Unfortunately Keith MCHugh was unable to attend last nights preview
night
although he did provide the following analysis of the Ebor meeting to
share
with members.

Regards

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: Sport <sport@...>
To: Phil Evans <Philip.evans@...>
Date: 16 August 2004 12:50
Subject: York


>Phil,
>
>Here are my thoughts, in brief, for the York Ebor meeting
>
>DAY 1:
>Race one: Not a betting heat but, as always a low draw is preferable.
>Genghis in stall two and Etmaam in nine are tentative suggestions,
although
>the advice is to keep your money in the pocket and wait for better
>opportunities.
>Race two: Millenary is the most likely winner, but his strike rate
these
>days is not great and I wouldn't be wanting to take a short price
about
him.
>First Charter has a bit of class and would go close if staying the
trip.
>Race three: Rule Of Law and Let The Lion Roar have the form in the
book,
but
>neither appeals as a stand-out bet. Another race to swerve.
>Race four: Sulamani must be the selection now that he encounters soft
ground
>for the first time this season. Even though Bago has solid claims, I
don't
>think the three-year-olds are any good this season, so that rules
Azamour
>out as well. The St James's Palace Stakes he won has not worked out
well
>formwise. Kalaman would be my idea of the main danger to Sulamani who
should
>be backed, although I am not best pleased about missing the 8-1 on
offer
>last week.
>Race five: Elliots World slaughtered his rivals on debut over course
and
>distance last month and it's a big advantage that he showed he can
handle
>soft ground. My nap of the day, he can see off Oude and Shannon
Springs,
>first and second in a hot Newmarket maiden last time.
>Race six: Lynda Ramsden's runners at this meeting warrant the closest
>scrutiny. Turnaround won pulling a bus at Thirsk last time, seems to
have
>been brought along with this race in mind and will appreciate the
extra
>furlong. Get on early in the morning as the price won't stand up.
>Race seven: Not a race to get heavily involved in, but Brave Burt is
an
>interesting booking for Kieren Fallon and he would be a tentative
selection.
>DAY 2:
>Obviously we don't know all the decs and I have no five-day entries
for
>Wednesday.
>However, three races had decs this morning, so here goes:
>Gimcrack: Godolphin have a strong hand with Council Member (Dettori's
mount)
>and Crimson Sun. Both have obvious claims, but I might have a little
flutter
>on the horribly named Abraxas Antelope. He has won both his starts
and did
>well to concede weight all round last time. Furthermore, connections
reckon
>he will love any cut in the ground. Turnkey won by 11 lenghts on
heavy
>ground at Kempton in May and is one to keep a close eye on if there
is
money
>for him.
>Ebor: He may be a short price, but Mephisto looks the proverbial good
thing.
>Get on him! He is improving, stays the trip, his form is gilt-edged
and he
>will act on the ground. Add a great draw for good measure and you
can see
>why I'm so confident. I simply don't fancy anything else in the race.
>Yorkshire Oaks: Ouija Board will be very short and is much the
likeliest
>winner, but I wouldn't be taking long odds-on about her. That said,
what do
>you oppose her with? I'll be backing Quiff each-way. She looked very
green
>at Ascot, will improve for the run and has been working well at
Newmarket.
>She runs in this in preference to the easier Galtres Stakes on
Thursday,
>which seems a tip in itself.
>DAY 3:
>Race 1: Quiff would have been a strong fancy had she run in this.
Maybe
>Khalid Abdulla has something else to run in the race, so watch out
for
that.
>Luca Cumani has a great record in this race but his Selebela is held
by
>Polar Jem on recent Newbury form. I don't know much about the Irish
runners,
>but Dermot Weld is a great trainer and his Out Of Thanks would
warrant
close
>scrutiny if taking part.
>Race 2: Soar won well at Ascot and is the one to beat, although Suez
>impressed on her debut at Goodwood and is highly rated by Michael
Jarvis.
>Salsa Brava has rock-solid form and, as she may start at a bigger
price
than
>the other two, may be the bet each-way.
>Race 3: One Cool Cat will be a short price on the back of one good
run and
>two horrors. I'll be swerving him and suggest a small-stakes wager on
>Orientor, who will love any cut in the ground and whose Sandown
victory
over
>Ringmoor Down has been franked by that one's Goodwood success.
>Race 4: Draw vital here. Go for those with low numbers. Too many
>imponderables to make a selection, but avoid those high numbers!
>Race 5: Lots of improvers here, but Lochbuie struck me as a cup
horse in
the
>making when winning on a track which didn't suit him (Goodwood) last
time
>and, even though he has to shoulder top weight, this galloping track
should
>bring out the best in him.
>Race 6: Peter Paul Rubens would prefer much faster ground and might
not
even
>run, so try to find something with a low draw and appreciation of
soft
>ground. Perhaps Babodana if brought out again after his Newbury
fourth on
>Saturday.
>Race 7: The getting-out stakes! Lots of unexposed juveniles, but
look for
>one improving and stepping up in trip. Mighty Empire won well at
Newmarket
>last time and could fit the bill.
>Good luck to everyone at York. Sorry I couldn't make it tonight, but
I
would
>basically be saying what I have included in this Email. I will do
all I can
>to get to future preview nights.
>Best wishes.
>Keith McHugh.
>Hope this is OK, Phil. My apologies once again.
>
>