The Skybet Dash at York looks as open as ever and with the quick ground returning we should start to see large swings in form-lines.
Kimberella wouldn’t be winning out of turn here. But has been the victim of his own success having held his form very well this season – when there has been cut in the ground – and is now 12lbs above its last winning mark as a result. He’ll be bang there, but I see him coming up short again with his task no easier today.
Last year’s winner Tanzeel can be brilliant on his day, but is difficult to call right. It would be no surprise to see him bounce back after his disappointing season opener and could be well-handicapped racing off just a 2lb higher mark than his victory in this last year. This is very competitive though, and the 11/2f is not overly tempting as he flopped on his reappearance.
At a bigger price, Richard Fahey’s TATLISU could be on a handy mark back on better ground, and the bookies might just be underestimating the first-choice stable runner’s chances at 16/1.
He raced better than the bare form suggests last weekend, and must still have plenty in the tank with a quick reappearance. He has three top 4 finishes in his last four appearances at York, so he clearly enjoys himself at the course.
His draw in stall 8 is ideal with plenty of pace around middle-to-low numbers which should help him get a decent toe in to the race.
His last victory was an Ayr Silver Cup (6f, gd) on Sept-15 racing off a 1lb higher mark. This has been the first race since that success where he has truly got his conditions and perhaps, more crucially, respite from the handicapper. He might be primed for a bold show.
The improving INTISAAB is also getting backed. The introduction of cheekpieces has brought about massive amounts of improvement in this lightly-raced five-year-old.
Two wins in his last four starts with two runner-up spots carry with it a 15lb burden, but claimer Shelley Birkett has been getting a great spin out of him of late. She won with a hands-and-heels ride at Ayr last time out, and although the margin of success has been small, the manner of the victories have been impressive.
This is a big step up, but you could argue that given the recent upturn in performances that he looks less exposed than several others do here. His penultimate start was at York, when he finished 2/19 on gd-sft having raced away from the pace. A fine performance considering the going was also against him.
We think David O’Meara can bring about the necessary improvement in this former Dermot Weld juvenile, and he can win this with the yard now back in-form.
1pt win Intisaab @15/2, 16:10 York
0.5pt EW Tatlisu @16/1, 16:10 York (skybet paying five place, 1/4 odds)