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Tag: york ebor

  • York Ebor Festival Day Four: Selections and Naps

    York Ebor Festival Day Four: Selections and Naps

    Some big winners yesterday, with Marhaba The Champ and Coltrane in the first two races. Highfield Princess just couldn’t catch Live In The Dream, and the gamble failed on Kevin Ryan’s two-year-old. But today’s a new day, and we aim to end on a high. Some interesting handicaps, plus the returns of Kinross in the City Of York Stakes.

     

    A Frankie Flourish

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    NAP: City Of York Stakes (Group Two) – Kinross @ 2/1 (BetVictor)

    Kinross is starting to get into the swing of things once again. That Lennox Stakes win proved that he is the best top-class seven furlong specialist, even if Isaac Shelby posed a threat. But last year he produced his most eye-catching win on the Knavesmire before snaffling Europe’s big prizes over 1400 metres. Trainer Ralph Beckett has said that he suits York, and the similar firm conditions won’t be a problem, much like last year. It will be a perfect send-off for one Llanfranco Dettori at one of his favourite meetings, aboard, surely, one of his favourite horses.

     

    From South To North

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    E/W Bet: Strensall Stakes (Group Three) – Chichester @ 33/1 (BetVictor, Betfred, Boylesports)

    Nostrum is the pick, but Chichester is intriguing. Trawling through the form of each of the six runners that enjoys the firmer ground, with three wins on it in his career. And with some handicappers coming into the race, Chichester can improve on his Listed win over C&D in June, when winning by almost two lengths. He has the Group form and the ground and he could sneak a surprise second, not the first at York this week.

     

    Going for Hat Trick Gold

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    Handicap Best: Constantine H’cap (Heritage) – Aberama Gold @ 8/1 (General)

    Six furlong sprints are what it’s all about at York. And Aberama Gold knows all about it. In a breakout year he’s won a class two handicap by a neck, and then the Stewards’ Cup. Manila Scouse has backed up the form twice, disappointing earlier in the week however, and has claimer on board to take the heavy five pound rise in the weights down to a mere two. There has been no bias in the draw, if slightly mid-to-high, and can do the business of the rail from stall one.

    The Green Man finished third to Aberama Gold at York a month ago and has been kept fresh for the race by trainer Joseph Parr. A winner on firm ground lower down in the classes, he produced a career best with Danny Muscett on board to finish within two lengths of the winner. With the form backed up, and a five pound claimer who knows the horse well, expect the green man to cross the line in the places at 10/1 (General)

    And spare a thought for Anthem National who pulled out of the Great St. Wilfrid due to the soft ground. But at least we know he should get the ground here. Second last time out to Commanche Falls, who followed up again at Newbury, he shouldn’t be discounted just because he’s running for Philip Kirby for the first time. He can outrun his odds at 28/1 (William Hill, BetVictor)

     

    Selections:

    13:50 – Strensall Stakes (Group Three) – Nostrum @ 11/10 (Betfred), Chichester (E/W) @ 33/1 (BetVictor, Betfred, Boylesports)

    14:25 – Melrose H’cap (Heritage) – Lordship @ 4/1 (BetVictor, Betfred, Boylesports), Vaguely Royal @ 11/1 (888Sport, BetVictor), Fox Journey @ 14/1 (William Hill, BetVictor, Boylesports)

    15:00 – City Of York Stakes (Group Two) – Kinross (NAP) @ 2/1 (BetVictor)

    15:35 – Ebor H’cap (Heritage) – Live Your Dream @ 10/1 (General), Adjuvant @ 12/1 (Boylesports, BetUK), Berkshire Rocco @ 25/1 (Boylesports)

    16:10 – Constantine H’cap (Heritage) – Aberama Gold (HB) @ 8/1 (General), The Green Man @ 10/1 (General), Anthem National @ 28/1 (William Hill, BetVictor)

    16:45 – Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed) – Purosangue @ 7/4 (General)

    17:20 – Finale H’cap (Heritage) – Astro King @ 6/1 (888Sport, BetVictor, Betfred), Killybegs Warrior @ 16/1 (General), Marie’s Diamond @ 40/1 (BetVictor, Unibet, Betfred)

    Best of Luck!

