York free racing tips: Course-distance specialist primed to repeat 2022 Coral Sprint triumph

14:40 York: Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap (6 furlongs)

Having won this race in 2022, Strike Red clearly loves this course and distance and is as good as ever this season, so he looks a good bet to repeat that success under today’s rider, Billy Garrity.

The race two years ago took place on good-soft ground with Strike Red running off a mark of 92, and his effort needs marking-up because he raced widest of all, on the edge of the main pack and well away from the main action, for much of the race.

His only visit since that day was in August this year, when he finished a close-up runner-up of 19 in another Class 2 heritage handicap, which he contested off 93.

Again partnered by Garrity, Strike Red was ridden very prominently the whole way, hitting the front approaching the furlong pole and only being overhauled by the three-year-old favourite, Elmonjed, a highly progressive young sprinter who had won a Class 2 sprint series final at Windsor on his previous outing.

Best Bet : Strike Red each-way in the 14:40 at York

Certainly, the good-firm ground that day would have been much quicker than Strike Red would have wanted, but he has more suitable conditions off the same mark today, so he looks a good bet to repeat his success in this race.

Of the 38 rivals he has faced in his last two visits, both highly competitive Class 2 heritage handicaps, only Elmnjed has been able to beat Strike Red, and not by far.

In the Ayr Gold Cup last month, another race that took place on quicker ground than Strike Red prefers, he did much the best of those in the lower half of the draw, putting clear daylight between himself and the others drawn on that side.

On that sort of form, he looks primed for another big performance back over his favourite course and distance, and with the ground in his favour, he looks handicapped to win again with the right rider in the saddle.

Of the others, Room Service was never nearer than at the finish in the Ayr Gold Cup, finishing a neck behind Strike Red (though from a much better draw, and he can be expected to come on for that first run following a break which incorporated a wind operation.

Still quite lightly-raced, his only previous visit to this venue was for a Class 2 in August last year, in which he finished a never-nearer third of 16 on unsuitably quick ground following a break.

He duly came on for that big run, winning a very valuable stakes race over 6½ furlongs at Doncaster the following month, a race that took place with cut in the ground.

He can once again go very well on his second start after a break, and there is likely more to come from this classy 3yo colt.

Next Best Bet: Room Service each-way in the 14:40 at York

• Preview and tips provided Steve Jones, who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr