York best bets: High hopes for James’s Delight among each-way options aplenty
York racecourse
Good luck to anyone left in Saturday’s ITV7 by the time this seven-furlong sprint gets under way, as they’ll have earned their jackpot if they can pick the winner of this wide-open 18-runner handicap.
15:35 York: Churchill Tyres Supporting MacMillan Sprint Handicap (6 furlongs)
The early-morning withdrawal of the strongly-fancied Woodhay Wonder has nudged the other principals one notch higher in the pecking order, and has also created one extra potential spot in the each-way frame.
Of those market leaders, Elmonjed, Ziggy’s Condor and Pocklington each carry serious claims and will all have their backers, but it’s difficult to get excited about odds between 4/1 and 6/1 in a race of this nature.
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Much more attractive are the chances of top-weight James’s Delight, who hit the ground running with debut success at Newbury last July, and wasted no time opening his 2024 account at the first attempt at Pontefract in April.
Clive Cox’s gelding could perhaps be forgiven for finding seven furlongs in Group 3 company too big an ask in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury later that month, and the same applied when last seen in a Listed event at the same venue four weeks ago, when he again finished down the field.
In between those two setbacks, James's Delight landed his third career victory at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting, and a similar bounceback effort is required here.
His two season successes have both come in handicaps, and although this is a slightly higher class, he looks better suited to this kind of company, while the presence of Ryan Moore at the helm will not do his chances any harm.
Suggested best bet: James’s Delight each-way in the 15:35 at York
- Tip advised by HackUp on Tipstrr
With five places widely up for grabs (as many as six in some quarters), each-way options abound, with Imperial Guard, Vince L’Amour and Midnight Affair all carrying tempting double-digit odds but we’re just tipping towards one of Richard Fahey’s useful-looking trio.
Fahey might have lost his main hope in Woodhay Wonder, but his horseshoes might just be filled nicely by Garfield Shadow, who finished a decent fourth behind that stablemate last time out at Newmarket a month ago.
That was this colt’s first taste of defeat after winning both of his juvenile outings last autumn, and then landing a 14-runner handicap over this distance on season debut at Chester in early May.
That defeat came just 11 days after his Chester success, which might have played a part, so he should be in better shape to bounce back after a more substantial four-week rest, and assuming his high draw does not prove to be a disadvantage, he could well carry Billy Garrity into the frame here.
Outsider punt: Garfield Shadow each-way in the 15:35 at York
READ MORE: Saturday ITV racing tips: Best bets for York, Sandown and Chester on June 15
