With 24 hours to go until the start of the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet, the final preparations are being made and running plans confirmed.
Karl Burke who is currently on fire with his two-year-olds has a filly, Stargazed he hopes will continue his current good form, at Ripon on Saturday, July 19.
“She disappointed first time out, but improved on her second run and I think she’ll improve again. If she gets a good draw, she could be hard to catch.”
Gloriously Sassy could take his chance at Redcar on Sunday, for the Middleham maestro, but also holds an entry on Monday at Beverley.
“Wherever he goes he should be pretty competitive and there’s a small chance he might go to both as he wouldn’t have a penalty if he wins at Redcar.”
Karl is also keen on the chances of Victor Cee in the Racing TV EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes at Beverley.
“He’d go there with a chance, it doesn’t look the strongest of races. He probably wants six furlongs but we’ve decided to go for this as it looks an easier option than the Hamilton race he was entered for. A stiff five should suit him well.”
The weather will be key for York runners the following weekend for Karl.
“Royal Champion will run in the Sky Bet York Stakes if the ground is quick. If it happens to rain we’ll make a decision and might enter Royal Rhyme instead, but fast ground for Royal Champion will be perfect.”
Nigel Tinkler has three runners representing the yard at the opening meeting of the festival on Friday, July 18, and he gives Theme Park an each way chance.
“He’s been a little bit disappointing on his last two runs, but he did finish third at Pontefract earlier in the year and I think the hill slows the others down for him.”
Squealer won last time out at York and will take his place in the Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer Festival Handicap. Nigel felt that Ruth Carr’s Reigning Profit was ahead of the handicapper and could be the one to beat.
Golden Duke was second last time out at Pontefract.
“He wouldn’t want a lot of rain as he likes the fast ground, but he does have a chance.”
Roundhay Park is a previous winner at Ripon and lines up again on Saturday, July 19.
“He loves the course and has come down in the weights, so he’ll have to have an each way chance.”
Lima Sierra is likely to line up at Redcar for the courses Circus Family Fun Day on Sunday, July 19, which is an all-apprentice card. He will be ridden by yard apprentice, Alex Jary.
Nigel is also hoping to have three runners in the two-year-old race at Beverley.
Ruth Carr has two runners at Pontefract’s evening meeting, which also hosts a beer festival with Flash – A Tribute To Queen, performing after racing.
Reigning Profit will run in the Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Summer festival Handicap.
“We’re hoping he has a good chance. He ran a blinder at Ascot, he’s two pounds well in and well-drawn in stall one of seven and likes the track.”
The Good Biscuit also lines up in the last race on the night.
“We haven’t found the key to him, but he’s now well handicapped. I think a stiff six might be the key, but we’ll find out on Friday.”
Dawn of Liberation lines up at Ripon on Saturday.
“He was well beaten at York on Friday, but he’s won three this year and is massively up the handicap. Hopefully back in calmer waters he might be a bit more competitive, but may need to come down the handicap.”
Betweenthesticks could go to Doncaster’s evening meeting on Saturday, July 19.
“He’s well handicapped on his best form, but in the last couple of years has hasn’t won off a mark higher than mid 60’s and he’s won two this year.”
Copper And Five could also go to Doncaster,
“He likes a wide track and doesn’t like to be squeezed up, so Doncaster suits him.”
With several entries at Beverley’s evening meeting on Monday, July 21st, Ruth is likely to have some runners.
“South Shore won over five and a half furlongs at Wetherby, so a stiff five at Beverley should suit and we’re hoping for a decent draw.”
“Woodraff is getting a bit better with each run for us, so hopefully he can be in the money.”
At Catterick’s Family Fun Day, on Wednesday, July 23. Ruth is hoping to run Reputation.
“He’s a 12-year-old who ran well enough off the back of a break at Thirsk last time. He’s a been there done it all type, he enjoys his racing, he’s sound and his owners love him, so while he’s still enthusiastic, we’ll keep running him.”
York have a two-day music showcase weekend and on Friday evening, July 25, Ruth could run Fiscal Policy.
“He ran well at York on Saturday to finish fourth and if the draw is kind again, you couldn’t rule out a big run from him.”
“Rousing Encore could go to York on the Saturday. He has already won at York this year and ran well at Epsom on Derby Day, but was unsuited by the lack of pace and cover at Pontefract last time out.
Declan Carroll will have runners at the opening meeting of the Summer Festival as Everydaysasaturday lines up in the first at Pontefract at 6.10pm.
“He’s a nice horse, but a bit of a slow burner and probably one for later in the season.”
Irish Dancer’s participation at Doncaster on Saturday, July 19 depends on his performance at Catterick, but the Malton based trainer could have several runners at Redcar’s meeting on Sunday, July 21.
“Emerald Army will run in the last. We’re dropping him back to six furlongs and I think we might put a visor on him. He goes on any ground, so we’re not worried about the weather.”
