Thursday 20th August 2026
I have four more selections on the second day of the Ebor Meeting at York on Thursday, kicking things off with one in the opener at 1.50, and this is the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, a Group 2 affair over six furlongs. I’ve come down on STAR OF STATE here for the team of Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle. She showed significant promise on debut when second to the reopposing and progressive Livenka, and followed that run up at Leopardstown last month when bolting up by nine lengths. That was an impressive display, and she looks like an exciting prospect for her top yard. It would be no surprise to see her take another big step forward in this assignment. George Boughey’s Libertango has to make the shortlist under Billy Loughnane; she won the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on her penultimate start, before finishing a close second to Senorita Bonita in the Duchess Of Cambridge last time out. She looks rock-solid at the top of the betting.
Selection: Star Of State – (3/1) (Win)
Shortlist: Libertango – (2/1)
1.50 York
I move on to the 3.00 for my second bet of the afternoon, and this is the Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap, a Heritage Handicap over a mile. I think that CENTIGRADE is a fascinating contender here for Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan, and he’s my selection in the race. His two-year-old form is very strong, finishing a shoulder second to Jonquil on debut, before handing out a five-and-a-half-length beating to Furthur in his next start; both of those horses have developed into smart types. He was off the track since, however, and put a very long lay-off behind him to win a thirteen-runner novice event at Southwell in June by two and three-quarters of a length. There’s every chance he could prove significantly better than a handicapper, and if he takes another step forward from his Southwell success, he could prove very tough to beat. Last year’s winner Bullet Point is an obvious player for William Haggas and Tom Marquand; he returned to form at Ascot last time out, and is just a pound higher than when taking this twelve months ago.
Selection: Cenitgrade – (10/3) (Win) (NB)
Shortlist: Bullet Point – (6/1)
3.00 York
My third bet of the afternoon comes in the 4.10, where we have the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes, a Listed event for fillies & mares over a mile and four furlongs. It’s another one for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle I like here, and that’s VAUNTINGLY, who’s currently trading at a best price of 8/1. The team has already had success at the meeting at the time of writing, and I think that they have another live chance here with this three-year-old filly by Night Of Thunder. She got her head in front at the fourth time of asking when winning comfortably at Killarney on her penultimate start, before she took her form to the next level last time out when finishing a shoulder second of seven in a Listed event at Gowran Park. If she takes another step forward here, there’s every chance that she could play a very meaningful role, and I think there could be a fair bit more to come from her yet. John Gosden and Lord Lloyd-Webber won this race back in 2018 with the smart Lah Ti Dar, and Without Prejudice looked smart on debut when winning by four and a half lengths at Newmarket last month. She’s another who could improve significantly.
Selection: Vauntingly – (8/1) (Each-Way)
Shortlist: Without Prejudice – (6/1)
4.10 York
Signing me off for the day on Thursday will be the 4.45, and this is the Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap, a Class 2 affair contested over seven furlongs. I’m quite strong on one here, and that’s MIA FANTASIA for Hugo Palmer and Marco Ghiani. He looked like an exciting sort when winning on debut at Carlisle in June, and followed that effort up with a very solid third-placed effort behind the likely very smart Dr Rascal, and reopposing Rising Tiger at Ascot. Most recently, he was sent off a well-fancied favourite for a competitive handicap at Goodwood last month but met trouble in running, as is the case for many at that track. However, he still did well to finish as close as he did in sixth, and I think there’s a lot more to come from him. He’ll contest this assignment off the same mark, and I think that we could see a bold showing from him. His old rival Rising Tiger has to be considered for the all-conquering duo of Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy; he has three excellent seconds to his name from three starts, and will be opening his account sooner rather than later.
Selection: Mia Fantasia – (9/2) (Win) (NAP)
Shortlist: Rising Tiger – (11/2)
4.45 York
