Thursday’s York Tips: Middle-distance improver is Tom Collins’ sole bet on day two

Sir Michael Stoute’s Desert Crown became the eleventh three-year-old to complete the Dante and Derby double last year. Could we see yet another future Epsom champion strut their stuff on Thursday?

York’s primary trial, which is run over an extended mile and two furlongs, has proved to be an excellent stepping stone and will definitely cause a stir in the ante-post market for the upcoming Classic. There are no standouts coming into the race this year, though, and punters are fed a wide-open betting heat as a result.

Vertem Futurity Trophy runner-up Epictetus and Zetland Stakes winner Flying Honours head the market at the time of writing - two proven commodities who will look to carry their juvenile form into their three-year-old campaign. But perhaps they are vulnerable to later developing types like Passenger, who represents last year’s winning trainer and jockey combination, White Birch and Canberra Legend.

It’s worth remembering that racing isn’t all about the instant wins. In fact, the beauty about our sport is that every race provides valuable clues for future conquests, whether that’s penning down eyecatchers or writing off horses who didn’t perform to your expectations. I’ll be treating this year’s Dante as a complete learning experience and won’t be parting with a penny, but it’s an extremely interesting race nonetheless.

I will be parting with some cash - more than a penny! - in the closing 1m4f handicap (5.20 York), however, as one of my strongest fancies of the week has been declared for trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Oisin Murphy.

The horse in question is Torre Del Oro, a three-year-old son of Almanzor who will be making just his second start on turf and in handicap company. His only previous run on grass was his debut at Goodwood last October, when he looked all at sea and clearly needed the experience.

His progression might not be as obvious on paper as others in this race, but one watch of the replays from his starts at Chelmsford and Kempton last year was enough to mark up those performances. 

Torre Del Oro still looked green at the former venue on just his second career start, but he finished off that race powerfully over 1m2f and the form has received boosts from the third and sixth, who have been successful since. He then went to Kempton and was repeatedly denied a clear run - if the gaps came he would have gone extremely close to winning. 

Balding then kept him off the track over the winter and found a lovely spot for his return at Wolverhampton last month. It wasn’t a good race and he was duly sent off at 5/6, but you can only beat the horses who are put against you and he did that emphatically. 

The handicapper hit him with a 10lb rise for that victory, but I believe he’s still chucked in off 87 and, providing he handles this track, Torre Del Oro can play a big part in the closing handicap on Thursday afternoon. 

Thursday’s York Tip

Torre Del Oro (5.20 York) @ 7.4