The Weekends Racing – By The Sportsman Racing

In York’s 2.05 Cracktentorp won the Queen Mother Cup last year and is capable of repeating the feat. Reverted to hurdles over the winter Tim Easterby’s horse made an encouraging start to his flat campaign when only beaten a neck in third place in a Class 2 handicap. The Queen Mother Cup has been the long term plan of the shrewd Easterby camp. Two Pancakes made an eye-catching debut when third at Ripon last month at odds of 16-1. Declan Carrol’s charge was clueless when leaving the starting gate, costing him many lengths. Rapid headway however was made 2f from home and though Ask Dad has decent form in the book the value may lie with Two Pancakes. It’s difficult not to look ahead to Royal Ascot and one horse to keep onside is aptly the Queen’s Carlton House in the Prince of Wales Stakes on the second day of the meeting. Last year’s Derby third suffered a couple of setbacks that kept him off the track for the best part of a year but made an enterprising return when winning the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown with room to spare. A mile and a quarter should play to his strengths and Michael Stoute will be desperate to provide the Queen with a Group 1 winner in Jubilee year.]]>