York Placepot: Wednesday May 15

York's Dante meeting gets underway on Wednesday.

Timeform's Matt Gardner attempts to land the Placepot on the opening day of York's Dante meeting...

13:45 - It is possible to make a case of sorts for the vast majority of the contenders in the opening leg but the pair we have settled on for Placepot purposes are Ruscello and Silvery Moon. The first mentioned arrives here on an upward curve having taken his form to a new level on his last two starts and he remains on an attractive mark having shaped well on his seasonal bow at Kempton last month, whilst Silvery Moon, trained by Tim Easterby, looked in need of his return at Pontefract last time and has now dropped below his last winning mark. The six-year-old ran well on his second start of last term, finishing second in a decent race at Ripon, and he is expected to strip fitter now he has a run under his belt. 

14:15 - Non-runners have taken this field down to 15, leaving us with just the three places to aim at, so we will need to take a few in order to make it through. The first to make the cut is Farlow, who hasn't been with Richard Fahey for long and looks to be building up to something when judged on his latest effort at Doncaster, and it is also worth including Singeur, who travelled well for a long way on his return at Pontefract, when fifth to York Glory, and is certainly not one to be writing off. We're also going to stick in Mass Rally, who can be a law unto himself but went close more often than not last year and seems certain to be competitive this afternoon. 

14:45 - The Musidora Stakes really boils down to just the two, namely Liber Nauticus and Woodland Aria, both of whom have tasted success on their only visits to the track. Given the competitive nature of this card we need to bank in here and the one chosen is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Liber Nauticus, a close relative to the top-class Conduit, who could hardly have been more impressive at Goodwood last year, should make above-average improvement and rates as an exciting prospect for this season. 

15:15 - I really fancy Swiss Spirit to go well here, with the four-year-old making his debut for new trainer John Gosden; he was gradually progressive last year and has always struck as one that could make an impact at the highest level. Slight reservations over the easing of the ground have led to me also including Hawkeyethenoo, who shaped well on his reappearance despite not being seen to best effect and out to come on for that outing. 

15:50 - Cockney Sparrow, who made up into a useful juvenile hurdler over the winter, looks to be on a handy mark now returned to the Flat and she appeals as being a decent starting point in the penultimate leg. We're also going to stick in Opera Box, who hasn't stood much racing but has looked most promising on the occasions that she has made the track, particularly so when finishing second to subsequent Newmarket winner Boonga Roogeta at Doncaster on her handicap debut last time. 

16:25 - Steventon Star is likely to take up a hefty chunk of the Placepot pool in this leg but he meets six horses who have all won, so this is far from a simple assignment; we're going to take him on with a couple, namely Peniaphobia and Extortionist in the hope that the favourite misses out. The former won with a bit to spare at Pontefract earlier this month, getting the better of a couple of next time out winners, despite obvious signs of inexperience and he seems sure to improve whilst Extortionist looked above average in making a winning start at Nottingham and it would come as no surprise were he to step up on that now. 

Selections:
13:45 - 6, 11
14:15 - 4, 10, 16
14:45 - 4
15:15 - 6, 11
15:50 - 6, 12
16:25 - 1, 3
= 48 lines

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