DOUBLE Rush is high in the market for the Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap at York today, but there is a chance that he is a seriously well handicapped horse now on a mark of 95, and you can argue that he should be even shorter than he is.

Beaten in all three races last season as a juvenile, Charlie Hills’ horse got off the mark at Wolverhampton in late March on his first run at three. Really strong in the market before that race, he got out in front from early and he won impressively, coming four lengths clear in the end of runner-up French Sand, who easily won her maiden next time over the same course and distance.

Double Rush went to Newmarket next time and, racing off a mark of 85, was impressive in winning a handicap at the Craven meeting. He travelled well through his race that day, just behind the pace and, when Jason Watson took him towards the near side and asked him to pick up, he picked up impressively and went to the line strongly. He won by just over a length in the end from his lesser-fancied stable companion Bob Mali, but he left the impression that he had a fair bit more in hand than that.

That race is working out well too. Third-placed Invictus Gold won a handicap back over the same course and distance at the Guineas meeting and is now rated 11lb higher than he was then. He was entered in this race at the five-day stage, and he is high in the betting for the Wokingham.

Also, back in fourth was Gallant, who won at Lingfield last Thursday and is now 4lb higher than he was then, while in fifth was Loom, who re-opposes today, and who finished second next time in a good sprint handicap at York’s Dante meeting.

Double Rush hasn’t run since then, but he goes well fresh. His best run last season as a juvenile was on his debut, and he won easily at Wolverhampton on his debut this season.

Stall 20 is not ideal, you would ideally like to be a little lower, but high numbers didn’t do badly in the six-furlong races at York yesterday (notwithstanding the fact that the first four home in the five-furlong handicap emerged from the four lowest stalls) with the stalls in the centre.

Loom is a player, he is 4lb better off with Double Rush on their Newmarket running, and the fitting of a first-time hood could elicit further improvement, while Maelstrom kept on well to win at Haydock last time and a 4lb hike was not overly harsh.

That said, Double Rush has raced just five times in his life, he has the potential to go well beyond the handicap rating of 95 off which he races today, and it is significant that Shane Foley is going to York for just one ride now, with Little Empire a non-runner in the opening contest.

Darcey is the answer

Dashing Darcey could be the answer to that opening seven-furlong handicap. The Muhaarar colt was progressive last season, he won a handicap at Haydock last June off a mark of 86, and he rounded off last season by finishing third behind Alpha Crucis and Rhoscolyn – who both ran big races in defeat at Epsom at the weekend – in a heavy-ground handicap at Goodwood in October off a mark of 92.

He had no luck in-running in the Lincoln on his debut this season, so you can easily put a line through that run, and he didn’t have an awful lot of luck last time either when he finished second behind Great Chieftain in a one-mile handicap at Haydock. Dropped in that day from his wide draw, he travelled well into the home straight, and he stayed on well to take second place.

The first four home had a nice break on the rest of the field, and the other three horses who, with him, filled those first four places were all drawn low. Also, four of the first five home raced in mid-division or better from early. He was the only horse who was able to get into the race from the rear. He gets to race off a 1lb higher mark today, and that should be fine. He has the potential to step forward again now. Trainer Geoffrey Harker has been having a quiet time of it this season so far, but two of his last four runners have finished second, Animate was only just beaten at Ripon on Wednesday last week and Mudamer finished second in a one-mile handicap at Doncaster last Friday. Dashing Darcey could go one better today.

Recommended

Dashing Darcey 1.50 York - 1pt win at 5/1 (generally)

Double Rush 3.35 York - 1pt e/w at 9/2 (generally)