York tips for Wednesday: Idaho poised for victory in Voltigeur
David Metcalf | August 16 2016
Idaho has a Great chance in Voltigeur
Idaho looks a worthy favourite to take advantage of a drop in class and gain a deserved success in the Group 2 Voltigeur Stakes at York (15.05).
The Aidan O’Brien trained colt is a very smart sort who ran a stormer when a 2 3/4 length third of 16 to Harzand in the Investec Derby at Epsom.
Idaho then got much close to that rival when runner-up in the Irish equivalent, battling all the way to the line to go down by just 1/2 a length.
The pair pulled well clear of the third home Stellar Mass who has won twice since, including in a Group 3, and Idaho lost little in defeat.
It was an effort which suggested Idaho was still improving and the form of both his Derby runs sets a clear standard in this lower grade affair.
A reproduction of either effort should be more than good enough to land the spoils, especially as he receives a handy 3lb from main market rival Across The Stars in what looks a two horse race on paper.
Robot Boy weighted to go well
In the 5f handicap that gets proceedings underway (13.55), Robot Boy looks decent each-way value in wide-open and ultra-competitive contest.
The David Barron trained gelding won the consolation race for Scottish Sprint Cup in 2014 before following up in good style at Newcastle, and got back to winning ways on his second outing last season when readily betting Normal Equilibrium by a 1 length at Newbury off a mark of 103.
Robot Boy went on to finish an excellent 3 1/2 length eighth of 18 to Goldream in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, and backed that up with a solid fourth of 18 to Double Up at Ascot off a mark of 106.
The six-year-old is now able rating of 96, 7lb lower than when last successful, and comes into the race on the back of two solid efforts that suggest his time is near.
Connections are also fitting Robot Boy with the blinkers for the first time and if the new headgear has the desired effect the son of Shamardal looks weighted to run a huge race.
The Cashel Man the answer to stayers handicap
The Cashel Man disappointed last time out but looks worth another chance to cash-in on what looks a lenient mark in the 2m handicap (16.20).
Trained by David Simcock, the four-year-old seemed unsuited by the undulations of Goodwood and could prove a different proposition now returned to a more galloping flat track.
The Cashel Man improved throughout last season when winning three of his four races, and in the last of those over 2m at Newmarket came from off the pace to forge clear to beat the now 103-rated Amour de Nuit by five lengths.
It was a dominant display which suggested the gelding was a stayer that needed keeping firmly onside and that view was confirmed in his two runs this season.
After a highly promising comeback run when a keeping on 1 3/4 length second of 15 to Saigon City in a hot handicap over course and distance the son of High Chaparral shaped far better than the bare result suggests when a five length eighth of 20 to Dannyday in the Northumberland Plate consolation race at Newcastle.
Those runs represent solid form and a handicap mark of 88 looks very exploitable judged on The Cashel Man’s success over Amour de Nuit.
York tips
13.55: Robot Boy (E/W)
14.30: Best Of Days
15.05: Idaho (NAP)
15.40: Highland Reel
16.20: The Cashel Man (NB)
16.55: Nautical Haven
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