S.P.Read Esq: York Day One

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the start of the YORK EBOR MEETING and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

Gleneagles is fast turning into a party pooper….

The brilliant dual Guineas winner missed his intended run in the Eclipse (and showdown with Golden Horn) and also missed out on the ‘Duel On The Downs’ which ended up being a Solo on The Downs or at least a ‘Solow’ with the French star winning easily.

And now we have another 11th hour call on whether Gleneagles will grace us with his presence in the Juddmonte International Stakes and what looks, on paper, the race of the season so far with Golden Horn and rising star Time Test set to do battle on the Knavesmire.

Many doubted whether it would ever take place but it certainly looked set to until the pesky rain arrived in York yesterday and has changed the going to good to soft.

A final decision will be made after Aidan O’Brien has walked the course but with ‘soft’ in the going description, sadly, it surely looks odds against. The interests of the betting public and racing fans are often discordant with those of the breeding business.

Without Gleneagles it should be another romp for Golden Horn as I think it’s a massive ask for Time Test who, although impressive at Royal Ascot, was after all only winning a Group 3.

There could well be some interesting results on the York card (and possibly a few more non runners) as most of these entries were made in the knowledge of the ground being faster.

The Great Voltigeur Stakes looks a great race this year and O’Brien has three of the seven runners.

I’m siding with Bondi Beach who will handle the give in the ground and won the Group 3 At The Races Curragh Cup last time out proving his stamina. Joseph is onboard and could give him a day one winner and the perfect consolation should Gleneagles be a non starter.

York can be a treacherous course for distance buyers as I know to my cost – invariably there are close finishes especially in the ultra competitive handicaps. But with the unexpected juice in the ground and question marks over Gleneagles which could leave door open for a runaway Golden Horn success I am tempted with the buy at 9.5 on Star Spreads.

CLICK FOR YORK MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY YORK DISTANCES for 30 points at around 9.5 lengths with STAR SPREADS

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.