Hi all,

I conclude my review of York’s Ebor Festival inside today’s main piece. Plus, I have had a look at three races on this afternoon's Newbury card.

York Ebor Festival – Part 2

Before looking at some horses for the tracker. Here's a quick look back at Wednesday and Thursday's highlights,

Wednesday

Mostahdaf was a well ridden winner of the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes and the best horse. Favourite Paddington under performed due to a combination of quick ground and a likely harder race than it looked at Goodwood.

Mostahdaf is now the 3/1 ante post favourite for next month’s Irish Champion Stakes. Given he seems a better horse after a longer layoff those odds don’t appeal.

All five runners in Wednesday’s Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes held an entry in the St Leger. It was Continuous who ran out a decisive winner of this valuable contest. The Great Voltigeur has traditionally seen as a good trial for the St Leger and the winner is now a serious contender for the final British Classic.

Runner-up Castle Way isn’t certain to improve for the step up to the St Leger distance. I can’t see him reversing placings with the winner at Doncaster.

Gregory was carrying a 3lb penalty for his win in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase (1m 6f) at Royal Ascot.  He didn’t get the best of rides by Frankie Dettori dropped back to 1m 4f and didn’t have the pace of the winner at the distance. If you’ve backed him for the St Leger. I wouldn’t tear up your ticket just yet. A return to 1m 6f will see the colt in a much better light and he will be a Cup horse next season.

The final Group race on the day the Group 3 Acomb Stakes was won by Indian Run. I’m not show strong the form will prove to be. However, the winner looks decent, and produced a decent turn of foot to win. The step up 7f suited the winner and he’ll be worth his place in the better juvenile races this autumn.

Thursday

Besides a deep looking Yorkshire Oaks which was won by Warm Heart and the Group 2 Lowther Stakes won by Relief Rally. The performance on day 2 of the Ebor Festival came from Dragon Leader in the valuable juvenile sales race (6f).

The winner made it perfect 3 from 3 with a much improved display. He looks a really sprinting type and had the experience to deal with 22 runner-up line-ups here.  He doesn’t hold any fancy entries but will be worth a go in Group company after this commanding success. Before that there is another valuable sales race at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting to go for. Given how dominated his rivals here he must have a good chance, if he was to line up there.

York Ebor Festival Future Winners

There will be plenty of future winners to come out of the Ebor Festival. Here are a few of them.

Wednesday

Marine Wave looked unlucky when a ½ length 3^rd of 14 to Designer in the fillies 5f handicap. She had to wait for a gap 2f. Once in the clear she was running on best of all. It was a good effort dropped back to the minimum trip, on handicap debut from the 3-year-old. There’s a sprint handicap to be won with her on a sound surface.

Zabriskie Point was badly outpaced early in the 6f nursery handicap but stayed on strongly in the final two furlongs to finish an unlikely 4 ¼ length 4^th of 16.  He’s a winnable mark but needs 7f to exploit it.

Thursday

Sonny Liston, runner-up in the Royal Hunt Cup, did best of those to come from off the pace when a 1 ¾ length 4th of 19 to Ropey Guest. A strongly run mile is his optimum trip and he remains on a competitive mark for races like the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on Champions Day.

Dark Encounter shaped with plenty promise on handicap debut when a 1 ½ length 4^th of 20 in the 7f nursery. He raced liked he should stay a mile and he’s on a winnable mark if backing up Thursday's effort.

Friday

Kevin Ryan introduced a couple of nice juveniles in the valuable Convivial Maiden. Volterra a son of Farhh wasn’t the best away but ran with plenty of promise when 1 ¾ length 4^th of 14 to Battle Cry. There’s a maiden to be won with the colt with this run under his belt. Sisyphean finished one place and ½ length behind his stablemate. He was the shorter priced of the pair on the day but there was plenty to like about his debut effort.

Sisyphus Strength a winner at Newmarket on her previous start didn’t get the best of rides from Osin Murphy when a neck 2^nd of 9 to Reach. Granted the winner was well treated and had a bit in hand at the finish but she got first run on Sisyphus Strength who was doing all her best work at the finish. There’s another handicap to be won with this progressive 3-year-old.

