Duke of York Stakes: Harry Angel tops market ahead of Tasleet
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York’s Dante Meeting gets underway on Wednesday with the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes.
Seven runners have been entered for the 6f sprint, with Harry Angel the pick of the bunch.
Clive Cox’s star enjoyed a tremendous 2017 by taking home two Group 1 contests at Newmarket and Haydock, including the Sprint Cup Stakes in September.
He failed to deliver on his latest outing at Ascot in October and will be eager to return to the winner’s enclosure with a first victory on his first appearance at York.
The four-year-old acts on all types of ground and is comfortably the one to beat.
His main challenger comes in the form of Tasleet.
Williams Haggas’ runner got the better of his main rival in the British Champions Sprint Stakes when second behind Librisa Breeze.
That was the first time the five-year-old had finished in front of the jolly after ending up well down the field at Newmarket and runner-up at Haydock on his two previous starts.
He’ll need to be at his best to win this one. But he landed the prize at odds of 12/1 last year and is certainly not one to be ruled out lightly.
Brando has been soundly beaten by the main contenders before and will have to go some to upend the top-two in the betting.
The son of Pivotal returned to action with a ¾l second in the Abernant Stakes last month, but that run likely won’t be good enough for him to challenge here. He has each-way claims at best.
Sir Dancelot is another who will need to find more based on his last run at Newmarket. David Elsworth’s charge finished behind Brando that day and is yet to succeed in Pattern Company.
One who could provide each-way value is Perfect Pasture.
Two of the last six winners have come at a price of 20/1 or above, which lends itself to the eight-year-old’s position in the market.
He kept on well to land the Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes at Doncaster in March to make it three wins from his last four outings.
Mick Easterby’s charge is bang in form, and although up against stronger opposition over 6f, he’s one to keep an eye on.
Artistica and Ornate round out the contenders at similar big price odds.
