TWO TO TOPPLE RIVALS IN KNAVESMIRE DASH

14:40 York

This looks typically competitive for a York sprint and promises to make for compelling viewing, though deciding upon the winner appears a rather thankless task.

Golden Apollo is one of a few from the Tim Easterby yard and he went down all guns blazing when a gallant second in this last term. Arriving here in fairly decent form this time around after a couple of recent place efforts, he has every chance off the mark he last won off although he is a rather infrequent winner. Flying Pursuit knows what it takes to win this and bids to claim the prize for a third time, having won both the 2017 and 18 renditions. Fairly handicapped, he wouldn't want dismissing out of hand although he might prefer less lively ground. Music Society and Manigordo add further strings to the Easterby bow though the first mentioned has an off-putting course record and the latter is rather inconsistent.

David O'Meara is another trainer worth taking notice of with runners here and his horses have begun to hit form. Gulliver is bound to be popular given his liking for the track (4 time course winner) and his most recent effort at the Curragh is probably worth forgiving as he appeared to be drawn wrong. Very well handicapped nowadays and 4lbs below his last winning mark, there is every chance he will bounce back though stall 1 makes life tricky. Muscika filled the runner up position in this contest in 2019 before going one better last term and his chances are crystal clear despite his rather ''In and out'' looking form. Twice a winner here, on both Soft and Gd-Fm ground, he looks a very big player with the blinkers on and Angus Viliers claims what could be an invaluable 5lbs.

Giogiobbo arrives here in top form after scoring three times at Doncaster last month, personally speaking I would be wary of horses showing such a clear liking for a specific venue although he would have every chance of racking up the four timer off his mark if proving as good here.

Lahore will find this much easier than the Listed race he ran in last time and he would appear the potential dark horse of the race, off a mark of 100. Six times a winner from 26 attempts, the handicapper has been slow to release his grip this season though this does look a very good chance if the gaps appear.

Mondammej currently heads the market and he is consistent for a sprinter, his mark keeps creeping up however and despite looking the least exposed, he needs to produce a clear career best to land this and is opposed as such.

The rest could easily be argued for but our vote shall be split between last season's winner, Muscika and the class dropping Lahore.

LAHORE (E/W)

MUSCIKA (E/W)

written by Chris Connolly