Tiddliwinks overpriced to produce another bold York showing

The Duke of York Stakes produced a shock result last year, when Tiddliwinks was first past the post to gift trainer Kevin Ryan a 25/1 winner.

And whilst it is easy to understand why Guy Reed’s gelding went off at such a hefty price in that race, it is more difficult to comprehend why he can be backed at 16/1 to claim this renewal.

Indeed, in 2012, Tiddliwinks appeared at York on the back of consecutive last-place finishes, hence the lofty odds attributed to the then six-year-old.

But those less-than-stellar showings over 6f at Haydock and then Newmarket proved the ideal preparation for the Grade Two York showpiece.

Thus, perhaps the fact that Tiddliwinks finished the final of nine horses in his last outing should not be seen as a particular negative.

Also run over 6f at Newmarket, Tiddliwinks’ last performance mirrors his final prep run prior to the Duke of York Stakes last year, insinuating that his odds to achieve a repeat success are eye-catchingly long.

Meanwhile, another positive to his chances is the fact that his best work has traditionally been done at this time of year.

Tiddliwinks followed up his Duke of York Stakes victory last year with a triumph over the same distance at Curragh only 10 days later, whilst the seven-year-old has finished outside the first three in only one of his four May starts.

Therefore, he would seem to represent each-way value at worst as a 16/1 shot, particularly if the highly regarded Jamie Spencer resumes his partnership with the gelding, as expected.

Spencer rode Tiddliwinks to victory in last year’s renewal of the Dante Festival contest, and has already racked up 60 flat-race triumphs in 2013.

The Irish rider’s best strike rate is emergent from races involving horses at least three years old also, another point that bodes well for Tiddliwinks’ chances of a repeat York win.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.