'He must run well' - Tim Easterby is keen on one of his big-field sprint runners

Saturday: 2.55 YorkWilliam Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap | 5f | 3yo+ | ITV4/RTV

A low draw has generally been favoured in sprints at York in recent years, but the one 20-plus runner handicap at the track's Dante meeting a week and a half ago went to Dakota Gold from stall 21 – and he was chased home by runners who had come from 18, ten and 20.

That muddied the water a little but, as the week went on, the results started to look more familiar. Fine Wine won the 13-runner 5f handicap on Thursday from two and Pillow Talk won the 15-runner Marygate over the same trip from the same gate.

Korker was successful from stall five in the 15-runner last race of the Dante festival, again over this 5f trip, and all was well with the world again. Low draws favoured.

It's a small sample but many have argued in the past that the bias is more pronounced over the minimum trip than it is over six furlongs and those results appeared to confirm the notion.

It therefore shouldn't be a surprise that Alligator Alley and Look Out Louis head the market.

They are drawn in stalls three and two respectively and Alligator Alley was drawn in exactly the same stall when finishing fourth behind Fine Wine in that aforementioned race over course and distance at the Dante meeting. That was his first turf start since September 2020.

Alligator Alley had Zargun (sixth, from stall ten), Copper Knight (eighth, seven) and Jawwaal (tenth, six) all behind him last time, but Copper Knight (ten) and Zargun (14) have both been drawn double-figure stalls this time and stall one might help Jawwaal reverse the form.

The final word goes to Harry Davies, who rides Night On Earth. There has not been a 7lb claimer to make a bigger impact than Davies this season and Night On Earth is a forward going ride. He looks the pace angle in the low numbers (six) and might be difficult to catch.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Robert Cowell, trainer of Atalis Bay and Lipsink
Atalis Bay showed loads of speed in the Palace House Stakes. He's got a bit of a soft spot for York, though he wants the ground a bit faster. He's showing a lot of potential at home and we're looking forward to a good campaign. Lipsink is having his first run of the year and is probably a smidgeon high in the handicap, but as long as the ground is on the softish side he'll like conditions.

Tim Easterby, trainer of Copper Knight, Sunday Sovereign and Showalong
Copper Knight is in great form. He's run two great races this year but he has more to do than he used to because he's gone up in the weights a lot. The softer the ground the better for Sunday Sovereign and Showalong must run well – he ran a cracking race at Ripon and gets in off bottom weight.

Steve Brown, assistant to Julie Camacho, trainer of Look Out Louis
He's in good form. He's up 4lb for his Chester win, but when you watch the replay you wonder how he lasted home because they went so fast up front. We'll also take encouragement from the way the sprints panned out at the Dante meeting – the winners made all.

Grant Tuer, trainer of Illusionist
It's his first run of the season and he'd want softer ground. He tends to get a bit outpaced on good ground and I suspect it won't be soft enough for him.

Tony Coyle, trainer of Ey Up It's Maggie
She's in great order and the more rain they get the better. She likes to get her toe in. It's a nice, valuable race and she goes there with a good each-way chance. She loves York.
Reporting by Richard Birch

Saturday's big-race previews:

2.35 Haydock: 'The favourite will take a lot of beating' – trainer quotes for a hot handicap

3.10 Haydock: 'I can't wait to run him' – trainers on their top Sandy Lane contenders

3.20 Curragh: Charlie Appleby on Native Trail's chances in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh

3.45 Haydock: can Nunthorpe winner Winter Power produce her best away from York?

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