We have another bumper day of racing action on Saturday as the Ebor Festival concludes with the headline race among others at York while there are other decent meetings taking place at Sandown in the UK and Curragh over in Ireland. Chelmsford City stages an evening meeting and there are a couple of cards over the obstacles at Uttoxeter and Killarney.
We’ve had a good look through all of the flat cards and have come up with bets in three of the races on the final day of the Ebor Festival, as well as one in an intriguing handicap up at Sandown. That begins our betting portfolio for the day.
2.40 Sandown
Preview
A maximum field of 16 for this mile handicap tempers enthusiasm for Gin Palace who may well have the selection had he not been given the widest draw at all, whilst River Dawn & the well fancied Golden Force are also drawn wider than ideal. Barossa Red is favourite off the back of a pair of placed efforts off this mark on easy ground but this is tougher than last time & he’s not an obvious one to find the required improvement.
Betting
Dean Street Doll, on the other hand, continues to improve & looks to be a handicapper to follow. Her run in the Silver Hunt Cup was eyecatching from the wrong side of a track & that’s a race where the form is stacking up very well indeed. Her last 2 runs have both been over further & both times she’s sat too far off the pace but made excellent late headway. Back in trip should bring further improvement as should this easier ground, whilst there’s no shortage of pace which is again in this hold up performer’s favour. She has a good low draw & provided the splits come in the straight, she really should be fighting out the finish.
Tips
WON – Back Dean Street Doll (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 Sky Bet BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
3.00 York
Preview
A 9-strong field for this Group 2 where, bar the 40/1 rag Queen Jojo, just 4lbs separate the field on official ratings. One Master won a Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood but is on the short side, betting wise, with Safe Voyage probably the one to beat with his excellent 7 furlong record. The heavy rain showers around on Friday will have done his chances no harm. Threat looked a sprinter to follow as a juvenile but has gone backwards this year, finishing 10th of 12 last time out in the Group 1 July Cup.
Betting
Ahead of Threat that day & at over 3 times the price here is the consistent 8 year old sprint Brando & he’s the one we’re siding here. Having broken slowly at Newmarket, he was detached early on but ran to finish 4 lengths behind Oxted with Threat a further 4 lengths back. Last year, he was inside the first 4 in a trio of Group 1 events, including when a neck 2nd over 6 and a half furlongs behind Advertise. He’s by no means outclassed & he’ll appreciate any further rain that might fall on the Knavesmiire. The only doubt is the trip having been campaigned almost exclusively over shorter but he always seems to stick on well at the business end & that run over the 6 and a half furlongs provides enough hope to recommend a small each way bet.
Tips
Back Brando (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 26.00 BetVictor BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
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3.40 York
Preview
The big race of the day is the Ebor handicap over a mile and 6 furlongs where a big field of 21 bid to land the first prize of £140K. Copper Horse handicap winner Fujaira Prince heads the market but he’s 9lbs higher today & this isn’t the greatest race for favourites. Pondus & True Self are the Irish challengers whilst Verdana Blue is the big hope for the jumps yard of Nicky Henderson.
Betting
We cannot get away from the Godolphin horse, Ghostwatch under William Buick. As a 2 year old, he was just 3 lengths behind the top drawer Roaring Lion on a debut & then as a 3 year old, he won 4 of 7 starts including the Melrose over this trip as well as a Listed race at Ascot over the same distance with the likes of 112-rated Mekong & 113-rated Enbihaar in behind. After being off the track for almost 2 years, he ran a cracker 2nd time out when 2nd behind Cape Coast in a big handicap at Newmarket. That was an eyecatching performance with only Cape Coast, who had the run of the race, getting the better of him. He then went to France, finishing 3rd in a Listed race but this has been the target & there are positive vibes from the yard. At a nice each way price, he should give us a good run for our money.
Tips
Back Ghostwatch (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 15.00 Betfair BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
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4.40 York
Preview
This is one of the best mile and a quarter handicaps you’ll see in a while with the market headed by big Goodwood handicap winner Maydanny & John Smiths Cup victor Sinjaari. Both look likely to go on to better things but 11lb & 8lb rises as well as quotes around 3/1 don’t appeal.
Betting
Finishing behind in both contests in our first bet, Fifth Position. He ran a cracker in the John Smith’s Cup when 4 lengths behind Sinjaari but probably paid for racing prominently where those in front came from further back. An 8lb swing might be enough here if the pace is more even. At Goodwood, he had a terrible passage. Hampered badly after a furlong when snatched up, he then ran too free & pulled for his head in first time blinkers so it was to his credit that he still looked threatening at the 2 furlong pole before emptying inside the last. The headgear is left off today & back on a flat track, it’s hard to see him not finishing in the places at worst.
At a bigger price, we cannot leave out the sole 3 year old in the line up, Lucander. It’s Ralph Beckett’s sole runner on the card & stable jockey Harry Bentley is aboard for this gelding’s first run against the older horses where he gets a valuable 7lb weight for age allowance. He won 3 from 5 as a 2 year old including 2 handicaps in this grade before running a cracker at Haydock on reappearance when finishing a neck 3rd in a blanket finish behind Strait Of Hormuz & Angel Power. That form is solid with the winner finishing a close 2nd since off 6lb higher & the 2nd winning earlier this week here by almost 4 lengths, also off 6lbs higher. The selection is 5lb higher & his price is probably as it is because of a disappointing run next time out at Newmarket when finishing out the back. That was his first try at the trip but he had excuses as he was drawn widest & then went to race on the wrong side of the track. He can be given another chance & looks to be the one most likely to upset the market leaders.
Tips
PLACED – Back Fifth Position (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Boylesports BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
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WON – Back Lucander (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 17.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
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