17th Aug 2016 | Horse Racing
York Tips: Lexington Abbey
Beaten by the draw last time at York but form and bias franked by Intisaab’s great run at Ripon. Jamie Spencer ideal jockey booking.
On Saturday we were unlucky when Intisaab finished second in the Great St Wilfrid but the logic was sound and can be applied to the 1.55 York.
What alerted me to Intisaab was the fact he finished second in a race at York dominated by those drawn low, the first six home were 5-14-1-4-15-6-3-2. The only other horse to infiltrate the low draw dominance was Lexington Abbey in fifth.
Forced to switch early in the race he gave up ground on the leaders and was always playing catch up. The 5-year-old was never quite getting there but still clocked the fastest closing sectional and was the only horse to dip under the 35s barrier for the final 3f.
It was a similar story when he finished third behind Royal Birth at Ascot. He clocked a rapid closing sectional but was never quite getting there, being impeded 2f out didn’t help either.
Thankfully his mark remains unaltered despite those two good performances and he has a great chance off 95 this afternoon.
Equally capable over 5f or 6f, the intermediate 5f89y distance could be exactly what he needs. Jamie Spencer rides him particularly well (2 wins, 2 seconds from 8 starts) and can provide Kevin Ryan a third winner in the race in the last four years.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 02:21 17th Aug, 2016 but subject to change
