The first day of the Ebor Festival takes place at York on Wednesday and with four tantalising days of great racing ahead of us, there is a lot to look forward to between now and the iconic race of the meeting on Saturday afternoon.
The Juddmonte International Stakes is the feature race on the card on Wednesday but with only six runners it is a race to sit and savour rather than to bet on. Instead we will target the opening race of the meeting for our bets.
1.45 York
Preview
The opening race of the Ebor Festival is a big field Class 2 sprint handicap over 5 and a half furlongs where a maximum field of 22 line up. There are many who like to force the pace here & that should bring the hold up types into play at what is traditionally a front runners track. Whilst there is pace across the track, a low draw is normally preferred & here, the majority of the pace is drawn low to middle, with Justanotherbottle in stall 1 & the very pacy Acclaim The Nation in 9.
Jawaal is the favourite & he has a decent draw in 11. Michael Dods won this race last year & could follow up but his charge has an 8lb higher mark than last time out. However, the way he won a heritage handicap at Ascot suggests he may be able to defy this mark. Arecibo has been well backed for the O’Meara yard but there’s a slight worry over his draw whilst the value in his price has long since gone.
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Betting
I’m taking 2 against the field, the first being Magic J. He likes to race prominently but doesn’t need to lead, whilst the fast pace should help this horse who can often take a hold. He’s drawn next to Acclaim The Nation which is a positive, as are the application of first time blinkers given he won in first time cheekpieces 2 starts ago. Oisin Murphy is in the saddle (another plus) & this 4 year old also brings good form to the table. He’s only raced 4 times on turf, winning 2 & finishing second once. 2 starts ago, he won a Sandown handicap in fine style, travelling sweetly before quickening clear. Up 8lbs, he disappointed last time out but raced too free. This bigger field & faster pace look sure to suit and, provided the blinkers work in the same way the cheekpieces did, he looks the one most likely to kick off the week in style.
Lahore from near the top of the handicap is our 2nd bet. He’s a confirmed hold up horse & is another for who the fast pace should help. He’s drawn well in 5, right in the middle of the pace, & is another to bring good form into the race. He’s won 2 of his 5 starts this year; the first of those at Doncaster on his seasonal debut. Since, he won a handicap here off 3lbs lower when Acclaim The Nation again forced a breakneck pace & our selection swooped fast & late to land the spoils. There are excuses for his other 3 runs (Ascot didn’t suit as he prefers a flat track, conditions race in a small field, and racing on the all weather) so, with conditions to suit, he should go well.
Tips
Back Magic J (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back Lahore (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 15.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
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