Coral Stayers Handicap (Class 3)

David O'Meara fields an interesting newcomer today in the Aga Khan bred French import Dalshand, who makes his GB debut this afternoon at York.

Dalshand has a top class pedigree - the dam is a full sister to Daylami and a half-sister to Dalakhani, one of the Aga Khan's best late-maturing bloodlines. He produced a very taking display on debut, hacking up impressively in a valuable 1 mile 3yo maiden.

Dalshand didn't progress as fast as they hoped that year - he's a big backward type - but ran a fine race in a £20,000 Listed contest at the tail end. That was over 14 furlongs on good ground. He had a wide draw and was forced to race 3 wide, off a muddling pace. He did by far the best of anything off the pace, only failing to get up by 1.75 lengths.

He picked up an RPR of 98 for the run (Timeform 106) and races from a BHA mark of 88 today.

They don't have a good program of suitable 2m+ staying flat races in France, so the following season they tried him dropped back to middle distances which only confirmed he wants a trip. He's only ever been tried twice at 1m6fl+ and he's run really well both times.

Today's race on a flat 2 miles around York, where he should get an end to end gallop looks ideal. He won't be wound up to 'run for his life' - that's not the O'Meara way on debut - but off a mark of 88 he doesn't need to be, especially when they are offering circa. 16/1 to 4 places.

Win, lose or draw today, he's one for the tracker.

Good luck,

5.00 York, Dalshand 1pt EW 16/1+, 1/4 odds to 4 places

Herbie is one of the pro-gamblers in the ENIGMA forum:

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