“Hickton is likely to go as well, he had his first run for me at Southwell three weeks ago, but ran too keen.”
With two apprentices in the yard, Zac Wheatley and Harry Smith, both will have opportunities at this all-apprentice card.
Time Tells All and Dr Rio, bothy have entries at Monday’s Beverley evening meeting on July 21, but having both won at the course on Tuesday, they are not guaranteed to line up.
Dr Rio has now won at Beverley five times.
“He seems to like Beverley, the style of racing there suits him.”
Later in the week at Thirsk on Friday, July 25, Declan’s two-year-old, Lifeplan, could make his debut.
“He’s a very nice two-year-old by Kodi Bear, but it depends what the ground will be like.”
Alessia Fernanda could line up in The eventmasters.co.uk Handicap Stakes at York on Friday evening.
“We’re dropping her back in trip to seven furlongs, she’ll be quite interesting.”
“Thankuappreciate could run in the six-furlong handicap (The Tomahawk Restaurants Handicap Stakes), he’s a bit tricky and it depends on what mood he is in when he shows up, but he’s very, very capable of winning.”
A fan of the Jump Jockeys Nunthorpe, Declan is hoping to run Fortunate Star in the race.
“He’s been running well, he ran in the race last year and ran quite a good race.”
Charlie Johnston will also be represented in the opening race at Pontefract on Friday night with Born A Star.
“He’s a Starspangledbanner colt and a first runner for the yard for Future Champions Racing syndicate. I’m sure he’ll step forwards from whatever he does on Friday, but it’s a nice starting point.”
“Blessed Star will probably go in the Sky Bet Go-Racing-In-Yorkshire Handicap at Ripon on Saturday. He was second last time out at Pontefract and should benefit from the step up to the mile and a quarter.”
Ludo’s Landing is likely to take her place in the Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap and Charlie explained why,
“it was not an intended target for him, but it’s a poor turnout for a £50,000 race. He shouldn’t really get into the race but there are only seven entries and two are out of the handicap, so it’s not great for Ripon but there probably aren’t enough horses rated 95+ to fill the amount of those races at the moment.”
Paladin, has got entries over the next three days and could turn up at Ripon, Redcar or Beverley.
Charlie is also likely to be represented at Doncaster on Saturday evening.
“I’ll probably introduce a two-year-old called Parisian Scholar, he goes quite nicely and Mdawi in the Skill Step Group Handicap. He was unlucky not to win at Haydock a couple of weeks ago. He was quite green, got going late and would have won in another stride.”
With lots of entries on Sunday at Redcar, final plans still need to be made but Charlie was in favour of the all-apprentice card.
“I think it’s generally a pretty good idea to give these apprentices chance to go racing for three or four races, rather than one, which is often the case. My apprentice Archie Young will ride anything that we do run.”
John and Sean Quinn will start their week at Ripon on Saturday, with Enjoy The Night in the British Stallions Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.
“He’s had a couple of runs and been a bit disappointing, so we hope to see a bit more.”
Said John.
“Good Heavens, will want plenty of rain but he’s got a couple of entries and we hope to run him at Ripon.”
John is also hoping for rain at Doncaster.
“Pink Azalea won well at Carlisle a couple of weeks ago but she likes soft ground and is in good form.”
“Royalty Bay has two entries. She ran well at Chester last time, finishing fifth, but wouldn’t want it too soft.”
“Highfield Viking has been running well without winning. Surely his winning turn is near, he won’t mind rain and he’s a course winner at Doncaster”
The yard could go to Redcar on Sunday with Highfield Comrade.
“He’s in good from, ran ok at Carlisle, he was a bit raw, but ran ok.”
Go Racing In Yorkshire’s sponsored jockey William Pyle is hoping to take advantage of the all-apprentice card at Redcar on Sunday. He said,
“It’s a good meeting for us, with guaranteed rides.
“I’ve got a couple for Katie Scott, I like both of them – they’re both similar, big, scopey fillies. Breizh Sea ran a cracker at a big price at Newcastle a couple of weeks ago and I’ll be looking forward to seeing her at Redcar. Probably the more rain the better for both of them.”
On the flip side, William’s other two mounts prefer better ground.
“Miss Rainbow has scored a hat trick but still has every chance as I think she’s still ahead of her mark, so fingers crossed for a good Sunday.”
The Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet starts on Friday, July 18 at Pontefract and runs through to York on Saturday, July 26.
The Summer Festival Dates are as follows;
- Friday 18th July – Pontefract (eve)
- Saturday 19th July – Ripon
- Saturday 19th July – Doncaster (eve)
- Sunday 20th July – Redcar
- Monday 21st July – Beverley (eve)
- Wednesday 23rd July – Catterick
- Wednesday 23rd July – Doncaster (eve)
- Thursday 24th July – Doncaster
- Friday 25th July - Thirsk
- Friday 25th July – York (eve)
- Saturday 26th July - York