Racing tips: Another front running masterclass looks on the cards for Quickthorn

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One Evening didn't have enough in the tank to get the win, but she ran a belter to finish second when giving away plenty of weight to the winner. Rosscarbery was shocking, she didn't get the clearest or runs through and was barged on a couple of occasions, but she wasn't going to land a glove on the front horses.

York 1:50 – Ravenscraig Castle 25/1 (0.5pt EW WilliamHill 5pl)

Heritage Handicaps are always tough to pick a winner as they are by far the hardest races to pick a winner due to the competitiveness of it, but I can't help but get stuck into Ravenscraig Castle who is such a consistent horse who deserves his win.

There are going to be horses who appeal more due to their more sexy profile, being trained by a bigger trainer and having the unexposed profile, but I think Ravenscraig Castle has some strong form to get seriously involved and shouldn't be the price he is. He is a horse who travels strongly into his race and generally looks the likeliest winner of his races before getting outstayed over slightly further. He does stay longer trips, but not as strong as others, so I think the drop back to 12f is the right decision. Both of his career wins have come on quick ground, so the fact his recent form has come on softer ground isn't a concern.

He has York form when finishing 3rd in the Melrose back in 2021, which is up there for one of the most competitive handicaps of the year.

York 2:25 – Quickthorn 10/3 (2pt WilliamHill/PaddyPower)

I think it's crazy how Quickthorn isn't the favourite for this race.

We all know what Tom Marquand is going to do in this race, and if the horse runs to the same level of last time out at Goodwood or even in this race 12 months ago, the others will have no chance. Based on what we think is going to happen and that is Tom and Quickthorn going off at a very strong pace and to see no other horse in the race and to keep galloping, surely he should be favourite. Jockeys will get criticised for not taking him on for the lead and not pressuring him, but surely they just think that he goes too quick in front, and if they try and follow him then they either can't go the gallop or they will fade in the final stages, so they believe it's best to stand off. If they can't go the gallop that Quickthorn can go, it's curtains for the rest of them.

For me, the only way Quickthorn loses this is if one of the others decides to sacrifice their own chance of winning by taking him on, or the recent run is a bit too soon as it was a very big effort to win at Goodwood and he's only had three weeks to recover. But, for me, if he's on song this should be a win.

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