York Placepot: Thursday May 16

Indian Chief looked like a good prospect at Leopardstown

It's the second day of York's Dante meeting and Tony McFadden attempts to land the Placepot...

13:45- A tricky start to proceedings with a competitive sprint handicap, but, in our bid to get through the first leg, we will keep a couple of progressive, unexposed sprinters onside, as well as one transformed by a change of yard. Jamaican Bolt is lightly raced relative to most of his rivals and he shaped with real promise on his comeback at Doncaster, travelling extremely well before fading in the final furlong. That effort was over six and a drop back to the minimum trip looks sure to suit. Cheworee finished last season on the up, improving to finish in the places in two competitive events at Doncaster and Newmarket, and she continued on her upward curve when narrowly prevailing on her reappearance at Windsor. She remains capable of better. David O'Meara has already conjured some improvement out of Bedloe's Island and, although he is eight-years-old, he hasn't been with his new yard for long, so there may be more to come.

14:15- Richard Fahey's Ladys First boasts a solid profile, appealing as a consistent, reliable type, and the step up to an extended ten furlongs shouldn't pose any problems. Richard Fahey has his string in good order and a bold bid looks assured. Dalkala has to carry a penalty but she is the class act in the race and, with the prospect of little pace in the race, the French filly could dominate from the front. 

14:45- Indian Chief has a bit to find on the bare form but he is open to plenty of improvement and was visually impressive when getting off the mark on his return at Leopardstown. He was ridden with real confidence by Joseph O'Brien, held up out the back before scything through the field in the style of a good horse, and he can enhance his Derby claims here. It was slightly disappointing that Ghurair couldn't justify favouritism on his return at Newmarket, but that sales race - where he finished behind today's rivals Windhoek and Greatwood - looked like a strong contest and it is possible that John Gosden's charge will come on for the outing. 

15:15- Two For Two hasn't been with David O'Meara for very long, but he has created a good impression in three starts and looked unlucky not to win last time having been hampered early on and, as a consequence, poorly positioned as they straightened for home. There are plenty of exposed types in this race, but that accusation cannot be thrown at Two For Two and he should go extremely close. Navajo Chief has a fine record at York and has been given a chance by the handicapper on his seasonal return, so he is also included in the 'pot'.

15:50- We reach the banker of the day in the shape of the Ed Walker-trained Sound of Guns. Unlucky on her return in the Nell Gwyn, where she was badly hampered, Sound of Guns returns to sprinting and, based on the way she shaped last year, it looks like a good move. Sound of Guns has plenty of speed and the strong-travelling filly should prove too good for today's rivals.

16:25- A bit of a puzzle to solve as many of these two-year-olds haven't run before, but siding with Richard Hannon is never usually a bad move in these events and the Ryan Moore-ridden Exceed And Exceed is the first horse we will turn to. The Charlie Hills-trained Dream And Search has attracted a bit of early market support and makes some appeal based on pedigree so is also worth including in a difficult finish to the Placepot. 

Selections:
13:45- 8, 14, 15
14:15- 1, 5
14:45- 2, 4
15:15- 5, 8
15:50- 8
16:25- 3, 4
= 48 lines

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