Ebor Festival Eyecatchers

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I wrap up my York Ebor Festival review with the highlights from the first three days on the Knavesmire – plus a handful Ebor Festival eyecatchers.

Ebor Festival Review – Part 2

Wednesday – Ombudsman shows his class

The Group 1 Juddmonte International gave us a weird spectacle once again with pacemaker tactics taking centre stage. Birr Castle went a long way clear of his field, over twenty lengths at one point, and although the others didn’t let him get away totally unchecked and got racing early enough. If there had been a tailwind rather than headwind it could have been interesting. He was only overhauled by the runner up in the final half furlong and was able to cling on for third. The plan worked for the winner on this occasion. However, it could easily have gone wrong like it did in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

In the end the best horse won, with Ombudsman travelling strongly and asserting when it mattered. Delacroix, who had outpaced Ombudsman in the Eclipse last time, didn’t look quite the same horse this time but it’s hard to see him reversing the form if they meet again in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Gelded and rejuvenated, Pride Of Arras strikes back at York

The Great Voltigeur Stakes was a more mixed picture. Derby winner Lambourn ran flat and could finish only fifth. I’m not convinced that he was fully wound up for this and his campaign likley centres on an Arc bid later in the year.

Pride Of Arras, gelded since disappointing in the Derby and Irish Derby, bounced back to his Dante-winning best and had too much pace for the staying types in behind.  Can the winner follow this up away from York though.

The race remains a good St Leger trial though, and Carmers did his chances no harm in second, with Arabian Force and Stay True both running solid races. Carmers is the one I’d take from the race for Doncaster, but if Lambourn does line up, he would be a major player. As indeed would Arabian Force and Stay True. 

There was also a good performance in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes from Gewan. Still inexperienced, he hit the front early and showed his greenness, but he was going away at the finish and looks a colt with a lot more to give as a three-year-old.  I like seeing how trainers plan a horse’s campaign their good horses. Gewan seems to be following the same path as Chaldean who won the Acomb and the following season’s 2,000 Guineas.

Thursday – Minnie Hauk’s Oaks hat-trick

Royal Fixation drifted alarmingly in the betting prior to the Group 2 Lowther but that didn’t stop her from winning. Runner-up America Queen up markedly in class ran a fine race on just her second start, and the form could turn out to be useful.

The day’s feature, the Yorkshire Oaks, went the way of the odds-on favourite Minnie Hauk. She wasn’t tested in what was effectively a penalty kick, but she’s a filly who only does what’s required and will likely show more when pushed by stronger opposition.

Estrange was allowed to take her chance on the quicker ground but couldn’t trouble the winner. Back on soft ground she’ll be seen in a much better light and can land Group 1 in the autumn

Five favourites went in on Yorkshire Oaks Day which meant it wasn’t going to be my day. I was on one of the two favourites – Dance In The Storm – who didn’t collect.  She wasn’t the best away and didn’t get the clearest of runs 2f out. There remains a handicap to be won with her when everything falls right.

Friday – Asfoora lands the Nunthorpe

The Group 1 Nunthorpe was billed as wide open and few pundits expected Asfoora to win.

As I told subscribers I had a hunch that her campaign this year was all geared at Friday’s race.  She had finished 4th last year’s Nunthorpe but she had peaked before York whereas she this time she was trained to the minute. It was a hunch paid off for me and Victor Value subscribers.

It’s a reflection on the current state of the sprinting division in Britain & Ireland that a good but not top-class Australian sprinter was able to win this so convincingly.

Gimcrack: Lifeplan a sprint star in the making

The Group 2 Gimcrack Takes gave us a more positive look at the future. Lifeplan, a big imposing colt from Declan Carroll’s small yard, impressed with the way he quickened clear.  The first two pulled nicely clear of the rest which suggests the form is useful.

Lifeplan has plenty of scope to progress and looks set for the Middle Park, where 8/1 looks big in what is not a strong year for two-year-old sprinters. If he was trained by say Aidan O’Brien, he would be 3/1 for the Middle Park.

For me it should have been three winners on the day, but Big Leader was denied by a short head in the closing handicap. Still, with Lifeplan and Asfoora going in, it was a cracking day’s punting.

York Ebor Festival Eyecatchers

Cape Flora – Bolted up off 79 in the fillies’ handicap (1m 2 ½ f) on Friday. The handicapper will take a stiff view of her win, but she looks a Group filly to me.

Marhaba The Champ – On debut for his new yard was hampered 2f out before finishing an 8 lengths 7th of 10 to Asgard’s Captain in the opening handicap (1m 4f) on Friday. Best on a sound surface. I expect Sophie Leach can get a win out of him when dropped down into a 0-90 handicap.

Galaxy Zoo – Bidding for the hat trick after wins at Southwell and Ascot could never recover from an awkward start when a 3 ¼ lengths 7th of 19 to Star of Mehmas in the fillies’ handicap (5f) on Tuesday.  Needs to break better but she can win off a mark of 82 when dropped slightly in class.

Air Force One – Shaped well when ½-length 3rd of 20 to Trefor in Tuesday’s sprint handicap (5½f). He didn’t have as smooth a passage as the winner but once in the clear ran on strongly. He’s lightly raced for a sprinter and can win more races. Next month’s Portland Handicap at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting over the distance looks a good target. And the way he hit the line suggests he’s also worth another try at 6f.

York Ebor Festival 2025 Verdict

Aside from Ombudsman, Never So Brave and Minnie Hauk, I thought the meeting was a little underwhelming, lacking star quality. The ground was a puzzle too: after such a dry summer we should have had rattling fast ground, but York rode strangely.  

Maybe they overwatered or watered to even out the draw on the straight course. Either that or York has a non-accurate watering system.  I get in a dry summer you need to irrigate to encourage grass growth, but York hasn’t got it right for me for me this year.

And finally, a plea to the course – tone down the loud music in the parade ring. Horses don’t need Alicia Keys on repeat, and it unsettled more than one on Friday when I was there.

I’ll end on a positive note. York remains the benchmark for Britain’s racecourses. My two days on the Knavesmire were as enjoyable as ever, and with crowds up on last year, it’s clear the track is still doing plenty right.

Tuesday Racing

It’s a poor day’s action, no getting away from it.

Musselburgh

Tracy Waggott’s record with her older handicappers at Musselburgh is worth noting.

Tracy sends up two qualifiers on Tuesday afternoon:

3:20 – Jamie's Choice

3:50 – Without Delay

You couldn’t rule out either of them. But the most likely winner of the pair might prove to be Jamie's Choice. The 5yo shaped like the run was needed when returning from a three month lay off 8 days ago. A C&D winner last summer, he’s just 1lb higher here and can go well if stall 1 isn’t an inconvenience.

Ripon’s second day of racing provides one possible play.

Woodstock goes in the 6f handicap (3:35). He travelled well for a long way when dropped to sprinting last time without finding much under pressure. Blinkers now replace the cheekpieces, and that switch could make all the difference. He’s well handicapped, the ground is fine, and if the headgear works, he’s got a real chance. Stall 4 isn’t ideal, but probably not a deal breaker either.

Tuesday Selection

Monday free tip Capital Guarantee was a good third at Ripon yesterday. He probably did too much out in front from his wide draw and those exertions may have told. Onto Tuesday’s free tip I could have gone with Jamie's Choice but in the end I opted for Woodstock.

Ripon

3:35 – Woodstock – £2 win – 9/1.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John