Best Of Bets

Tag: Yorkshire Oaks

  • Ebor Festival 2024 | Bluestocking Primed For Yorkshire Oaks

    Ebor Festival 2024 | Bluestocking Primed For Yorkshire Oaks

    As the 2024 Ebor Festival rolls into view, Bluestocking finally looks set to seal a first Group 1 win on home soil.

    With the calendar now flipped to August, the annual pilgrimage to the Knavesmire is the next stop for the flat season and Thursday sees the ladies take centre in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

    A contest first ran in 1849, last year’s winner Warm Heart has not yet gone on to greater things, but the race is nonetheless a springboard toward a potential entry for November’s Breeders’ Cup.

    And for trainer Ralph Beckett, yet to win this race, Bluestocking can provide the winning formula.

     

    Breaking ground

    For Bluestocking, a 3yo filly and a winner on debut at Salisbury just under two years ago, the world looked to be her oyster.

    Yet, 13 months on and with six more runs under the belt, a second victory had failed to materialise.

    Significantly fluffing the lines, first the Juddmonte Irish Stakes and then this very race 12 months ago, a Group 1 win was proving elusive.

    However, this season has finally seen a turning of he tide.

    With still just seven contests under her belt, Bluestocking went to York all clinched the Middleton Fillies’ and then travelling to the Curragh, finally delivered on much promise in breaking a Group 1 duck in the Pretty Polly. Just.

    However, on returning home in a King George many expected the daughter of Camelot to win, 25/1 German raider, Goliath, had not read the script.

    Still home elite success eludes, but with a second crack at the Yorkshire Oaks, the pieces look to be falling into place.

    Indeed, the 2/1f with Betfred, the bookies believe they are.

     

    Emily Up for fight

    In another marquee contest this year with a slightly reduced field, there look to be two main rivals that stand between Bluestocking a first elite win on home turf.

    The first of which, Queen Of The Pride arrives in York seeking a third-straight win after a Haydock double in the last two months.

    With the red-hot Oisin Murphy in tow for John and Thady Gosden, the fellow 4yo may lack experience but is showing immense potential.

    Having won at Leicester also, there can be no one-course wonder tag given to Queen Of The Pride, but this will be a first test at the top level, and likely, on far firmer ground than any trip yet.

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    Perhaps then, might Emily Upjohn be the wiser punt?

    Since winning last year’s Coronation Cup with the departing Frankie Dettori, Emily has fallen on harder times.

    Indeed, winless in six, pushing the then dominant and now retired Paddington in last term’s Coral Eclipse, was the closest victory had came.

    That was until earlier this summer, when pipped to the Pretty Polly by the aforementioned and surging Bluestocking.

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    The issue right now for Emily Upjohn right now though, appears to be consistency, as something of a no-show last time out in the Nassau Stakes.

    However, she has a significant mental advantage in returning to the Knavesmire with one outing and one win – that coming in the 2022 Musidora Stakes.

    Whilst that was in the midst of a unbeaten career start, on her day Emily Upjohn is not to be trifled with. Could revenge be in the air?

     

    The Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks takes place on Thursday at 3:35pm UK time.

  • 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.

  • Ebor Festival 2023 | Free Wind can blow Dettori to Yorkshire Oaks glory

    Ebor Festival 2023 | Free Wind can blow Dettori to Yorkshire Oaks glory

    As the Ebor Festival rolls on to Thursday, the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks takes centre stage on the Knavesmire.

    The second of four British Champions Series races and the second Group 1 at York this week, the fillies and mares get their turn to show some of their own Yorkshire grit.

    For Frankie Dettori, having ridden four winners in this race, the veteran will be keen to sign off in style at Ebor, and Free Wind is his big hope.

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    Riding the Wind

    Initially, Dettori’s decision for who to ride in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks was not an easy one.

    However, after both Epsom Oaks winner Soul Sister and Coronation Cup victor Emily Upjohn opted out, it was clear sailing.

    As the 52-year-old continues on his swansong tour, Dettori looks to snag another Group 1 this summer.

    Free Wind may not have the best of form after disappointing runs at Glorious Goodwood and Royal Ascot, but York is a track she very much likes.

    A winner of the Middleton at the start of the flat season, the 5yo would also relish a return to good ground, which is currently slated for Thursday.

    With three wins in similar conditions and with victory over a preferred trip in her only run last term, Free Wind might be timing things perfectly.

     

    O’Brien, Varian threats

    As another contest has seen its field sizeably reduced, 10 runners go to post on Thursday.

    In the antepost, Savethelastdance may well jump off the favourite for Aidan O’Brien.

    Just one blot stands on the 3yo filly’s card – June’s loss to Soul Sister – but save for that, it’s been a 100% record this season.

    With both the Cheshire and Irish Oaks in the youngster’s nose bag, the 1m4f distance looks to be her wheel-house.

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    There is just, though, the slightest question of capability on the good.

    Bluestocking, the runner-up to Savethelastdance at the Curragh last time out, also lines up to take revenge.

    On the heels of a hugely impressive 2023, Ralph Beckett still waits to see her first win of the campaign.

    As Rossa Ryan jumps on board, can the star of Amo Racing have some magic rub off?

    Of the leading contenders, perhaps though, Al Husn is the one to watch closely.

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    Arguably, silent assassin Roger Varian might fancy his chances of a big win more than the other three trainers.

    Dropping into York with three wins on the bounce, in the last eight contests, the 4yo has been beaten just once – the Dahlia Stakes.

    If punters can shop around, a 7/1 price can still be had.

    A winner in all conditions, the step-up in trip shouldn’t prove too much of an issue. Al Husn looks to be real value.