York Racecourse

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Richard Fahey Trio Raring To Go In York’s Skybet Dash
26/07/07

Malton handler Richard Fahey looks set to make a three-pronged attack on Saturday’s £50,000 Skybet Dash (3.50pm) at York, with 2006 hero Wyatt Earp, Green Park and Philharmonic all likely to take their chance in the valuable six-furlong handicap.

Wyatt Earp, a 14/1 chance with the sponsors to land the Skybet Dash for the second year running, confirmed his liking for York with victory in a six-furlong handicap in May - his third success on the Knavesmire - and although down the field on his last two starts, most recently behind stablemate Knot In Wood at Hamilton on July 13, the six-year-old gelding’s trainer is hoping that a return to his favourite track can work the oracle.

Richard Fahey said today: “Wyatt Earp [8st 10lb] looks like heading for the Skybet Dash on Saturday. In fairness, he seems to be better on faster ground, but the owners are very keen to run at York.

“He does enjoy York and seems to be in great form at the moment - he’s in tip-top shape. Wyatt Earp has won on soft ground in the past, but is maybe now better on a quicker surface and we could do with some dry weather for him.”

Also set to represent Fahey in the Skybet Dash are Green Park, successful in the five-furlong Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle on June 29 and eighth in a valuable five-furlong handicap at the Curragh on July 15, and Philharmonic, who ran against the likes of Reverence and Etlaala last term, winning twice, but is yet to be seen out this year.

Fahey continued: “Green Park [8st 12lb, rated a 12/1 chance with Sky Bet ] was very unlucky in Ireland last time. He got knocked over and was either coming through to win a head or get beat a head, although there were a few unlucky stories in that race.

“It is a case of the softer the better for Green Park. He won well at Newcastle on heavy ground and really enjoys testing conditions.

“My other runner will be Philharmonic [9st 4lb, 16/1 with the sponsors]. He will love the ground and is in great order at the moment. He hasn’t really had any problems but wasn’t healthy early on, which is why he hasn’t run yet. He is fit and ready to go and has dropped to a decent mark. I haven’t decided on jockeys for my runners yet.”

Charlie Tokyo, who showed plenty of courage to land the John Smith’s Cup at York on July 14 from stable companion Flying Clarets, is under consideration for a steep rise in class having been entered in the £100,000 Group Two Skybet York Stakes (3.15pm), where he could meet Epsom Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain.

The four-year-old son of Trans Island relished the nine-furlong trip and heavy conditions to land his biggest victory but would be taking on a different class of opposition in the extended 10-furlong Skybet York Stakes.

Fahey revealed: “The entry is a shot in the dark really, but I’ll keep an eye on the race and see what happens. He’s only 50-50 to run at the moment.

“The John Smith’s Cup was a £150,000 race and it’s very tough after that to go back down and compete in handicaps worth a lot less.

“Charlie Tokyo is in good form, seems to like York and handles the heavy ground. It would be a massive step up, but you never know.”

Skybet Day at York on Saturday, July 28, features a superb eight-race card. Along with the £50,000 Skybet Dash (3.50pm) and £100,000 Group Two Skybet York Stakes (3.15pm), there is the £35,000 skybet.com Silver Cup Stakes (2.40pm), a 14-furlong Listed contest transferred from York’s abandoned meeting on July 14.

Due to the recent rainfall at York, the maximum filed size for seven of the eight races on Skybet Day will now be limited to 12 runners. The one exception is the Skybet Press Red to Bet on C4 Handicap (4.30pm), where the maximum field will be 10 runners. These changes have been made so that the wettest parts of the course can be railed off and not used.

Dale Tempest, Sky Bet PR Director, commented: “With 43 entries on Saturday for the Skybet Dash, we were hoping for our biggest-ever field but that now isn't going to be the case.

“It is of course disappointing, but with the recent weather we will be happy simply for the meeting to go ahead.”