Racing commentator Simon Holt forecasts a good day for Ryan Moore at York as he previews the pick of Saturday's action.
Recommended bets
1pt win Foxtrot Lady in 3.35 York at 7/1
1pt win Spanish City in 2.25 York at 11/4
1pt win Marmelo in 3.00 York at 9/4
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Big handicaps are often won by progressive horses and both FOXTROT LADY and SPANISH CITY appear to fit that description at York on Saturday.
In the £100,000 Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap, Foxtrot Lady bids for a hat-trick of victories after wins at Chester and Carlisle, going up 7lb on the latter occasion for a three-and-three-quarter length success.
A half-sister to the smart Dancing Star who was narrowly beaten by Mr Lupton in this race in 2016 before going on to win the Stewards Cup, Foxtrot Lady has been admirably consistent in her nine career starts so far, finishing out of the first three only once when making her racecourse debut at Goodwood last August.
Third in the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy on her final outing in 2017 since when her handicap rating has continued to rise, her last two wins have come in the hands of promising apprentice Jason Watson who is very good value for his 5lb allowance. There must be every chance of further improvement.
Savalas, the winner of his first three starts this season at Wolverhampton, Thirsk and Hamilton appears to have been freshened up for this and should be one of the chief dangers providing he acts on the likely fast ground (though showers are forecast) while William Haggas' Beshaayir beat Foxtrot Lady in a maiden at Newbury last September and can now meet the selection on 5lb better terms.
However, Beshaayir has raced just twice since, winning at long odds-on at Wolverhampton in April before finishing a disappointing fifth when favourite for a Listed event at Musselburgh.
Earlier, the booking of Ryan Moore aboard Spanish City looks a big plus for the five-year-old's chances of following up a recent Doncaster success in the JCB Handicap.
Roger Varian's gelding went up just 3lb for that short-priced defeat of Mazzini and was previously not at all disgraced when a close-up sixth to Ripp Orf in the Victoria Cup at Ascot, finishing one place ahead of subsequent winner Gilgamesh.
Again, as with Foxtrot Lady, Spanish City appeals as a horse going places whereas many of his rivals appear to hold very few secrets from the handicapper.
Moore has also got the call-up for the ride on MARMELO in the Sky Bet Grand Cup, and Hughie Morrison's genuine stayer should take all the beating if reproducing his highly consistent form overseas.
The five-year-old started joint-favourite for the Melbourne Cup last November before finishing ninth to Rekindling having shown up well until two furlongs out and, previously a Group Two winner at Deauville last August (from the very useful Desert Skyline), he made an excellent reappearance at Longchamp last month when going under by a neck to France's champion stayer Vazirabad.
That form ought to be too good for Weekender, who was found wanting when stepped up to Group Three company in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown last time, looking one-paced in the closing stages in third place behind easy winner Magic Circle with the re-opposing Time To Study just a half-length away in fourth.
Posted at 1510 BST on 15/06/18.
