In-form jockey the key to Makin a fortune at York this weekend

For some, a horse automatically becomes more backable if it has the services of Ryan Moore or Richard Hughes on board. But at York at least, it’s worth focusing on a lesser known name in the weighing room.

In firing in a four-time last weekend, including victory in the John Smith’s Cup, Phillip Makin continued his love affair with the northern track.

Those victories took his Knavesmire tally for the season up to seven from 25 rides, a strike-rate of 28 per cent, not too shabby for a jockey that doesn’t have the backing of the powerhouses of Ballydoyle or Richard Hannon.

What’s more, the 30-year-old isn’t just firing in short-priced winners.

Master Capenter delivered at 14/1 on July 18 with Makin on board, while he has also popped up with a 10/1 success and two 7/1 victories.

In fact, a £10 stake on every one of his rides at the track in 2015 would have yielded a very impressive level stakes profit of £350.

But even when he’s not been getting his mounts’ head in front, you can generally rely on the man connected to Keith Dalgleish to give you a run for your money.

Five of his beaten rides did manage to earn some place money for each-way backers this season at some hefty prices.

Even backing Makin every time he lined up at York with £5 each-way would have left you in a none-too-shabby profit of £237.25 this season.

So with the man of the moment off to his favoured track this weekend, we know where we are looking for some returns.

He has four rides on Saturday, three of them in races covered by Ladbrokes’ special free bet offer where you can land a freebie if you back a winner at odds of 4/1 or greater!*

At 14:20 Makin will link up with David O’Meara’s Mont Ras for the first time in the 7f handicap.

The eight-year-old is shouldered with top weight, and will need to step up on his reappearance here two weeks ago.

He was off the track for over a year prior to that, so it’s only natural to expect him to come on for that effort.

The following race he gets the leg up on Tullius in the Group 2 York Stakes.

He will have his work cut out with Andrew Balding’s charge well beaten on all three starts over 10f in his career to date.

Though with a dead eight in the line-up there’s always the hope of some place money with an in-form pilot in the saddle.

Makin’s equine equivalent Willbeme is his next mount, with the Kyllachy mare placed or winning on three of her four starts at York. The SkyBet dash looks right up her street and she could be primed for more improvement.

Rounding off the quartet on Saturday will be Reputation for John Quinn in the 16:05 maiden.

He was a well-beaten sixth over course and distance on debut, though with a racecourse education under his belt could come good at the second time of asking.

While he is not likely to be riding any short-priced runners, with his record at the track, it certainly pays to follow Phillip Makin when it comes to contests at York.

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