Whilst the racing world wonders how Arabian Queen won the Juddmonte, we’re laughing all the way to the bank. We put her up at 100/1 last night and only a 15% rule four deduction took any shine off what feels like racing’s equivalent of the hole-in-one. We’re playing with the bookies’ money now – hoping some of you are too – and with three more days of fantastic racing at York’s Ebor festival, we’re going for the jugular.
Thursday’s big race is the Group One Yorkshire Oaks over 12 furlongs for fillies. It looks a good betting heat. Coincedentally, I was visiting a friend in Ireland last month and visited The Curragh to witness tomorrow’s 3/1 favourite, Covert Love, win the Irish Oaks. She was an eye-catcher in the parade ring and ran out a good winner, beating the re-opposing Curvy and Jack Naylor by a couple of lengths. She benefited from a top, prominent ride from Pat Smullen in a race where the leader set a ferocious pace and had the field well strung out, however, the way Jack Naylor closed from the back in the final furlong raises some questions over the validity of the form, so we want to take her on.
The one I can’t resist is Irish 1000 Guineas winner Pleascach, who might be overpriced at 15/2. Being a Guineas winner over a mile, tomorrow’s extra four furlongs would raise questions over stamina, but she’s already gone some way to prove it when running a good race when second to Curvy in the Ribbesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. That was run on quick ground, yet both of her Group race wins have come with some cut so she’ll appreciate conditions at York – at the time of writing, York’s official going remaining good to soft. She’s only really run one poor race and finished outside the top two since her maiden, which was last time out in the Pretty Polly Stakes won by Diamondsandrubies. That day’s neck-second Legatissimo has since firmly set the record straight by routing the winner at Glorious Goodwood, with Wedding Vow, beaten seven lengths by the selection in the Ribbesdale, flying home in second. The form is like spaghetti so I’m happy to put a line through the race.
Let’s not forget she beat Legatissimo and Curvy in her two-year-old season; she’s capable of beating any of these on her day. Ultimately, she’s a Classic-winning filly that stays 12 furlongs and will appreciate conditions, so she has a great chance.
1pt win Pleascach @15/2, York 15:40 with Paddy Power (Money back as a free bet if second)
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