DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5
3.15 YORK
The presence of impressive Salisbury scorer, Besieged, is enough to put the fear of god in any of his opponents but he does have the impediment of being off the track for 89 days as a possible concern (not to mention he hasn’t yet raced at York) and CASTLE STEWART could be the one among the pack to take advantage of any fitness issues.
Richard & Peter Fahey’s gelding doesn’t have anywhere near the unexposed profile of the favourite, but he does have loads of solid top-quality handicap form at today’s track to call on and a repeat of any of his last four runs on the Knavesmire should see him the thick of the action again.
His second to Antipodes here earlier in the season was not only extremely good on the data, but the subsequent runs of many in behind him that day have boosted the form, and his effort in the John Smith’s over the same C&D next time was also further proof if ever it was needed.
A solid fifth of 20 in another well-run, big-field Class 2 handicap at the Ebor meeting last time out, he clearly arrives here in good shape and with most firms offering five places, it would be a surprise if he didn’t fill one of those positions.
CASTLE STUART – 1-point each-way@5-1 (five places)
4.25 YORK
MISTER NOBLE took advantage of a golden opportunity at Southwell last time out and that confidence-boosting success can be further built upon back at the scene of his previous two smart efforts over today’s course.
His first trip to the Knavesmire resulted in him finishing a creditable third to the well-handicapped Hallo Spaceboy over six-furlongs and on his return visit a month later, he found only one too good in the shape of Flight Control, who went on to run perfectly respectably against the older horses in the Great St Wilfred next time.
Along with the winner, the fact he pulled well clear of the rest over the C&D back in July suggested he was well ahead of his mark and even off his revised perch of 89, he still comes across as a three-year-old who has a bit left to play with.
MISTER NOBLE – 1-point win@10-3