Friday 22nd August 2025
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL SELECTIONS (DAY 3)
1.50: Sky Bet Handicap
MARHABA THE CHAMP – 33/1 (Each-Way)
Having his first start for Sophie Leech here, and whilst his form has been patchy as of late, he did return to form last time out at Doncaster when eased in grade, finishing a neck second of seven. He won this race a couple of years ago off a three-pound higher mark, and he’s perhaps worth chancing at a huge price in a wide-open contest.
2.25: Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes
TRAWLERMAN – 4/6 (Win) (NAP)
Winner of the Ascot Gold Cup in tremendous style when he was last seen, gett the better of the highly talented Illinois by seven lengths. That rival hasn’t been declared at the time of writing, which makes this assignment significantly more straightforward, and it would be a significant enough shock if he weren’t to add another Group success to his CV.
3.00: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes
LIFEPLAN – 9/2 (Each-Way)
Won his only start to date, which came at Thirsk last month, and he beat a previous winner that day by a length whilst still looking as though he was learning on the job. This is a significant step up in class; however, he looked as though he could be useful last time out, and he’ll almost certainly improve following that run.
3.35: Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes
LADY IMAN – 9/2 (Each-Way) (4 places)
Exciting prospect who has won four of her five outings to date, including a Listed success as well as two Group 3, she was also second in a Group 2. Her most recent success came at Goodwood last time out when winning the Molecomb Stakes, and she’s hard to ignore here, getting all of the weight allowances.
CELANDINE – 33/1 (Each-Way) (5 places – Sky Bet)
Ed Walker’s filly could go well at a big price; she won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at this meeting last year as a two-year-old, and has shown that she’s retained her ability this year when finishing third at this track in Group 3 company on her seasonal reappearance in July, before being narrowly denied by a nose in the Listed Queensferry Stakes at Chester last time out. She could outrun her odds.
4.10: Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Handicap
AKECHETA – 8/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
Irish raider for Kevin Coleman, who hasn’t won since her maiden success, however, has plenty of pieces of strong form in defeat among competitive handicaps. She was held up last time out at Goodwood over today’s distance, and did very well to finish as close as she did, just a length and a quarter behind the winner in fourth. She’ll contest this off the same mark as that effort, and could get closer at a more conventional track.
4.45: British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes
NEW MONARCH – 9/2 (Each-Way)
Runner-up in both of his starts to date, behind a couple of useful types in each of those efforts in the form of Moonfall and the heavily-supported Words Of Truth at Ascot last time. He should appreciate this step up to seven furlongs, given his pedigree and how he kept on last time, and should give another good account.
5.20: Sky Bet Mile Handicap
YAH MO BE THERE – 8/1 (Each-Way) (5 places)
Listed winner at Newbury last year, and whilst he found Group races slightly too hot following that success, he ran well when dropped into handicap company at Goodwood last time out, finishing fifth of sixteen and two and three-quarters of a length behind the winner. He didn’t get a clear run either that day, and with a smoother passage this time around, he can make his presence felt in this off a pound lower mark.
