Mass Rally can call the tune in Symphony Group Handicap

Mass Rally can take advantage of a drop in class to land the 5f handicap that kicks-off proceedings on a cracking card at York today (1.55).

The Michael Dods’ trained gelding is a smart sort who is ideally suited by big fields and a strong pace to aim at.

The seven-year-old is just 2lb higher than when registering his last success in an ultra-ccompetitive class 2 handicap over 6f at this venue back in October, and has since performed with great credit in Group company.

Those runs include a decent sixth of 14 to Slade Power in a Group 2 contest at Ascot, and a cracking fourth of 13 to Maarek in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes here last time out.

The latter suggested that Mass Rally was coming back to his best, and the son of Kheleyf now drops back into handicap company for the first time since when last successful.

Although Mass Rally has yet to win over this afternoon’s 5f trip, he has made the frame on just three tries over it and been beaten just a head, a neck and a length on those occasions.

That suggests the drop back to the minimum trip should not be a problem, and although Mass Rally has to shoulder top-weight of 9st 10lb the veteran is the class act in the field and looks sure to get the race run to suit.

There are plenty of dangers in a wide open contest, and See The Sun could well prove the biggest.

The Tim Easterby trained geling won a valuable 20-runner contest over 6f at the track in June, and ran really well last time out at this venue when sixth of 19 to Muthmir in another hot 6f contest.

See The Sun travelled strongly at the head of affairs in the latter before weakening late on to be beaten 3 1/2 lengths.

It was a run which suggested a drop back to today’s 5f may well suit, and the son of Assertive could take some pegging back if that proves to be the case.