14:05 William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap

The most attractive bets at the early prices are two reopposing rivals: one of the previous course winners, Master Richard, and last month’s Doncaster winner, Silver Samurai.

A winner over both 7f and 8f, Master Richard has more than enough stamina for this trip, so a fast-run contest will suit him ideally because it will bring his stamina into play.

He has a very useful record over 7f on turf which shows figures of 2225 and the latest of those runs was much better than his fifth place might indicate.

His three earlier 7f turf runs saw him finish runner-up each time and he wasn’t beaten more than half a length in any of them, so there are grounds for thinking that, with a little bit of luck, he could have won all four of those 7f contests.

His best effort of the four was his half-length 2nd/7 behind the very useful Gweedore (rated 100 for much of last season) in a higher-graded Class 2 handicap at Newmarket in August last year.

Master Richard ran off 90, so he is 3lbs lower in Class 3 this time, and his only subsequent 7f turf run was his unlucky run at Doncaster last month.

Suggested bet: Master Richard each-way in the 14:05 at York

Both of those last two 7f turf runs came on good ground, so these drying conditions go very much in his favour, as does the likely strong pace.

Indeed, the fitting of cheekpieces today indicates a bold prominent-running display on the cards and this 5yo doesn’t mind going from the front, so that could be an option from stall 6 (the winning stall in 2022 and the berth of the short-headed runner-up last year).

Master Richard has won over a mile at this venue on two previous occasions, the most recent of which was a stronger Class 2 handicap.

Significantly, he made all the running to win both of those 8f handicaps around here, so that could be the plan again.

Of the others, the aforementioned Silver Samurai hasn’t been out since his Doncaster win at the start of last month, which came on his return from a 122-day break, so he will still be fresh and ready to run well again on a track where he has twice placed in big-field Class 2 handicaps over 6f.

He loves these flat, galloping tracks, having recorded wins at Doncaster, Haydock, and Newbury, and he is equally effective over 6f and 7f on ground ranging from good-firm to good-soft.

Suggested bet: Master Richard each-way in the 14:05 at York