No reason to mask Annaf’s chance on the Knavesmire
AWAY from the action at HQ, there’s a typically competitive card at York alongside the first Premier Saturday meeting over the sticks at Chepstow.
Looking at the racing on the Knavesmire, the most competitive race of the day is the Sky Bet Sprint Trophy Handicap (3.17pm).
Specialist sprint trainer Mick Appleby has a strong hand here with the likes of Coul Angel and Al Shabab Storm, but it’s one of his at a bigger price I like in the shape of ANNAF.
This horse lines up off his lowest mark since May 2022 and he’s beginning to look extremely well handicapped.
He was rated 114 not so long ago, and his body of work this season suggests he still retains a good deal of that ability.
He was backed as if fancied last time out, but had to switch left sharply at the start, which cost him a lot of ground.
Despite that, he ran well in the circumstances and 25/1 here looks too big.
Over to Chepstow and the jumps, and there’s a yard in flying form that looks worth supporting this weekend.
The Twiston-Davies yard are firing on all cylinders at present, boasting a strike rate of over 50% in the last two weeks, and their MASKED MAN is worthy of support at 4/1 in the Silver Trophy Handicap (4.02pm).
The yard’s horses are forward for this time of year, and this runner looks to have found a good opportunity, starting off on an opening mark of 132 at the meeting where he bolted up last year.
He’s clearly highly thought of, with his final run of last season coming in a Grade One at Aintree, and he could take this in on the way to bigger things.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Annaf e/w 3.17pm York
Masked Man 4.02pm Chepstow