York 1:50 Sky Bet Mile Handicap Tips – Daydreama Can Outrun His Odds

Tip: Daydreama — best available price 33/1 at the time of writing

Top Tips for York 1:50

🏆 Best Bet: Daydreama — 33/1 advised general availability

⚔️ Main Danger: Zennor Storm

💰 Value Pick: Ironwill

🔎 Dark Horse: Le Samourai

Bets Offers for this Race

The Sky Bet Mile is typically the sort of competitive handicap where looking beyond the obvious market leaders can pay dividends, and Daydreama makes plenty of appeal at a huge price.

The Tim Easterby-trained gelding returned to form at Ripon last time, where he battled with Command The Stars and Noelan Star over 1m on good to firm ground.

That was a much smaller field than today's 20-runner handicap, but there are reasons to believe Daydreama can improve for the return to York.

Importantly, his two best RPRs have come at this course, and he is now 4lb lower than when finishing second of 14 here over 7f in May.

He has also shown enough ability to suggest that a mark of 84 is not beyond him, particularly if today's good to soft ground doesn't inconvenience him.

At around 33/1, he is an appealing each-way/value option in a wide-open race.

Main Danger: Zennor Storm

Zennor Storm heads the market and looks one of the most obvious contenders.

He won both starts as a 2yo and has improved with every handicap run this season.

His latest effort at Goodwood was particularly strong, finishing a close second of 19 to Exclusive Code over 1m. He finished strongly in first-time cheekpieces, which are retained here.

The 5lb rise is the obvious concern, while this will be his first attempt on slower ground.

Nevertheless, his recent form puts him firmly in the argument.

Blue Courvoisier Has Strong Recent Form

Blue Courvoisier is another with plenty going for him.

He landed the competitive Silver Bowl at Carlisle over 1m in May before running respectably at Royal Ascot.

More recently, he finished a close third of 15 at Goodwood over 1m1f.

That is strong form for this grade and he remains capable of another big effort.

The main question is whether the good to soft ground will suit, as all seven of his starts have come on good or good to firm.

Outback Heat Is Still Unexposed

Outback Heat is particularly interesting from an upside perspective.

He won on his handicap debut at Ascot over 1m before finishing second of 30 in the Britannia at Royal Ascot.

That was a huge field and he showed considerable ability to finish runner-up.

He is 5lb higher here but remains relatively unexposed and could have more improvement in him.

The unknown is the ground, with all his racing so far coming on quicker surfaces.

Eklleem Could Be Better Than His Mark

Eklleem is another one who could have more to offer.

He opened his account at Ripon over 1m in June, showing improved form and overcoming trouble in running to win comfortably.

His pedigree offers encouragement for today's conditions, with his dam a 1m2f Listed winner on soft ground.

He begins handicap life from 87 and William Buick takes the ride for William Haggas.

There is enough potential there to make him interesting at his price.

Exclusive Code Has A Lot To Prove But Can't Be Ignored

Exclusive Code arrives after winning the corresponding Goodwood formline three weeks ago.

He was heavily backed that day and made most to score in good style.

The problem is the handicapper has reacted with a 9lb rise, and this is another fiercely competitive field.

He did run well on good to soft last August, so the ground isn't necessarily a major concern, and another improvement could see him involved.

Ironwill Is An Interesting Dark Horse

Ironwill deserves consideration at a much bigger price.

He has already won twice as a 2yo, including on soft ground, and returned to the scoresheet at Newmarket over 7f last month.

He then finished second of 13 at Goodwood.

He's described as headstrong, but he finished strongly last time and the step up to 1m is well worth exploring.

At around 28/1, he could be one for each-way players.

Le Samourai Could Be A Well-Handicapped Horse

A fascinating outsider is Le Samourai, who makes his handicap debut from a mark of 84.

He was well beaten on soft ground at Salisbury on debut but subsequently improved sharply, winning at Kempton before finishing a clear second at Thirsk over 1m.

His pedigree is particularly eye-catching: he's a half-brother to multiple Group/Grade 1 winner Romantic Warrior.

There is therefore a possibility that his opening handicap mark underestimates his ability.

The big question is whether he can translate that promise into a race of this depth.

Verdict

Daydreama is the selection.

His recent return to form at Ripon gives him something to build on, but it's his York record and attractive handicap mark that make him particularly interesting at a huge price.

His two best RPRs have come at York, and he is now 4lb lower than when runner-up here in May.

The ground is an obvious unknown, but at around 33/1 he's worth chancing as the value play in a race where several of the shorter-priced runners also have questions to answer.

Zennor Storm is the obvious danger after his excellent Goodwood second, while Blue Courvoisier and Outback Heat have strong recent handicap form.

At bigger prices, Ironwill and Le Samourai are also worth keeping on side.

Today's Selections

🏆 Best Bet: Daydreama — best available price 33/1 at the time of writing

⚔️ Main Danger: Zennor Storm

💰 Value Pick: Ironwill

🔎 Dark Horse: Le Samourai

Bets Offers for this Race