3:05 York – You’re Fired @ 25/1 (each-way)
Backing the winner of a 20 runner handicap at the York Ebor festival, easy enough, right? Maybe not. In all seriousness, though, You’re Fired is a horse who looks to have a decent chance here at a big each-way price. A price that, realistically, is too big.
Having ran well over course and distance on numerous occasions, Keiran Burke’s five year-old really does look over-priced. From five runs at the track he’s won once and placed on a further two occasions. Not only has the gelding performed well around here before, but he also boasts some of the best form on offer in this field and looks, at least on paper, one of the classier types.
Last time out at Goodwood, he finished in mid-division (11th of 19), although the bare form doesn’t exactly tell the full story. On ground that was probably a tad too fast for him, having met trouble and been denied a clear run when making headway, the gelding still finished only five lengths off the pace. Punters shouldn’t be put off by that run.
Apprentice jockey Jordan Vaughan takes off a handy 5lb, although it’s not necessarily just his claim that catches the eye here. Having got the leg-up on two previous occasions, Vaughan has already been victorious aboard You’re fired and seems to have ridden him in the favoured manner (held-up) on both occasions.
Overall, there’s plenty to like about You’re Fired and, at a course that seems to suit, in a race that certainly isn’t beyond his capabilities, the gelding is worthy of an each-way bet.
20:10 Hamilton – Encantar @ 10/1 (each-way)
Onto the last race of Hamilton’s evening card, where it is Ann Duffield’s Encantar that makes plenty of appeal.
This lightly raced filly has shown a reasonable amount of promise in her short career and it is fancied that, at this level, she is a very capable type. Having got her head in front in a maiden, before following up in a class 5 handicap at Carlisle in the middle of last season, she stepped into some very hot contests at York and Ascot. In those races the filly was outclassed, but having dropped back down to a couple of more realistic assignments this season she has performed with credit.
The two pieces of form that catch the eye, in relation to today’s race, are her seasonal reappearance run and her previous win at Carlisle. On reappearance, over the ideal trip of five furlongs (5f) the filly ran on well and was only beaten by a length in what was a stronger race. Her win at Carlisle also came in an event that possessed both more quality and greater strength in depth than today’s contest. Based on that form, she really should be getting involved at the business end here. Last time out the step up to 6f didn’t exactly suit, so it’s worth forgiving that run.
Today’s race really isn’t a strong contest and there are plenty of question marks over the majority of the field. We probably haven’t seen the best of Encantar yet and she’s likely to have a few better performances up her sleeve. But, given that this is a weak looking race, improvement might not be needed. A repeat of either of her two best performances to date would surely see her go close.