Friday York Placepot Tips from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Persian Dreamer, Dorothy Lawrence, Tierney

This is an extremely deep edition of the Listed Marygate Fillies' Stakes but PERSIAN DREAMER has to be recognised as the one to beat. She created a big performance when winning easily on debut at Newmarket and has plenty more to come. Her trainer and owners have made a cracking start to the season with their two-year-old’s, so she should be hard to beat.

The runner-up from that race though, DOROTHY LAWRENCE, could bridge the gap with Ryan Moore in the saddle. Karl Burke thinks she is very useful, so expect her to be in the firing line at the business end. Of the rest, don’t rule out TIERNEY, who ran well when fourth on debut at Chester in the Lily Agnes and could improve to make the frame with Oisin Murphy maintaining the partnership, which is an interesting sign. 

Leg 2 Selections: Queen For You, Fakhama

I was really taken with the way QUEEN FOR YOU won on her debut at Ascot, where she travelled well and quickened away smartly to win by two lengths. This daughter of Kingsman holds a Group 1 entry and while this is another step up in class, she could be up to the task ahead. 

I’ll also make a case for FAKHAMA, another debutant winner, who ploughed through heavy ground to record a comfortable success at Newbury four weeks ago. She is another with plenty of ability and with improvement to come, so she could play a leading role if handling the quicker conditions. 

Leg 3 Selections: Masekela, Spirit Dancer, Diderot

MASEKELA is no doubt the classiest horse in the field, who was fourth in last year’s Epsom Derby, and signed off his season with a good second at Doncaster. He clearly needed his return at Newmarket and the last time he ran here, he was fourth in a Group 3. This is no easy task carrying top-weight on handicap debut but he should go close if he settles. 

SPIRIT DANCER won over course-and-distance in July after finishing a good fourth of 22 in the John Smith’s Cup and was second in the Sky Bet Finale here on his final start. He might need the run but his form here is rock-solid, so Richard Fahey’s charge has to be respected. DIDEROT is unproven on the turf still but arrives in form and is another who could have a say in the outcome. 

Leg 4 Selections: Broome 

The vote goes to BROOME in the feature race of the day, the Dante, who beat four of these when overcoming traffic difficulties and a rough passage to land the Dubai Gold Cup with plenty to spare at the finish under a good ride from Ryan Moore. 

He will be in his element under these conditions and while he meets Siskany on three pounds worse terms, I am quite bullish about Aidan O’Brien’s charge confirming the form here, with the long-straight sure to play to his strengths. 

He will get a lovely lead from Quickthorn and once Ryan Moore gets him into top gear, his customary class and staying power should be too much for these. It’s also worth noting he ran very well in last year’s Arc when eighth of 20 from a bad draw. 

Leg 5 Selections: Mostabshir, New Business

MOSTABSHIR overcame a wide draw to make an impressive winning debut at Kempton and ran quite well in the Craven Stakes when last seen, finishing fifth. This is easier, and William Buick takes the ride, so he should be competitive back in trip with that turf experience to draw upon at this level. 

NEW BUSINESS is undoubtedly the main threat though, who led for a long way on debut at Newmarket, eventually finishing third. That form has been advertised by the winner, Passenger, who ran well to finish third in the Dante yesterday. With lots more to come, Andrew Balding’s charge must have strong claims under Oisin Murphy, who has had a few winners at this meeting already the past couple of days. 

Leg 6 Selections: Gioia Cieca, Ascot Adventure, No Nay Nicki 

GIOIA CIECA returned to form with a good third on his reappearance at Musselburgh and did well to finish as close as he did back there two weeks ago having been hampered at the start of the race. He is a pound lower for this and is well-handicapped on the pick of last year’s form. I can envisage him putting in a good shift should he get a smooth passage throughout the contest. 

David O’Meara has a good record with new recruits there’s possibility ASCOT ADVENTURE will take a step forward from his eye-catching fifth at Doncaster on his reappearance and strut his stuff on the Knavesmire. He is three pounds lower than when winning the Boston Handicap at Haydock last May and his fifth of 19 in a big-field handicap at Newbury last year has worked out well. He certainly has the ability to go well off this mark. 

NO NAY NICKI posted some creditable efforts in defeat last year, hitting the frame three times in good-quality handicaps, including when second over course-and-distance off this mark. Her fast-finishing fourth behind Maljoom at Doncaster is good form given the winner is Group 1 material and ran well when fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes.