Sport is made for betting

So it's that time of year again when the lah-dee-dars come out in their top hats and expensive frocks to watch (mostly) expensive thoroughbreds compete for the right to charge a squillion for eternal breeding rights. But best of all for these career-defining races, they run it at a goat track. Up, down, left and right with reverse camber on some of the bends - you've got more chance of ruining a good horse than creating a champion. Yet somehow the worst phrase in business "But we've always done it that way" prevails and we're stuck with this place which is responsible for the biggest annual get-together of middle-aged South Londoners getting blind and sunburnt in the car park. Bulldoze the place and run classic Flat races on a course which has a half-decent claim on being declared 'flat'. There have been some genuine star fillies win the Oaks over the years - most recently Enable, Minding, Taghrooda, Snow Fairy and Ouija Board, but there are more t...

Fabulous race here with a big field of flying fillies. Some of them have started their careers in fine style, others will step big steps forward from their debuts. That's the beauty of 2yo racing, it's far more than just the bare form on the board. Langleys Solicitors British EBF Marygate Fillies Stakes 5f, 2yo, Listed, GBP50,000 York, 1350 BST Baileys in Bloom - unfancied on debut and quite erratic leaving the gates, but showed a good turn of foot when asked, to score at Beverley. Doubt that form is particularly strong but showed enough to believe she will get better with more racing. Very early foal (Jan 12) which is beneficial in early part of the season. Chasanda - 25/1 winner on debut then beaten by a couple of today's rivals at subsequent starts. More exposed than all bar one of these, and trainer known for hitting the ground running, rather than steady progression. Will be a big price. Companion - won by a nostril at Yarmouth on debut against a Godolp...

The sun was out for a glorious opening day of the meeting, and races down the straight appeared to have no concerns about draw bias. Thursday's card has a few higher profile races but this 3yo sprint is worth watching closely, tomorrow and for future form. British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes £50k, Listed & Class 1, 3yo, 5f York 1605 Soldier's Call - flying machine, winning four of six starts in Britain last season, running third in the Prix L'Abbaye, beaten a neck at WFA then finished sixth as joint favourite in the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint. Has plenty on these on ratings, but life's rarely that simple with unexposed 3yos early in the season. Broken Spear - more exposed than most of these and well beaten by Garrus first up. Missed Chester last week, probably due to the rain (or a poor draw). Pass. Charming Kid - won at this meeting last season but has been a little erratic ever since. Well beaten on AW Championships Day, appears to be a few lengths...

The day to call time on this blog seems to be approaching, but I'll breathe life into it for just a little bit longer to keep my eye in... York is one of the great racecourses of the world. A lovely spacious track, without the pomposity of Ascot or the drunken busloads of morons that turn up at Goodwood. This week forms a key lead-up to Epsom and Royal Ascot so it's important to do your form for the present and the future. ----------------------- Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes Group 2, 6f, £125,000 York 1500 BST Limato - probably peaked two years ago when he won the July Cup and Prix de la Foret but still classy. Won three of his last four and wouldn’t have appreciated the soft conditions on Champions Day. Two starts here for a small field win and a second in the Nunthorpe. 3lb penalty irrelevant, big show. Brando - rated the same as 12 months ago when beaten two lengths by Harry Angel. Hasn’t won in seven starts here, always thereabouts but can’t see him win...