O’BRIEN TOWERS OVER THE CUP: It’s Yorkshire Cup day and Daqman rates Tower Of London the nap after his victory in the Dubai Gold Cup and with his trainer, Aidan O’Brien, now striking at 25%.

EXPRESS HAD THE BRAKES ON: Daqman was missing strike yesterday. Northern Express (8-1) failed to catch pacemaker Point Lynas by a neck at York, where Tees Spirit ran a close fifth after a gamble from 20-1 to 17-2. The 7-2 nap, Pawapuri, second at Salisbury, was also the chaser who didn’t get there.


MISS COULD BE A HIT AT 11.5

⭕ 2.15 York (5f Listed) Karl Burke, who has had the one-two in this two years running, gives his yard three chances in this after a winner at York yesterday.

Invincible Annice (short-headed at Pontefract on May 1) had her form franked for today when her conqueror was beaten a short-head in a novices for colts.

Kaadi’s form has held up only at a low level but Miss Lamai’s runner-up at Thirsk has since finished second at Ascot to one regarded as a Queen Mary contender.

It Ain’t Two had Magic Mild beaten in third when scoring at a big price at Newmarket. Running Queen beat Betty Clover and another previous winner on the soft at Salisbury.

Betdaq Betting Exchange value: 5.3 It Ain’t Two, 11.5 Miss Lamai


MUSTAZEED ANOTHER DELIGHT

⭕ 2.30 Newbury (1m 2f handicap) Last year’s 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th in the Hambleton Handicap at York, yesterday renewed rivalry and finished 1st, 2nd, 4th and 3rd!

Always useful to look back at previous results and maybe this Newbury opener will follow last year’s form.

Photo-finish winner and second that day, Mustazeed and Sweet Reward, are both back for more, with Mustazeed 6lb better off to avenge a short-head defeat.

Mustazeed’s trainer, Harry Eustace, had an exciting winner on the first day at York with Crystal Delight, but Jonathan Portman (Sweet Reward) was probably as shocked as anyone to lead in 25-1 shot Thunderous Love at Salisbury yesterday.

Gallant Lion ran third at the Greenham meeting for Alan King here in April, and looks main danger to Mustazeed.

BETDAQ value 3.7 Gallant Lion, 6.9 Mustazeed


MAJESTIC KNOWS THE SCORE

⭕ 2.45 York (1m 2.5f handicap) STALLS: Seven years’ winners by stall 4, 5, 3, 8, 6, 2, 4. In the low seven stalls today are:

King’s Code (1) is a big horse not really tested beyond a mile, and the booking of Oisin Murphy is interesting at BETDAQ offers of 16.5.

Botanical (2) has never been out of the frame in five career starts but needs some cut.

Best form by Loyal Touch (3) is on AW but this trip on a tougher track suits better than Chester the last day. Theoryofeverything (4): the grey has won only his maiden, always a bad sign.

Eilean Dubh (5) has mainly been kept to a mile. Qitaal (6) has been lightly raced as though fragile but not far out of it on form.

Majestic (7) has not done a lot since winning the Cambridgeshire in 2022 but has been within about a length of the winner four times in strong handicaps, including this race last year. BETDAQ 9.1.

⭕ 3.15 York (1m fillies Listed) Devoted Queen pulled her way to victory at Newmarket; she needs to settle, hence the hood.

True Cyan was four lengths off the Nell Gwyn one-two, both subsequently down the field in the 1,000 Guineas.

It could be that Bolsena will overtake them now, brought along slowly by Kevin Ryan, with Ryan Moore booked for today. She has the best pedigree in the race. BETDAQ 5.6.


TOWER CAN TOPPLE CUP FIELD

⭕ 3.45 York (Yorkshire Cup, 1m 6f) STATS: Favourite 5-9.

A savory stew of stayers that has produced such as Stradivarius and Clever Cookie in the last seven seasons.

Subjectivist (2021) went on from Dubai World Cup success to win the Ascot Gold Cup and this year’s winner of that race at Meydan, Tower Of London, takes another step toward gold in the Yorkshire Cup today.

William Haggas had what seemed the main danger in Hamish but he relies instead on Naqeeb, who has been placed in a Listed and a Group 2 since emerging from novice company last year.

Naqeeb is rated 10lb behind Vauban and Giavellotto, who are both 2lb off Tower Of London. Leveled up because of his 3lb penalty but likely to find he has developed too much class, the year younger animal who is going places.

DAQMAN’S BETS

2.15 York (win 20)
BET 5pts win IT AIN’T TWO
BET 2pts win MISS LAMAI

2.30 Newbury (win 12)
BET 4.5pts win GALLANT LION
BET 2pts win MUSTAZEED

2.45 York (win-50 bull’s-eye bets)
BET 6pts win MAJESTIC
BET 3.15pts win KING’S CODE

3.15 York (win 20)
BET 4.6pts win BOLSENA

3.45 York (win 20, nap)
BET 11pts win TOWER OF LONDON


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THE EDGE Thurs: Australia v India 4th Test
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