Friday 19th August 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

Welcome to the Day 3 preview of the Ebor Festival at York where once again I’ll be getting things underway with the opening race of the day which is the 1:50. It’s another big field Heritage Handicap that kicks us off for the day, with 19 runners currently set to go to post, I’ve sided with Mahrajaan at 17/2 for William Haggas and Jim Crowley. Sporting the Shadwell silks, the team won the Juddmonte International on the opening day with the brilliant Baaeed, this gelding isn’t in the same stratosphere as him in terms of ability but most horses aren’t, he is however related to him, being a half-brother to his dam. He’s still smart in his own right though, and despite a blip here a couple of starts ago he’s never been out of the first three. He bounced back to form when going down by just a neck last time at Newmarket, and he’s also ran well at the track before, finishing third in a decent handicap last season. His mark is slowly increasing, however, he’s only a couple of pounds higher than that neck defeat last time and if things go right for him I think he’s got every chance of going well again here.

Next up it’s the 2:25 which is the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup that’s contested over a distance of two miles and half of a furlong. The market looks set to be dominated by Stradivarius and Trueshan here, and rightfully so, Strad has won this race three times, including last year when getting up close home in a thriller. I’m going to attempt to take both of them on though and I’m doing that with Coltrane at 13/2 for Rob Hornby and Andrew Balding. This five-year-old has impressed me this season with his rate of progression, and posted a very solid effort last time in the Goodwood Cup, finishing fourth behind the big three and beating the rest of the opposition comfortably. I think he could have more progression to come from him and if he does come on again for this assignment I think he represents a cracking bet against the two market leaders.

We move onto the 3:00 which is the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes over six furlongs. This race has a lot of unexposed horses sitting prominently at the betting, who could have the potential to be right out of the top-drawer, as well as the proven Goodwood winner Royal Scotsman. I’ve taken a chance on one at a big price though and I’ve done that with Chateau at 12/1 for Andrew Balding and Tom Marquand. He arrives here with some solid form to his name having won a listed race at Newbury before finishing third in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last time. Whilst some of his rivals have more ‘fancier’ profiles, I think his price is a bit too big for what he’s shown so far, and if some of these aren’t quite up to this level, he’s already proven he can be competitive.

The feature race of the day is the 3:35 which is the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes that’s ridden over five furlongs. Royal Aclaim is the short-priced favourite currently on the back of her impressive effort over course and distance last time, once again though, I’ve looked for value, and I’ve done that here with Flotus at 12/1 for Simon Crisford and Silvestre De Sousa. Whilst a lot of sprinters struggle to find consistency at the top-level, she very often runs her race and has been posted good efforts all season so far. She won a Group 3 here last time over six furlongs and the time before that ran a mighty race in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot when finishing third behind Perfect Power. The concern would be the drop back down to five furlongs, however, at the prices I think she’s well worth chancing on the form she’s shown this season.

Concluding my preview will be the 4:10 which is a Fillies’ Handicap that’s ridden over a mile and two and a half furlongs. This can got to Amanzoe for me at 3/1 for the combination of William Haggas and Tom Marquand. She’s by Fastnet Rock and arrives here in brilliant form, having won four of her last five outings with the most recent success coming at Ascot a couple of weeks ago on Shergar Cup Day. She’s been rising in the weights for her recent success, but I think she could still have more to offer off her current mark and if turning up in the same form that she’s been in all season she’s the one that they all have to beat.