ALTHOUGH the weather forecast is gloomy about the prospect of a dry day at York, the possibility of more rain will be music to the ears of Julie Camacho, the trainer of Dancing Bay (3.15).
Sadly, financial constraints, plus the pressures of bringing up a young family, have persuaded Julie to make the decision to hand in her licence towards the end of the current season.
Nevertheless she's determined to go out in glory and Dancing Bay could easily become a live contender for the most valuable handicap in Europe, the Tote-Ebor run at the track in August, provided he can win this afternoon's £15,000 Shepherd Rated Stakes.
The selection, undoubtedly at his best on soft ground, had no luck whatsoever at the course last month when twice hampered in the long and testing home straight.
Given a trouble-free passage this time, and some extra juice in the turf, Dancing Bay's turn looks near.
Eastern Trumpeter (2.10) is another runner who will not be inconvenienced by rain-laden skies.
Milton Bradley's sprinter turns out in the opening Anthony Fawcett Memorial Stakes, along with stable-mate Tadeo.
Eastern Trumpeter enjoyed a wonderful Millennium campaign, hitting the target seven times, including a track and trip success in July off a mark of 73.
Mark Johnston's 80-odd two-year-olds have been pretty quiet to date, however over the past couple of weeks there have been several positive signs that they are about to hit top gear.
Robbed of victory by the Stewards on her debut at Ripon, Johnston's Raised The Bar (4.25) has a decent chance of deserved compensation in the Haxby Maiden Stakes over five furlongs.
The daughter of Royal Applause lost the race at Ripon for hanging right and interfering with Creskeld, whom she beat by a head. And the form has since been franked by the third in the contest, Miss C, an impressive winner at Beverley on Wednesday.
Sandown hosts the day's showcase handicap, the SBJ Group Stakes over a mile-and-a-quarter.
Kieren Fallon partners the top-weight Pantar, but I prefer to look lower down the weights to Forest Heath (3.40), a lightly-raced gelding with bags of scope for further improvement.
Chris Wall must have been a relieved man when Crossways passed the post first at Lingfield this week because it was the first winner on the turf this term for the talented Newmarket handler.
Perhaps it is a signal for the floodgates to open for he has excellent opportunities of tripling his seasonal tally with So Sober (2.25) at Southwell, and Face D Facts (8.35) at Goodwood.
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