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Friday 14th May

 The handicaps under a mile this week at York have seen an unusual trend develop. On Wednesday, Mr Lupton at the ripe old age of eight won the 6f handicap. Thursday was the turn of seven-year-olds Copper Knight and Kynren to win their respective handicaps. I am hoping the trend of older horses continues and I am willing to give Muntadab another chance. He was a winner for the blog last July and ran an eye-catching race two starts ago when selected again at Musselburgh. Similar comments apply as he is looking really well handicapped once again. He is certainly not the force of old but he won off a mark of 87 at Epsom and has actually been dropped 2lb since the Musselburgh run off 80. While yet to win at York from four attempts, he has posted three cracking efforts in defeat. In particular, his only try at his preferred 7f trip, when he was third off a mark of 100. He has a neck second off 97 over 6f too adding further substance to his liking around here. Those runs were three and four years ago respectively but there is clear evidence of late that he is getting close to winning again. He followed up his Musselburgh fifth with a good second at Catterick, possibly going too hard too soon and only giving way late on. There doesn't appear to be too much pace in the race for such a big field handicap and it may benefit to race near the pace. With most firms paying six places, he looks a cracking each-way bet at double-figure odds.


0.5pt eway Muntadab (12/1 Paddy Power, Betfair, 11/1 General) York 5.05 *use firms paying 6 places

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