York Dante meeting: Friday’s tips
David Metcalf | May 12, 2016
Hat-trick beckons for Barsanti
Barsanti has won his two starts this season in devastating fashion and can make light of a hike in the weights to land the hat-trick in the 1m 4f handicap on the final day of York’s Dante meeting (16:40).
The gelding shaped with promise in four runs last season when trained by Luca Cumani, but has taken his form to a new level since joining Newmarket handler Roger Varian.
After easily landing landing a class 5 handicap at Chelmsford by 3 1/4 lengths despite still showing signs of greenness, Barsanti defied a 10lb rise to land the competitive class 2 Rosberry Handicap at Kempton in scintillating style.
The three-year-old travelled powerfully on the heels of the leaders, and after being produced to take up the running two from home shot clear to win easing down by four lengths from Dutch Uncle off a mark of 85.
Dutch Uncle is a decent sort who brought strong form into the race and has won since, and the manner in which Barsanti disposed of him suggested that he could be a Group horse in the making.
If that is the case, then a further 11lb rise is unlikely to be enough to prevent the ultra-progressive son of Champs Elysses going in again.
West Drive weighted to strike on handicap debut
In the 1m 4f handicap that closes proceedings (17:40), West Drive can take advantage of what looks a lenient mark to provide Varian with a double on the card.
The colt had just three runs as a juvenile, and shaped really well on the second of those when staying on after a slow start to finish a 2 3/4 length fifth of 15 to Algometer over 1m at Newmarket.
Algometer has gone on to finish runner-up to Midterm in a Group 3 at Sandown to be rated 109, and the second and fourth have won since to give the form a rock solid look.
West Drive backed that up with a solid second to Good Trip at Nottingham, finishing 5 3/4 lengths in front of the fifth home Biodynamic who is now rated 94.
Judged on those two runs the assessor has taken a real chance in allotting West Drive an opening mark of just 79, and the son of Derby winner Sea The Stars looks a potential handicap blot.
The step up in trip also looks sure to suit, and West Drive looks the type who could take off now going down the handicap route.
Selections
14.20: Excessable
14.55: Stormy Clouds
15.30: Thetis
16.05: Second Step
16.40: Barsanti (NAP)
17.10: Azagal
17.40: West Drive (NB)
Related
You’ll find more Dante meeting race previews and tips on Coral’s York page.
