York Preview: Course specialist Navajo Chief on the warpath

Navajo Chief has a terrific record at York and looks to hold major claims of further enhancing it in the 1m handicap there today (3.15).

The Alan Jarvis trained gelding has won three of his nine starts at the track, two of which have come over this afternoon’s trip of a mile.

The seven-year-old’s last success came over course and distance in this race 12 months ago,where he ran on strongly to beat Prince of Johanne by 1 1/2 lengths off a mark of 100.

The son of King’s Best now gets into this year’s renewal of 3lb lower, and also has the services of Kieren Fallon in the saddle.

Another plus is that Navajo Chief has a terrific record fresh, having won on four occasions after a break of 100 days or more, and it could well be that first time up is the best time to catch him.

With the ground ideal, everything looks in place for Navajo Chief to make a bold bid to retain his crown.

In the 5f sprint handicap that kicks-off today’s seven-race card (1.45), Bogart looks weighted to go well.

The Kevin Ryan trained gelding is a real speed ball, who ran an excellent race on his reappearance last season when third to Spirit Quratz in a conditions contest as Nottingham off an official rating of 107.

He went on to finish a solid 8th of 17 to Society Rock in a Group 2 contest at this track before making all to land a 17-runner handicap over course and distance off a mark of 97.

The son of Bahamian Bounty now gets into this off just 3lb higher, and has the services of Jamie Spencer in the saddle who has a 25% strike rate in the past 12 months when teaming up with the stable.

With the drying ground in his favour and a good draw in stall 17, Bogart looks a big player.

Entihaa has shaped really well in his last two starts and looks a bit of value now stepped up to 2m for the first time in the finale (5.00).

The Alan Swinbank trained gelding is lightly raced for a six-year-old, and put in an eye-catching when a staying on third of 10 to Forced Family Fun over 1m 4f at Newcastle on his first outing this season.