Thursday racing

Esentepe came out a disappointing 3rd, which is out of placings in the 7-horse field. It seems I have started a bad streak in some of the latest recommendations, so probably best to re-assess the ones I'm currently giving as sometimes a bad streak can linger even if the same basic fundamentals that were previously successful are being applied. Anyway, looking at the racing cards on Thursday, I can spot a few interesting plays.

The main card of interest for the racing crowd is at York where Derby hopefuls will be put to the test in the Dante Stakes. I must say this race is too close to call although I do have a slight preference for World Domination. But all the participants could be anything, so I will simply watch the race with interest and hopefully have a good idea of the eventual Derby winner. In the Group 2 Middle Stakes, Midday makes her seasonal return. I cannot show see her being out of placings here, so I recommend her as a Place. She should actually be winning this, there's just a question mark as to her fitness.

In the 19:25 Maiden race at Newmarket, I like Lyric Street, a Hurricane Run colt who came out 3rd of  11 in his only outing last year. The 10 furlong race looks a good distance for his return to the tracks, and I believe he should be in the first 3. So a Place is recommended on the Luca Cumani colt.

Finally, at Gowran Park, the first race should go between Last Crusade and Notable Graduate. This duo looks good for an exacta in this 3-horse race.

Exacta: Notable Graduate/Last Crusade.
Place: Midday, Lyric Street