INGRA Tor created a significant impression when he won the six-furlong handicap that concluded proceedings on 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket. Mick Channon’s horse travelled well through his race, and he quickened away nicely on the far side, coming over two lengths clear of Harry Three, who was in turn nicely clear of the rest.

Harry Three added ballast to the form too when he won a decent handicap over the same course and distance two weeks later off a 2lb higher mark. Clive Cox’s horse is now rated 8lb higher than he was when Ingra Tor beat him.

That makes Ingra Tor very interesting off today’s mark of 91, 9lb higher than his Newmarket mark, just 1lb worse off with Harry Three after beating him by over two lengths.

Also, he won with more in hand than the winning margin, and it was just his fourth run ever and his second on turf. He has the potential to progress again.

Likeable

He is a really likeable horse, but he is fashionable and he was always going to be popular wherever he was going to go after his Newmarket win, as evidenced by his short price for today’s race. At respective prices, Annaf is a more attractive betting proposition.

Michael Appleby’s horse was actually sent off as joint-favourite for that Newmarket race, but not much went right. He missed the break, he was squeezed out of it just after the start, and he had to use up energy to get into the race after that.

As well as that, that was his first run on turf, and he switched to race towards the near side, which probably wasn’t the place to be at Newmarket on Guineas weekend. The first two home in the race raced on the far side throughout.

On his previous run, Annaf did well to finish fourth behind El Caballo and Tiber Flow in the All-Weather Championships at Newcastle on Good Friday.

Drawn one on the far side, and ridden as usual by Theodore Ladd, who couldn’t claim his 3lb, he went to his left out of the gate.

He had to tuck in behind runners on the far side, and he had to make his ground away from the stands rail.

It never looked like he was going to get to the two leaders, but he almost caught the 102-rated Space Cowboy for third, and he pulled nicely clear of the fifth horse.

That is strong form. El Caballo has since won the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes and is second favourite for the Commonwealth Cup next week, and Tiber Flow, owned, like Ingra Tor, by Jon and Julia Aisbitt, beat Ehraz in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes last time. Annaf gets to race in a handicap today off a mark of 95.

He proved that he could operate on turf last time in a competitive seven-furlong handicap at Goodwood three weeks ago when he kept on well on the far side to finish third behind Galiac.

He raced from stall 10 of 10 that day, the worst draw over seven furlongs at Goodwood, and that negative that was accentuated by the fact that he went to his left again on leaving the stalls.

You couldn’t say that he didn’t see out the seven-furlong trip, but he was keen enough through the early stages of the race, and he was ridden conservatively over the longest trip over which he had ever raced.

He should be more comfortable today back at six furlongs.

He is drawn on the wing again today in stall one, so hopefully he doesn’t go too significantly to his left on exiting the stalls, but a low draw on York’s straight course is rarely a negative, and Lucky Man in stall two generally likes to go forward, so hopefully he can get a nice tow into the race.

He has never run at York, but his three-parts brother Mushir put up one of the best performances of his life in winning the Listed Rockingham Stakes over today’s course and distance, so hopefully he will be okay on the track.

Ingra Tor and Harry Three are both big players but, at a much bigger price, in a highly competitive race, Annaf is a better betting proposition.

Ouzo a bet

Ouzo is a decent betting proposition too in the Class 2 one-mile handicap at Sandown.

A four-time winner for Richard Hannon, he put up a nice performance last time over today’s course and distance on his first run for Jamie Osborne in finishing second behind Rebel Territory.

Weak in the market that day, he travelled well into the home straight, and he kept on well to go down by just a neck, the front pair finishing nicely clear of their rivals.

The handicapper raised him by 4lb for that run, but he should progress from it, his first since October and his first for his new trainer.

He obviously goes well at Sandown – he won a handicap there as a three-year-old on his only other run at the Esher track – and, under Saffie Osborne, who remains excellent value for her 3lb claim, he could go close.

Recommended

Ouzo, 1 point win, 2.15 Sandown, 100/30 (generally)

Annaf, 1 point each-way, 3.40 York, 12/1 (generally)