Saturday

I think the form of Saturday’s Melrose Handicap will prove strong. Middle Earth’s opening handicap mark of 93 proved woefully inadequate. The son of Roaring Lion took it up on the stands rail 2f out and quickened clear of his field to win comfortably. It’s a big step up to Group 1 company but the colt is on a steep upward curve and could well line-up in next month’s St Leger. He will need to be supplemented for the final classic of the season but there’s a good chance he will be.

Besides the winner the horse to take out of the Melrose could be the fifth home Alhambra Palace. The Willam Haggas trained gelding was bidding for a hat trick after wins at Ascot and Sandown. He hung markedly left in the straight and looked suited to Saturday’s quick ground. He travelled through most of the race like he remains on a winnable mark when gets a return to softer ground.

Fresh seems to be coming to the boil. The 6-year-old was doing his best work at the finish when 2 ½ length 5^th of 17 in the 6f handicap. All his three turf successes have come in big field handicaps at Ascot and he’s now 1lb below last season’s winning mark.

Ebor Festival Verdict:

Once more York showed why it’s the best run racecourse in Britain if not Europe. They prepared beautiful ground and unlike some other racecourses, who I won’t mention, they don’t overwater during the summer. They let nature take its course and that why we had lovely fast ground for this year’s festival.  

Quality wise I think we’ve had better Ebor Festival’s but overall, it was a good meeting. I ended up going for two days and I’m glad I did. Granted the weather could have been better but it stayed dry and given this summer that’s a major win.

Punting wise, Saturday aside, it wasn’t brilliant. However, whereas I was frustrated by the ground at Goodwood it wasn’t the case last week. If a couple of bets had gone my way, I would have finished the meeting nicely in front. I was down after a torrid Goodwood, after York I’m looking forward to the autumn.

Tuesday Preview

The best of Tuesday’s action is at Newbury this afternoon.

Newbury

3:05:

I was surprised to Flying Spirit at 11/1 with William Hill when betting opened for this 7f handicap. The 3-year-old has been steadily progressive since a spring gelding operation and gained a deserved success at Lingfield 17 days ago. Up 3lb but the weight rise is negated by the booking of Gina Mangan and won’t be far away.

Captain Cuddles will be popular with Ryan Moore booked. He came up against an improver when a 2 ¼ length 2^nd of 8 over C&D 11 days ago. Knocking on the door and looks the right favourite.

Change Sings seemed to appreciate the return to the all-weather when winning on handicap debut at Kempton last time. Up 5lb but he’s only had four starts so is capable of better.  

3:40:

Classic was back to winning ways at Sandown two starts back and was unlucky in the run when a 2 ¾ length 4^th of 11 over C&D 10 days ago. He’ll be hard to beat dropped a notch in class but not one I want to take a short price on.

Metabolt looked back to form when a 5 length 6th of 13 at Windsor 12 days ago and needs considering.

Bodorgan was back to his best when a 2 length 3rd of 13 at Haydock last time. Ryan Moore back in the saddle but he could do with ground easing.

Crack Shot wasn’t disgraced when a respectable 8 ¾ lengths 5th of 15 on handicap debut (1m 2f) at Goodwood 26 days ago. Drops back to a mile but respected back on better ground and could be on a good mark.  

4:50:

Khinjani came from behind to win at Haydock 17 days ago. A 2lb rise doesn’t seem harsh and provided she’s as effective on quicker ground should go close.

The Daniel & Claire Kubler yard are back among the winners and Forest Demon was back to winning ways at Newmarket 11 days ago. Up 4lb but William Buick stays in the saddle and he’s one to seriously consider on quick ground.

Irish challenger Yamalia Star must be respected after four solid performances in maiden company. The filly shaped last time like the drop back to 1m 2f will suit her. Interesting on handicap debut with the visor replaced by the first time cheekpieces.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John