Dave Nevison: our top tipster is out to cap a bumper week

It’s been a good week for me on the tipping front and hopefully the good run will extend to what is an excellent day for punters who enjoy handicaps at on Saturday. These are my four for the elusive Yankee.  

Paul Midgley has landed this race three times since its inception and obviously this novel 0-80 sprint handicap is an ideal target for the grade of horses he manages. 

There is certainly a case on handicapping that will be the best of Midgley’s runners here and the seven-year-old indicated he was very much on the way back last time out. 

 Strong Johnson won off a mark of 82 last backend, his third win of the year, but after a few lesser runs he is back down to a mark of 74 for this. 

His latest run came over 6f at Thirsk and he only really gave best in the last 50 yards. 

All but one of his nine career wins have come over the minimum trip. Provided Sam Twiston-Davies can get him out of the stalls sharpish, then Strong Johnson may be able to lead this field all the way.  

Silkie Wilkie has never won at York but has an excellent record at the track, having been runner-up in two maidens on his first two starts and then beaten very narrowly in two big handicaps. On another occasion, he was only beaten just over a length. 

There is no doubt Karl Burke’s five-year-old has a few too many second places on his CV but he wears his heart on his sleeve, giving his running nearly every time. 

He ran an excellent second to course specialist Jordan Electrics at Hamilton last time. He’s gone up 2lb in the weights but is still well enough weighted. 

Carrytheone surely cannot carry on being unlucky for much longer, and if he does get the breaks a victory in one of these key summer handicaps is his for the taking. 

His backers at the Royal Meeting were cursing their luck as he flew home and bumped into  English Oak, who is confirmed as Group Class. 

Those of us who backed him heavily in the Bunbury Cup at the July Meeting last time were left feeling robbed as he had no sort of run and after being last most of the way he passed most of the field to finish fourth finishing full of running. 

The difference between the stiff track and Newmarket, which favours front-runners, could be a key factor here and I am hopeful Carrytheone will track a good pace and hopefully Pat Dobbs can steer him through the field without hitting too many traffic problems. 

If he can, I believe Carrytheone will show himself ahead of the mark. 

Theme Park was no doubt bought out of Sir Michael Stoute’s yard with races at York in mind and he seemingly runs here at every opportunity he gets. 

He has something of a mixed form profile but last season he was twice only beaten narrowly over this trip off marks of 85 and 83 respectively. 

Nigel Tinkler is running him over the extended 7f here for the first time this season off a mark of 78 here and that could be a significant move. 

Moreover, Theme Park is running on top of the ground for the first time this season after probably being stretched by softer going. 

He’s a hopeful rather than confident selection, but I will be disappointed if he does not put up a good performance.