Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York Tips

The Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York on Tuesday gives the stayers a chance to do battle for a decent pot without having to see the rear end of Yeats, who has sluiced up in both the Ascot Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup the last twice. Few will be more popular in this Group 2 contest than last year's 'horse of the year' Sergeant Cecil, who rattled up a hat-trick of big-field handicaps but has yet to make his mark in pattern-race company, although he has invariably performed with credit and clearly he deserves a victory in this grade. However, the seven-year-old is at his best when weaving his way through a big field in strongly-run handicaps. These cup races just don't play to his strengths, as they are more tactical, and although there will be a decent enough gallop in this two-mile even, I doubt it will be anywhere near frenetic enough for Rod Millman's stable star. In this type of race at a sharp track like York, the best place to be as at the head of affairs in races of this nature, especially when there's plenty of cut in the ground, which makes it even harder for horses to come from off the pace. With this in mind, Tungesten Strike, a best-priced 10/3 with Ladbrokes, looks the one to be on. Amanda Perrett's charge had seven of his eleven rivals in this event behind when third to Yeats at Glorious Goodwood last time, an effort which deserves additional credit as the good to firm going would have been plenty fast enough for him. The son of Smart Strike produced by far his best performance of the season thus far on an easy surface when bounding clear to beat Winged d'Argent on soft going in the Group 2 wbx.com World Bet Exchange Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May. He proved on that occasion that he doesn't necessarily need to be allowed an uncontested lead, but there's little doubt that he is pretty effective when ridden enterprisingly and, chances are, he'll probably be given a tow for a while by High Action before being given the office in the final quarter of the race. From there on in, his rivals will be well and truly put to the sword, and I doubt that he'll be caught. Baddam, who recorded a famous double when scoring twice at Royal Ascot in June, demonstrated that he is still on an upward curve when finishing a creditable fifth to Yeats in the Goodwood Cup, but I don't see any reason why he should reverse the placings with Tungsten Strike, a remark which also applies to the fourth that day, Sergeant Cecil. Tungsten Strike's stablemate Bulwark looked a shade unlucky at Goodwood. He looked in with a good chance of grabbing fourth place, but started to veer left and right under pressure. He eventually trailed home in eighth place, but is clearly better than that finishing position suggests and, if hey can keep a straight line when the chips are down, he could sneak into a place. Verdict - 1pt Tungsten Strike @ 10/3 (Ladbrokes)