It could be a breeze for Ride Like The Wind with Spencer on top

Every drop of rain at York – and there may well have been plenty come post time – increases Saunter's chances.

David Menuisier’s French recruit looked very smart last summer, winning his maiden by five lengths and easily following up off a mark of 90 on his handicap debut at Goodwood.

A 9lb rise looked perfectly fair on that evidence, but he found 1m4f and fast ground against him in a heritage handicap on his hat-trick bid.

He wasn’t disgraced in better company on his seasonal debut and will be more competitive now racing over his optimum trip.

These sprint handicaps are highly competitive and often run at a searching gallop, which should play into the hands of Jamie Spencer on Ride Like The Wind.

Spencer has been on board for both Ride Like The Wind’s starts since the five-year-old left Freddy Head for Kevin Ryan and he should have a better idea of how to get the best out of this tricky but talented customer now.

The five-year-old wasn’t beaten far on his first start over 5f on debut and then looked unlucky in a Listed race won by Tupi at Doncaster.

Both horses were travelling powerfully out the back, but Ride Like The Wind was stopped a couple of times as he was asked to quicken and wasn’t knocked about once his chance had gone.

There should be plenty of gaps for Spencer to weave his way through inside the closing stages and slower ground is in his favour as he won the Prix Djebel on soft ground a couple of seasons ago.

This has thrown up a few surprise winners in the past and it could again pay to take on those at the front of the market with Richard Hannon’s Tupi.

The five-year-old equalled his career-best when winning a Listed race at Doncaster last time out under a patient ride by Ryan Moore and could be ready to take a step forward.

He showed a high cruising speed and a smart turn of foot that day and should have the race run to suit.

He handles rain-softened ground well and has only a neck to find with Magical Memory when the pair were first and second in last season’s Abernant at Newmarket, while having Moore on board again is a bonus.

Magical Memory is going to be hard to beat if back to his best and rates the main danger, but he may prefer the ground a shade faster.

The Tin Man is the best horse in the race having won the Champions Sprint last October, but he has a Group 1 penalty to contend with and could also have done with quicker ground for his return.

Brando improved dramatically last year and continued his progress when winning at Newmarket on debut, but that came on the fastest ground he had raced on and it may have left its mark so he is also passed over at fairly short odds.

Shutter Speed is a very short price and will be very hard to beat if reproducing the form of her seasonal debut.

After running quite freely, she showed tremendous acceleration to beat a useful field easily and the form looks strong as the third, Enable, won the Cheshire Oaks well last week.

However, that came on unseasonably quick ground and Shutter Speed, being by Dansili, is bred to excel in those conditions.

She may not be able to show that electric turn of foot on slower ground and wasn’t particularly impressive when narrowly winning on soft on her only start at two.

Take her on with Hugo Palmer’s Oaks entry Vintage Folly.

She showed a good attitude to win her only start at two in a mile maiden at Newcastle in November and is bred for middle distances. Cut in the ground is important to her and the more rain the better.

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Mark Friar

Published on 16 May 2017inHorse racing tips

Last updated 20:03, 16 May 2017

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