York Races: Betting Preview, racecard, tips and runners for Today’s Group 2 Lowther Stakes

A ROCK-SOLID field of 14 have been declared for Thursday’s Group 2 Lowther Stakes (1.45).

Plenty of the big northern yards have taken aim at the six-furlong prize, but they all have the William Haggas-trained Sacred to deal with. Our man Callum Jamieson takes a closer look.

PA:Press Association

Sacred sits pretty at the top of the betting, and why it makes perfect sense for her to be the market leader, she’s too short in my book.

She emerged with plenty of credit following her second in the Queen Mary. That was over five and she shaped like a step up to six sooner, rather than later would suit her.

She gets that now, but I still question the form of plenty of the juvenile races at the Royal Meeting.

A few winners and placed horses have kicked on but plenty have been passed in terms of ability already. Why this horse is far from an early two-year-old, at the odds I am more than happy to look elsewhere.

SANTOSHA has looked more progressive since winning on debut at 50-1.

Her close third to Dandalla in the old Cherry Hinton is about as solid form as there has been in the fillies juvenile division.

That was on soft ground – a big plus given the forecast up at York for the days ahead.

She backed that run up with a Group 3 win at Ascot of which the form looks solid enough for the grade.

She’ll stay another furlong in time, and that should play to her advantage again if it comes up soft.

She drifted left late on at Ascot, and if that kink can be ironed out she could well kick on again. I think she’s been over-looked in this.

Hala Hala Hala was less than a length behind Santosha at Ascot but didn’t handle the ground at Newmarket and that margin of defeat last time out was exaggerated by Santosha’s lean across the track.

She’s a similar price to Santosha so I wouldn’t be switching to her in a hurry.

The main danger may well be Jessica Harrington’s Sussex Garden.

She was a debut winner before finishing runner-up to Mother Earth in a Group 3, albeit well beaten.

The yard have a great record with their improving fillies and she wouldn’t be sending over this one without her showing plenty at home.

Watch for a move for her in the betting. She could well be a big price at double-figures.

 Fellow Irish raider Miss Amulet may have been flattered when beating Frenetic last time. She’s best watched in my book.

Debut winners Umm Kulthum and Noorban need to find plenty more but are of interest for each-way punters if the money comes. It’s an open race.

Betting Advice

Santosha – 1pt win

• Should improve again for Ascot run and was more dominant that day than margin suggests
• Handles cut if the rain does make an impact
• Scope for further and stamina can be a factor in these big races with likely sound gallop