  • York Ebor Festival Day Three: Selections and Naps

    York Ebor Festival Day Three: Selections and Naps

    Keeping the winning momentum at this week’s Ebor meeting, with three winners yesterday. Relief Rally and Warm Heart tipped up in both the NAP and E/W bet landed. Sea Theme made it three in the selections column. Day Three is Fab Friday and the Princess of speed returns to her home track. Is the Nunthorpe going to be hers once again?

    Nunthorpe Nap

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    NAP: Nunthorpe Stakes (Group One) – Highfield Princess @ 6/4 (General)

    Instead of being the winning machine, it took Highfield Princess a few go’s to hit top level. And at Goodwood she did, in some style. This is a race she was always going to come to, given her Yorkshire connections, and she won last year’s race on similar conditions with plenty in hand. Bradsell is her chief rival, and has been given a break since Royal Ascot. But, on previous form this is the part of the season where she begins to shine.

    A Fifth Crack

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    E/W Bet: Gimcrack Stakes (Group Two) – Jehangeer @ 14/1 (William Hill, Boylesports)

    Today we could see a big gamble on Jehangeer. Already been backed in from 33/1 on Thursday, someone knows something about this son of Kodiac and brother to Hello Youmzain. His breeding shows he will like the firm ground, and his form from his last Ayr maiden looks positive too. James Doyle has already bagged a big race at the Ebor Festival yesterday, and Kevin Ryan has picked up a prize too. Ryan has also won this race four times, and if he thinks this horse can make the massive step from class six maiden to Group Two winner, then he has every chance.

    Moore The Champ

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    Handicap Best: Sky Bet H’cap (Heritage) – Marhaba The Champ @ 11/1 (888Sport)

    Marhaba The Champs’ last win came at York in May, on firm ground. He’s just a pound higher than that mark today. Granted, he hasn’t always turned up for his races this season. He steps to a mile-and-a-half which looks a positive on evidence of his win at York earlier in the season. Again Kevin Ryan loves a winner at York, no less the Ebor Festival and he should be in top nick for today.

    Bague D’or is intriguing. Only one five-year-old has won in the last ten years, and was recently too. He’s been off the track since Glorious Goodwood 2022, when he finished behind the Ebor winner Trawlerman. It’s his first run under James Ferguson, and handles both the firm ground and the trip. His mark hasn’t changed since last year, but that’s worked out the handicapping of the race. 9/1 (Betfred, BetUK) is a good price for a horse with a big layoff.

     

    Selections:

    13:50 – Sky Bet H’cap (Heritage) – Marhaba The Champ @ 11/1 (888Sport), Bague D’or @ 9/1 (Betfred, BetUK)

    14:25 – Yorkshire Cup (Group Two) – Coltrane @ 11/4 (William Hill), Giavellotto @ 7/1 (BetVictor, Boylesports)

    15:00 – Gimcrack Stakes (Group Two) – Kings Gamble @ 8/1 (BetVictor, Betfred, Boylesports), Jehangeer (E/W) @ 14/1 (William Hill, Boylesports)

    15:35 – Nunthorpe Stakes (Group One) – Highfield Princess (NAP) @ 6/4 (General)

    16:10 – Fillies’ H’cap (Heritage) – Sirona @ 6/1 (William Hill)

    16:45 – Convivial Maiden Stakes – Castle In The Sand @ 10/1 (888Sport), Sisphyean @ 9/1 (General)

    17:20 – 3-Y-O Mile Handicap (Heritage) – Bajan Bandit @ 15/2 (888Sport, BetVictor), Glenfinnan @ 9/1 (General)

    Best of Luck!

  • York Ebor Festival – Day 2 Bets – The Top Three

    York Ebor Festival – Day 2 Bets – The Top Three

    Yesterday was an enjoyable opening day of the York Ebor Festival for a few reasons.

