York Races Tip: Ancient Cross

The 1.30 at York is a big field sprint handicap and with the likes of Falasteen, Skylla and Judge’N Jury all drawn next to each other in stalls 8 to 11 the pace is likely to be down the middle.

Ancient Cross is drawn amongst the pace in stall nine and should get a good toe. Progressive last year he went up 12lbs in the handicap and rarely ran a bad race. Although most of these were over further his best performance came in a five furlong handicap at Ascot where he lost by a nose. Not short of pace, he should be able to lay up with the early speedsters.

His reappearance at Thirsk was also impressive. Drawn out wide he was forced to take a tug and be dropped into last. That manoeuvre cost him almost five lengths and he was in arrears at the bend. To finish third having been so far behind the front two was a good performance.

The only negative about Ancient Cross surrounds his attitude. A record of 2 wins but 16 placed efforts isn’t encouraging. He is a horse who can’t stay in front too long. However, his two wins have come in his last 14 races and it would have been three if he had not lost one in the steward’s room. Perhaps not a reformed character he is getting better and still looks unexposed at this trip.