I’m backing DIPLOMA to win the Group Three at 14:15 at York after she won so easily when last sighted here at the track from another filly, Fireglow, who has since won a competitive race at Goodwood.
With ground, track and trip all in her favour she is perhaps generously priced as a 3/1 favourite with most of the opposition being fully exposed.
As the only three-year-old in the race and the only filly, she gets a big weight allowance and this looks like a nice opportunity to win her first Group race.
The Godolphin-owned Scottish looks the chief threat after a series of good efforts at this grade, but he had a hard race just two weeks ago where he placed second behind a winner who ran well in a competitive Group Two at Chantilly last Monday.
There doesn’t seem to be much wrong with that form at all and he’d be a rock-solid each-way bet should you want to play that way.
However, I’m also intrigued by the entry of YORKER, a South African multiple Grade-1 winner who hasn’t raced since 2014 and is now in the care of William Haggas.
He’s got an entry in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October so must be fancied for big things, however we’re all guessing how sharp he’ll be after such a huge break.
At 16/1 though I think he might be worth chancing as there’s every chance he’s the class horse in the race and might not need to be at his best to win.
1pt win Diploma @7/2, 14:15 York, Saturday (Coral)
0.5pt win Yorker @16/1, 14:15 York, Saturday (various)