York 2.45

York 2.45 19 Highland Colouri @ 12/1 / 9 Home Cummins @ 9/1 - both 1/2 point each way (Lads/Coral/PP/Sky odds to 5th)

A mile trip here and plenty of 7 furlong horses to set up a nice pace, the distance of 7 furlongs and 190 yards
can mislead and we will focus on those with proven form at the trip; ideally a fair bit of "York form", proven ability to run well at
the end of the season too, and also well handicapped off nice marks. That narrowed it right down and from a short list of
about 8; I discarded the likes of Classic Seniority; Truth Or Dare; Cote D'Azur One Word More and Baraweez. I kept coming

back to the horses who were 1st/2nd in this race last year HIGHLAND COLOURI and HOME CUMMINS. 

 

Both have run well all season but needed a bit of respite from the handicapper, and finally get enough slack to be very competitive;
Highland Colouri won this off a mark of 95 last year and arrives here off 85. Clearly a bit regressive but every horse as  I always
say has a "win level" and plenty to suggest this is a compelling mark. HOME CUMMINS is trained by a maestro at planning and
plotting a race from a long way out; the mark is fine and the draw in stall 6 may give a slight tactical advantage over the other HC.
They met One Word More in this last year and at the weights little to chose between them again but OWM is not much value and
last few runs here have been disappointing. If you want a few "old pounds" on an outsider with a more than sporting chance to get
rid of them, and I'll be doing that, you could do a lot worse than have a few quid on NICHOLAS T at 40/1 (PP) and generally
33/1; looks like a typical Goldie long-shot, dangerously handicapped and this is its best trip and the harder they go, the closer he
will finish and he would be my "shrapnel horse".