Racing betting: Midterm can be Stoute’s seventh Dante winner
Thursday’s Dante Stakes (3.15pm) at York has long been recognised as one of the most important trials for next month’s Investec Derby.
Golden Horn became the fourth colt since the millennium to go on to Epsom glory having landed this historic Group Two prize 12 months ago.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has saddled an impressive six winners including Shahrastani (1986) and North Light (2004) who both went on to land Derby afterwards.
MIDTERM will be making only his third racecourse appearance when he faces 11 rivals in today’s renewal, but the son of Galileo has created a really good impression on both occasions.
On his only two-year-old start last October he ran on late to comfortably win a competitive looking maiden at Newbury.
Last month at Sandown he won their 10-furlong Classic Trial with the minimum of fuss looking better the further he went.
With his stable having made such a bright start to the campaign, he looks impossible to oppose and can continue on his steep upward curve and reward backers at a best-priced 11/8.
Last year’s winning jockey Frankie Dettori surprised a few by deserting ante-post second favourite Foundation in preference for all-weather maiden winner Wings Of Desire.
Both have to step up on what they have shown and a bigger threat may come from Aidan O’Brien’s Deauville if the rain stays away.
The son of Walklikeanegyptian was apparently unsuited by the rain-softened surface at Doncaster when disappointing last time in the Racing Post Trophy.
The day’s proceedings kick-off with a fiercely competitive looking five furlong sprint (2.10pm) with Kevin Ryan’s impressive Newmarket scorer Brando sure to be at the top of most shortlists.
He is undoubtedly progressing at a rate of knots, but the handicapper has punished him with another 9lbs and he will have to have improved again.
I’m prepared to take an each-way chance on TOOFI who is having his first start for the Robert Cowell team and is 9/1 with Betway.
My selection is dropping back to five furlongs for the first time having been competitive in some massive six and seven-furlong sprint handicaps last term.
He may not be thrown in off a career-high mark of 103, but his new stable have a habit of improving sprinters and he looks well worth a try at this new trip.
It’s been nearly seven months since last season’s British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot, but it’s still painful viewing watching JOURNEY being reeled in by Simple Verse.
John Gosden’s filly makes her seasonal bow in today’s Middleton Stakes (2.40pm) and is a confident selection at 9/4 with Betway to continue her rise up the middle distance ranks.
Beautiful Romance may need further, while the Cumani pair don’t look in the same class as Journey.
Finally, a case can be made for nearly half the field in the Hambleton Stakes (3.45pm) over a mile.
Last year’s winner Alfred Hutchinson goes well here at York and recently made an eye-catching debut for his new yard.
If there is one Group class horse in the field it is Godolphin’s Always Smile who may just be in a different class to this lot.
She looks likely to be sent off favourite, but did show her quirks at Royal Ascot last year and may not be straightforward.
Instead, I’m siding with in-form David Elsworth’s MASTER THE WORLD who ran well at Newmarket last time.
He needs a sound surface and is over-priced at 12/1.
Pointers
Toofi e/w 2.10pm York
Journey 2.40pm York
Midterm 3.15pm York
Master The World e/w 3.45pm York