An excellent day’s racing at the Ebor Festival with the Group 1 Nunthorpe the highlight. Lady Aurelia, the sprinting superstar from across the pond, takes on Charlie Hills’ Battash and, whilst there are 10 others in the field, it looks a straight battle between these 2. I fancy Battash to prevail but won’t be playing at odds of under 2/1.
Instead, I’m taking 2 in the City Of York and 1 in the closing handicap.
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3.00 York
A big field in this 7 furlong Group 3 and an open looking event going 13/2 the field. 3 year old fillies have won the last 2 runnings of this and the favourite is another such type, Daban. However, I’m taking the ‘other one’ in Talaayeb who finished just 1 place behind Daban in the 1000 Guineas.
The selection is extremely lightly raced and her run in the Guineas was only the 2nd time she’d seen the racecourse. She ran an amazing race to finish 4th behind Winter and her future looked solid. She was stepped up to 10 furlongs and evidently didn’t stay, finishing down the fields at odds on. It is therefore interesting to see her dropped back to 7 furlongs and she holds cracking claims, especially with the untapped potential she clearly possesses. A good jockey booking is backed by a stable in top form too so double figure quotes look generous enough.
Our 2nd selection is Toscanini. He’s better only 4 of his last 28 rivals home in 3 races, but that was when acting as a pacemaker for the top class Ribchester. Today, he comes here on his own merits and his trainer is talking up his speed so a drop back in trip could be just the ticket. Last term, he won twice over 6 furlongs so clearly has plenty of speed and this is the first time he’s gone over a suitable trip this term. From a top yard, he’s taken to go well.
Tips
WON – Back Talaayeb (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Bet365 (¼ odds 1-4 BOG)
PLACED – Back Toscanini (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 21.00 Bet365 (¼ odds 1-4 BOG)
Back them here:
4.50 York
15 runners for this Class 2 handicap over a mile, for 3 year olds only. Mojito is a warm order for this but steps up in grade and is 7lb up in mark so this will be tougher.
Instead, I like the chances of his stablemate, Battered. He’s a winner at this track and is also a last time out winner so has plenty in his favour. That last win was impressive, having pulled hard and came through off a slow pace to land the spoils. It was in this grade too so he has no rise to cope with. He won off a mark of 91 and has been raised to 96 here, but he did record a RPR of 101 in the process so is expected to take it all in his stride. With a lack of depth in this field, he looks a super each way bet.
Tips
PLACED – Back Battered (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 7.50 William Hill (¼ odds 1-3 BOG)
Back it here:
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