York Tips: Epic Poet can hand O’Meara the feature

The July Festival at Newmarket is a key attraction on Saturday but it's a busy day of racing across Britain and Ireland with eight meetings taking place.

It's also a big day at York, with the Knavesmire playing host to their John Smith's Cup afternoon, a card that includes four races selected for ITV terrestrial coverage. They race at York from 14:00-17:25 with conditions forecast to be 'good to soft' and we have a trio of fancies on the card including Epic Poet in the big race for David O'Meara. Read on for my York tips for Saturday, July 13.

Today's Horse Races

14:35 - Starlust @ 11/4

Clarendon House sets a good standard for this Listed John Smith's City Walls Stakes based on his wins at this venue in May and then Cork in Listed company last month. He's favourite on form but, in between those wins, he was temperamental at Epsom and surrendered all hope leaving the stalls.

STARLUST, meanwhile, was third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last November over this trip and then had two placed efforts in Dubai in the spring.

He may have just needed the run at Ascot in a Group 3 in May and he came here afterwards to deliver a really polished performance in a C&D handicap off a mark of 105, winning by a decent margin.

He took in the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot since, sporting first-time blinkers and running no better than midfield on fast ground. This slower surface is a likely help to him, it’s certainly no hindrance and he has solid claims for Ralph Beckett and Hector Crouch.

Stake back as a free bet up to £10, if your selection finishes 2nd.

15:10 - Epic Poet @ 8/1

The main event of the afternoon is the John Smith's Cup over an extended mile-and-a-quarter and, as usual, it is fiercely competitive on paper.

Cases can be made for plenty but, even so, EPIC POET presents a compelling argument for the David O'Meara and Danny Tudhope alliance.

He ran sixth over this C&D at the Dante Festival in May in a race won by a rival here, Botanical. The French import was having his first run in 230 days and a first start after leaving Martyn Meade to join this trainer and he left the impression there would be more to come with the run under his belt.

So it transpired, as Epic Poet finished second in the 19-runner Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (1m4f) at Royal Ascot last month, coming from off the pace with a good challenge.

He is much better off on these terms with Botanical and officially has 3lb in hand on the assessor.

Super Extra Place Race - Paying 6 places (1/5 Odds) instead of 4

16:15 - Call Me Harswell @ 10/1

The final York pick comes in the 6f nursery and could be open to significant progress on first foray into a handicap.

CALL ME HARSWELL runs for the Roger Fell and Seam Murray partnership and the filly won a Beverley maiden (5f, good to soft) in May on second start.
Connections then sent her here for the Listed Marygate Fillies' Stakes at Dante Festival and, unsurprisingly, she found that all a bit too much though will have learned plenty.

Next up, she took in the £25k Hilary Needler Trophy Conditions race back at Beverley and ran well for a long way having forced the pace. The placed horses have held up that form since and this opening mark, while no penalty kick, is far from prohibitive.

Extra Place Race - Paying 5 places (1/5 Odds) instead of 4

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