I don’t think a predicted shower will see any appreciable ease in the going at York on Wednesday, and there are a few soft-ground performers who I’d be keen to field against as a result. First of all, Gin In The Inn (14:55) makes little appeal in such a competitive dash given he’s so well suited by Pontefract, which is a very different track to York.
He also goes very well fresh, so it’s debatable whether he will be any better for his reappearance win on easy ground at Ripon, and to cap it all, he has what is almost certainly a tough draw in stall 19.
Richard Fahey does not have a great record with his runners on the Knavesmire, either, with a 6% strike-rate in the last five seasons.
I should point out that Gin In The Inn is effective on a lively surface, but the only time he has been placed off a mark this high was when third in soft ground at Pontefract in July, and he does not have the chance the early market suggests in this contest.
Mayson Mac was an easy winner on debut at Musselburgh, but that was a 3-runner race in which the odds-on favourite failed to see his race out, and the runner-up was green and slowly away.
It’s dangerous to judge a juvenile on just one effort, but the O’Meara colt didn’t have to achieve a great deal to score on heavy ground he’s bred to relish, and the winning time was moderate, even allowing for conditions.
He’s open to improvement, but so are his rivals, and he is likely to struggle under a harsh-looking 6lb penalty in this novice event.
14:55 Lay Gin In The Inn for a place @ 3.5 or shorter
17:05 Lay Mayson Mac for a place @ 2.95 or shorter
