York Placepot picks: Tom Segal attempts to crack the £50,000 guaranteed pool

The York Placepot is going to take some unpicking with two big-field sprint handicaps to decipher and an unsettled weather forecast as well.

Having said that, the opening novice (1.40) can be boiled down to two, with Shah the obvious form choice after his second in the Convivial over course and distance last time. However, if the ground was to worsen then Windlord looks the safer choice after his second in a race at Sandown that has worked out well.

Irish Nectar, who appeared on the way back at Carlisle last time and has a win at this track to his name, and Make It Easy, who was a big eyecatcher from a bad draw at Chester last time, are the two against the field in the 5f handicap (2.15).

Yes I'm Mali can be banked on in the nursery (2.50) after his win at the Ebor meeting. He had a draw advantage that day but this is not as strong a race and the 5lb rise is far from insurmountable.

Old Cock is on a roll and is the one to beat in the mile handicap (3.25), but he has no York form, while Apiarist and Zain Blue do.

Quinault is the obvious one in the Listed sprint (4.00) but he does have a penalty to overcome and if last year's Ayr Gold Cup winner, Significantly, is at his best after a break he's a big danger, especially if the ground softens.

The 22-runner 6f handicap (4.35) that concludes the Placepot is extremely difficult, but the veteran Muscika is in good form and Modern Times might well be suited by dropping to sprint trips for the first time.

York Placepot perm

1.40
8 Windlord

2.15
8 Irish Nectar
13 Make It Easy

2.50
6 Yes I'm Mali

3.25
5 Apiarist
7 Zain Blue

4.00
1 Quinault
4 Significantly

4.35
5 Modern Times
16 Muscika

1x2x1x2x2x2=16 lines

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