Punting pointers for the opening sprint handicap as Dakota aims for Gold again

1.55 York
Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap | 5½f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Saturday’s impressive Great St Wilfrid winner Dakota Gold bids for a quickfire big-handicap double in the opening £70,000 dash of the Ebor festival at York.

The Michael Dods-trained five-year-old, owned by Doug Graham and Ian Davison, made all to score by two and a quarter lengths in the 17-runner contest at Ripon, for which he carries a 5lb penalty.

Dakota Gold's two recent wins have been on soft ground but jockey Connor Beasley has no concerns over the going description of good.

Beasley said: "He was very impressive on Saturday and has gone from strength to strength this season.

"He wouldn't want it too firm but is pretty versatile regarding ground and I imagine it will be nice, good ground which will be fine for him.

"It's a decent race and typically competitive but he should have a very nice chance."

Dods also runs Camacho Chief, sixth behind Dakota Gold at this track last month and the mount of Paul Mulrennan.

Desert Law defied a 6lb penalty to land this contest two years ago after scoring at Doncaster four days earlier – a race on Town Moor which was won by another Paul Midgley-trained runner, Orvar, on Saturday.

Orvar bids to repeat the feat and is joined by stablemates Final Venture and Tarboosh.

Popular veterans bid for glory

Age has proved no barrier for sprinters in this race in recent years with ten-year-old Tax Free and nine-year-old Desert Law among the winners since 2012.

Two popular ten-year-olds are back for more in 2015 scorer Caspian Prince and 2016 runner-up Duke Of Firenze.

Caspian Prince won this race when trained by Dean Ivory and is another making a quick return, five days after finishing sixth at Chelmsford, with Mick Appleby expecting a better showing from the 19-time winner.

Owner Stephen Louch with his star sprinter Caspian PrinceCredit: Steve Davies

Appleby said: “I’m hoping he’ll bounce back to form. The surface was too deep for him at Chelmsford but he’s very well and it’s a race that suits him.

“He’s pretty straightforward to train and we don’t have to do a lot with him for his routine. He's a nice horse – it’s a shame we didn’t have him three or four years earlier!”

The David Griffiths-trained Duke Of Firenze has three wins and a second to his name from nine runs at York and drying ground suits the yard favourite.

Knavesmire knowledge

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The form figures of Duke Of Firenze at York

Griffiths said: “He didn’t perform in the Stewards’ Cup but his run earlier in the week at Goodwood was great and I’m hopeful he can run a big race with the drying ground in his favour. He loves York and tends to bring his A-game to this track – his course form is brilliant.

“He’s so relaxed on the racecourse and not like that at all on the gallops at home – he’s a little ticking time bomb. He’s had a few of us off over the years but we love him and he's such a character."

There is one nine-year-old in the 22-runner field – Frankie Dettori’s mount Watchable – while David O’Meara also saddles the unexposed Arecibo, who failed to figure in the Stewards’ Cup last time.

What they say

Andrew Balding, trainer of Stone Of Destiny
He won well at the Shergar Cup meeting and has been running well all year. This is his third run in quick succession and he needs everything to fall right for him. He was fourth in the Commonwealth Cup last year so he’s high class on his day but the margins are very narrow in these handicaps.

Declan Carroll, trainer of Justanotherbottle
He’s been training well since his good Stewards’ Cup run. They watered the ground overnight at Goodwood and that went against him as it was loose on top, so hopefully it stays dry at York. James [Doyle] liked him and was keen to keep the ride.

Eric Alston, trainer of Jabbarockie
He’s up in class after a 7lb rise so he’ll need to improve but he’s got better with each race. He’s very consistent so I’m hopeful he’ll run well. He’s ran well at York before but I’m not sure whether stall 20 is ideal.

Richard Fahey trainer of Fool For You
We've kept him for this race but I would have preferred to have been drawn a bit lower.

John Quinn, trainer of Lord Riddiford
He ran a good race at Goodwood, for which he was dropped a couple of pounds, and Cieren [Fallon] claims 5lb so he has a chance.

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