York best bets: Ziggy’s Missile targets fourth win of year in wide-open handicap

17:20 York:  Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap  (5 furlongs)

A morning shift in the betting has seen growing market support for the Barron yard’s grey gelding Pilgrim, and while last month’s pipe-opener at Newmarket should bring an improvement, his shortening price does not seem very appealing in a race of this nature.

Vantheman and Jubilee Walk will both be looking to build on season debut successes, while top-weighted Hedge Fund enjoyed a productive juvenile campaign and a couple of decent placed finishes in April suggest that he has improved for being gelded over the winter.

Indeed, arguments could be made for at least half of this competitive field, but our final seal of approval goes to Ziggy’s Missile, who has converted some early promise on turf last summer into an impressive spring campaign on synthetic tracks.

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Only one of his four rivals have beaten him in four all-weather starts over the minimum distance during February and March, and that was by no more than the length of Be Here Now’s head at Newcastle on his penultimate outing.

He quickly bounced back to winning ways when last seen at Southwell 47 days ago, and with those competitive runs in the locker, there’s no reason to suggest to won’t convert that form to turf, plus he should strip fitter than most in this early-season line-up.

Those successes have understandably caught the eye of the handicapper, but his six-pound raise has been all but nullified by the useful claim of Sean Dylan Bowen, and he should be relishing his chances on this progressive colt. 

Suggested best bet: Ziggy’s Missile each-way in the 17:20 at York

• Tip advised by Each Way Morning Tips on Tipstrr

Ziggy’s Missile is one of a dozen runners available at double-digit odds here, and that has created a buzz among Tipstrr’s each-way specialists.

Andrew Balding’s capable filly Enchanting has to be worthy of consideration under Hollie Doyle after blowing away a few winter cobwebs on Wolverhampton’s all-weather track three weeks ago, while bottom-weight Stash The Cash could prove better than his current hefty price might suggest.

However pin has finally stuck on Karl Burke’s Indicate, who lines up here as still something of an unknown quantity on his fourth career outing.

Last of seven on debut over six furlongs here last June, he returned from an eight-month break (during which he was gelded) to hit the ground running with a tidy five-furlong win on Southwell’s all-weather track in February.

The jury is still out, however, after he trailed in sixth of nine at Newcastle a month ago, but the application of a first-time tongue-strap could help him on his handicap debut here, while the notable booking of William Buick could prove even more significant.

Alternative each-way punt: Indicate each-way in the 17:20 at York

• Tip advised by Professor Plum’s Plums on Tipstrr

 

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