    Firstly, The Top Three began the meeting in good form thanks to two winners on the Knavesmire, a welcome sight for regular readers.

    Secondly, despite the small field (and my inner fandom for Paddington), the Juddmonte International did not disappoint, giving racing fans a truly classic spectacle to savour.

    Looking ahead to day two, here are my three main plays for today’s feature action.

     

    Group 2 Lowther Stakes (1:50 York) – Relief Rally @ 7/4 with William Hill – 3pt Win

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    Beginning with the first race on day two of the York Ebor Festival, although this is not new news, it’s hard to look past William Haggas’ Relief Rally at 7/4.

    The juvenile by Kodiac has been a model of consistency in the famous double green colours of Simon Munir & Isaac Souede this season and steps up to six furlongs for the first time later today.

    That shouldn’t be an issue based on how she has shaped in some of her races, most notably last time out in the Super Sprint where she powered through the good-to-soft conditions and hit the line well under Tom Marquand.

    This victory at Newbury followed a desperately unlucky second in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes where the 58,000 guineas purchase ate up the ground between herself and the winner, Crimson Advocate, however, she was on the wrong side of the head-bobbing finish and settled for a runners-up medal.

    Both Flora Of Bermuda (6/1) and Beautiful Diamond (7/1) were behind her on that occasion, and while they could take a step up and improve past, that would seem unlikely.

    This year’s Lowther Stakes is one to be excited about as it’s a deep race, but Relief Rally is the one who gets the nod at the head of the market.

     

    Clipper Handicap (3:00 York) – Northern Express @ 6/1 with BetVictor – 1pt EW

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    Moving on to the ever-competitive Clipper Handicap at 3:00, Michael Dodds could have a strong hand in the contest with Northern Express at a fair price of 6/1.

    With regular rider Paul Mulrennan booked to do the steering, the Zoffany five-year-old has been bumping heads with improving handicappers all season despite consistently running good races.

    He showed to good effect in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race won by Witch Hunter at 50/1 for Richard Hannon who has since won the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

    From that race two months ago, the fourth, Spangled Mac, was victorious in a Newbury handicap on Saturday, the sixth, Bopedro, won at Newmarket on Friday, and the ninth, Biggles, bolted up in the Bunbury Cup on his next start.

    Furthermore, it’s not just that race that has seen the form franked either, as horses from his victory at York two starts ago and third at the same course in May have won since.

    Northern Express has been remarkable this season and although he is rated as high at 101, he is officially two pounds well in and will hopefully get his big day in the sun at the York Ebor meeting.

    Listed Galtres Stakes (4:10 York) – One Evening @ 11/2 with William Hill – 1pt EW

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    The final selection on day two of the York Ebor Festival comes in the concluding contest shown on ITV, the Listed Galtres Stakes, as I’m taking a chance on One Evening to continue her progression for John & Thady Gosden.

    The four-year-old has to give weight away to the younger prospects in the race – Scenic, Sea Time, and Spring Fever notably – but a look through her form suggests she could be able to do this successfully.

    Beginning with her seasonal opener, the Galileo filly attempted to make all in the Group 3 Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes, the first time connections deployed these tactics, on her first start at 14 furlongs.

    Unsurprisingly, she didn’t see out the trip and finished a fair fifth, five lengths behind her well-fancied stablemate Mimikyu.

    However, One Evening travelled like the winner when turning for home before fading under Danny Tudhope, so she still showed plenty of promise in a quality field despite losing.

    Fast forward nearly a month and she was pitched into the Listed Castle Fillies’ Stakes where she raced in the rear of the field for the majority of the race before making eye-catching progress up the far rail to finish a valiant second.

    Voodoo Queen, who has good form in the book, won the race with Ching Shih, a subsequent runner-up in Saturday’s Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes to Arrest, one length behind in third.

    To my eye, over 12 furlongs and on good ground, she is still an unexposed type and with Ryan Moore in the plate to steer her home, she has a good chance on the Knavesmire today.