Saturday 24th August 2024
York Ebor Festival Day 4 Preview
Author: Jordan Yates (@jordan_yates_)
1.50: Sky Bet Strensall Stakes: The Group 3 Strensall Stakes gets us underway on Day Four of the Ebor Meeting over a mile and a furlong. I’ve sided with Task Force here for Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan. He had very smart form as a two-year-old and bounced back to form last time out when finishing third of nine in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last month. This extra furlong could bring out further improvement in him and I think he’s a solid each-way play for a yard in form. Task Force – 15/2 (Each-Way)
2.25: Sky Bet Melrose Handicap: We move into handicap action at 2.25 with the Melrose Handicap that’s a Heritage Handicap over a mile and six furlongs. I’m with the top weight here that comes in the form of The Equator for Aidan O’Brien and Gavin Ryan. He was fifth of eleven behind stablemate Illinois in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, which is solid form and was most recently second of six at Navan last month over a shorter trip. He’ll need to settle a bit better than he did at the Royal Meeting, however, he could have a class edge over the field here and looks progressive for a yard who have had a great week here. The Equator – 13/2 (Each-Way) (6 places – Sky Bet) (NAP)
3.00: Sky Bet City Of York Stakes: The third race of the afternoon is the Group 2 City Of York Stakes which is contested over a distance of seven furlongs. I like the chances of Lake Forest here who represents the team of William Haggas and Tom Marquand. He’s a three-year-old but looks to have plenty of ability in his locker, he won the Gimcrack Stakes here last year and has returned to the track this term with two fine efforts, when firstly second in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June before finishing half of a length second to Elite Status last month at Newbury in the Hackwood Stakes. If he continues progressing, he’s got every chance here against older rivals. Lake Forest – 7/2 (Win) (NB)
3.35: Sky Bet Ebor Handicap: We move onto the feature event now which is the Sky Bet Ebor Heritage Handicap over a mile and six furlongs. It’s one of the most competitive handicaps of the flat season and in this year’s renewal of the race I’ve tried my hand with two selections. The first of which is Queenstown for Aidan O’Brien and James Doyle. He’s been plying his trade in graded company behind Kyprios the last twice and was only a length behind him at Leopardstown back in May. He goes well fresh and could be a cut above handicapping. My second fancy is Fairbanks for Andrew Balding and David Probert. He’s been progressing well this term, winning twice, and was only half of a length second behind Allign The Stars in a competitive Goodwood handicap last time out over this distance. He’ll contest this off the same mark and looks a live player. Queenstown – 6/1 (Each-Way) (Sky Bet – 8 places) & Fairbanks – 8/1 (Each-Way) (Sky Bet – 8 places)
4.10: Sky Bet Constantine Handicap: Signing me off for the afternoon and for the meeting will be the 4.10 which is more Heritage Handicap action, this time over six furlongs. This could be the day for Apollo One to have his moment in the sun who’s the mount of Richard Kingscote. He’s no stranger to big-field handicaps and posted another fantastic effort on his most recent outing when he finished second of twenty-five in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood earlier this month, only half of a length behind the winner Get It. He’ll contest this off just a pound higher and if getting some luck in the run can have a big say again. Apollo One – 13/2 (Each-Way) (Sky Bet – 6 places)
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