Racing tips: Maylandsea can boost the Dramatised form line

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A couple of winners on Thursday which was nice to see, both relatively short-priced, but deservedly so. Friday's racing looks nice and I've picked out two from York and two from Newmarket.

York 2:05

I think this contest could go to the clear bottom weight in the race, MY LITTLE QUEENS, trained and owned by Richard Fahey.

This Mastercraftsman filly has been progressing slowly but surely over the last year and finds herself running off a career-high mark of 70. Despite 70 not looking the easiest of marks for her, I think she is more than capable of running of a big race on the back of two very strong runs so far this season.

She won at Wetherby on seasonal reappearance before running well in a decent-sized pot at a Carlisle Class 4 handicap, which is always very contested each year, where she finished runner-up to Commonsensical. She was held up from off the pace in that race and stayed on well, suggesting an even longer trip, on a track with a long straight would be better suited. The reason I say a long straight is because she got going too late, and a long straight should allow her the time to hit top gear, which is why I think York will suit. I get the impression the recent race she ran in will produce some winners over the next month or so, so she could potentially be well-treated on her current handicap mark.

Silvestre De Sousa is a noticeable jockey booking for Richard Fahey, whose stable jockey (Oisin Orr) is too heavy to ride this 8st 4lbs shot, so they've opted for the Brazilian. SDS has a very good record for the Fahey stable, recording 13 wins and 24 seconds from 54 rides, returning a profit of +26.55 to £1 level stakes.

York 4:25

It's hard to look anywhere but NORTHERN EXPRESS in this race as he was simply far too good last time out over today's C&D, and I find it hard how he can't make his presence felt again off a 4lb higher mark.

He's been running consistently all season until his 6th/13 at this track at the back end of May, where he finished behind Escobar, who he faces again today. He went off favourite that day, so there was obviously a lot of confidence behind him to go and win his race, but for whatever reason, it didn't quite click that day. Even though that was his worst finish off the season so far, it was still a good effort and produced an RPR of 92. I can see how people will think he won't be able to reverse the form with the David O'Meara horse, but based on his most recent win, I think he has every chance of doing so.

Michael Dods does well with this kind of horse, where they are getting older and more mature and start to find that extra gear of progression and manage to win some nice handicaps along the way. There's no reason why he can't progress again at the age of 4, and if the form is anything to go off, he could be difficult to beat.

Newmarket 1:50

Frankie Dettori picks and chooses when he wants to ride at the age of 54, so the fact he has picked up the ride on KNIGHTSWOOD for the Charlie & Mark Johnston team is eye-catching. It's no eye-catching in terms of the trainer he is riding for, as Mark used him a lot when he was the only name on the training licence, and they've teamed up with many winners along the years. What I find interesting is the weight of the horse, which is 8st 9lbs. Frankie's lowest riding weight in the last 12 months has been 8st 8lbs, which is a struggle for the Italian, so the fact he's riding a horse just 1lb over that weight makes it interesting, as it won't be easy for him to get down to this weight, so must really like his chances of winning as he won't enjoy sweating off those last couple of pounds to get the weight. He rides one later on the card for Hugo Palmer, also off this weight, but I don't think that horse is the reason for getting down to 8st 9lbs, and it's more of a coincidence that he's been offered that ride at the same time as riding Knightswood.

This race has been a good time for Mark Johnston over the years, with him winning 6 of the last 10 renewals, which makes you think that his horse has been plotted for this handicap for a good while. He knows what kind of horse is required to win this race, so it's noticeable he's opted for this lad to be his sole runner in the race when you consider the size of his yard and the horses he has available.

He has been a progressive-looking horse until finishing 6th/13 in a Royal Ascot handicap where he ran to his mark of 88. The winner that day was on another level, so it's not a disgrace to finish 7.75L behind, as he won by 4L, and it could've been more. I thought he ran an okay enough race, and it looks a decent race to follow in terms of form. Before that, he had won two times in a row, both runs not providing a great deal of good form, but he showed the typical Mark Johnston horse mentality of being tough to pass and will try his hardest each time as he kept on well to win by a neck at Chepstow.

Newmarket 2:25

If Dramatised is the best 2yo sprinting filly in the UK, then it should be worth following MAYLANDSEA in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes Group 2. It's not a guarantee that she'll stay the extra furlong today on a stiff track, but I think she is worth a try, as the form behind Dramatised looks very strong. Maylandsea finished runner-up in the Royal Ascot race where she looked like she was staying on strongly, so I can see why they are giving the extra furlong a try. She is the highest-rated filly in the race, as you can imagine with the best form on offer, and I think if she stays, she could be very tough to beat.

This race does look decent with recent C&D winner Lezoo making an appearance under Frankie Dettori again. She looked a nice filly in the making, and she's totally unexposed so will be strong in the market, especially with Dettori in the saddle. Mawj was very well fancied for Royal Ascot where she also finished runner-up in her race, so clearly is a good horse, but I don't think her run at Royal Ascot is the same level of form as finishing behind Dramatised.

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