Flying Officer 4.05pm
York Barsanti 4.40pm York