Saturday’s tips: Get into the Spirit at York
Published:
David Metcalf | June 10, 2016
Spirit can rise to the occasion at York
That Is The Spirit can take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the 7f handicap on a competitive card at York (14:25).
The David O’Meara trained gelding is a four-time winner over the trip, including over course and distance, and was last successful when landing a Listed contest at Haydock 13 months ago off a rating of 105.
That Is The Spirit was then far from disgraced when sixth of 13 to Cable Bay in a Group 3 at the same venue, and is potentially very well-treated off a mark of 100 now back in handicap company.
Although well-beaten in the grade on seasonal reappearance, the five-year-old looked in need of the run and had posted a similar effort before scoring at the second time of asking last season.
Mutakayyef holds major claims
In the 1m Listed contest at the Knavesmire (15:00), Mutakayyef can make his class tell to land the spoils.
The William Haggas trained five-year-old has some top class form to his name, including when chasing home Cannock Chase in the 2014 running of the Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Mutakayyef also ran a blinder first time up last season when beaten just a neck by the classy Mondialiste in a Group 3 contest over 1m 1f at this venue when getting chinned close home, and rounded off the campaign with a solid third in a similar grade affair at Newmarket.
The form of those races reads very well in the context of this contest, and Mutakayyef has a good record fresh and hails from a yard that love to get winners at the track and boast an impressive 25% strike rate at it in the last 12 months.
Arab Poet the ace in the pack at Sandown
Arab Poet has caught the eye in both starts this season and looks to hold outstanding claims of getting back on the scoresheet in the 7f handicap at Sandown (13:40) now eased in grade.
The Sir Michael Stoute trained colt had four starts as a juvenile, and ran really well on the third of those when chasing home subsequent 2,000 Guineas runner-up Massaat in a decent 14-runner maiden at Leicester.
Arab Poet went on to round off the campaign with an easy 2 3/4 length success at Lingfield, and was allotted an opening handicap mark of just 83.
The three-year-old ran a cracker of it when chasing home Garcia on return to action at Beverley, and the winner has since gone on to land a valuable handicap at Haydock to be rated 95.
Arab Poet backed that up with a solid one length fourth of 14 to the thriving Oh This Is Us in a competitive class 2 contest at Goodwood off 85, and is going to be hard to beat in this lower grade class 3 affair of just 1lb higher.
Shaden can scamper to success in Scurry Stakes
Shaden has progressive form as a juvenile and, from a plum draw in stall one, looks decent value to make a winning return to action in the Listed Scurry Stakes over the flying 5f (15:20).
The filly won three of her five starts last season when trained by Lady Jane Cecil, rounding off the campaign with a gusty neck success over Only Mine in a Group 3 at Ayr.
Shaden showed bags of early pace to make all and found plenty when challenged, and the runner-up is a useful sort who has scored twice since in Listed and Group 3 company.
That form reads well in relation to this race, and the drop back to a stiff 5f looks sure to suit.
Shaden, who is now in the care of George Scott, is also ideally drawn next to the rail to attack right from the off and is going to be a tough nut to crack if winning the battle for the early lead.
Saturday’s tips
York
14.25: That Is The Spirit (NAP)
15.00: Mutakayyef (NB)
Sandown
13.40: Arab Poet (NAP)
15.20 Shaden (NB)
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