Accompanied by many of the most competitive Group races in the world, the Ebor festival has some of the most exciting handicaps in the program – including, of course, the Ebor itself. Looking ahead to what promises to be a fascinating week, our racing editor has identified two horses that he is keen to back, and two that he wants to lay, at the 2021 Ebor festival. Check out their thoughts below, which come alongside an exclusive offer from Betway, who are providing new customers with up to £10 in free bets.
LAY – Kemari (Great Voltiguer Stakes, Wednesday 18th August, 3:00pm)
KEMARI has taken a huge leap forward with each of his three starts to date and sits atop of the market for the Great Voltigeur at York on Wednesday. At the prices, however, he looks a solid lay proposition.
Kemari took the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot when last seen, yet he got first run on his rivals that day and won by a fast-diminishing length and a half margin. Dropping back to 1m4f shouldn’t inconvenience on the back of that run, yet the form of the race has worked out poorly.
The runner-up Wordsworth is 0-4 since, disappointing in Group 3 company the last twice (5/4f latest). The third Stowell failed to beat a rival home on his next start and the fourth Benaud was beaten twenty lengths on his next outing.
Kemari looks disadvantaged on these terms shouldering a three-pound penalty for that aforementioned Ascot success and comes up against a solid field here which includes High Definition and Sir Lucan – who are preferred in that order.
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BACK – Stradivarius (Lonsdale Cup, Friday 20th August, 2:25pm)
STRADIVARIUS endured what can only be described as a nightmare run what attempting to land a record-equalling fourth Ascot Gold Cup last time out.
A line can comfortably be put through that performance, and the seven-year-old showed that he retained all of his enthusiasm for this game when landing the Sagaro Stakes earlier this season.
He bypassed a run in last month’s Goodwood Cup on account of the testing conditions, yet should find Thursday’s expected surface ideal, and remains unbeaten (4-4) on the Knavesmire.
That comment does not apply to market rival Trueshan, who will be praying for rain, and whilst Spanish Mission is an accomplished stayer in his own right, he seems unlikely to threaten Stradivarius should he bring his A-game this week.
As a result, the odds-against currently available about Stradivarius looks more than fair.
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LAY – Golden Pal (Nunthorpe Stakes, Friday 20th August, 3:35pm)
GOLDEN PAL looks far too short in the betting for Friday’s Nunthorpe Stakes. Wesley Ward’s sprinter demolished a modest field on seasonal reappearance at Saratoga last month but looks best judged on his start prior in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Golden Pal made all there, yet the form has received virtually zero boosts since.
He will be expected to race prominently once again in Friday’s race, yet that may set things up for a horse coming from off the pace, as it did in last season’s Norfolk Stakes – where Golden Pal was run down late on by The Lir Jet.
There will be far more experienced horses than Golden Pal lining up in the Nunthorpe later this week, and that has proven a requisite for success in the race in recent years, with the last nine renewals all going to a horse aged four or older.
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BACK – Space Blues (City Of York Stakes, Saturday 21st August, 3:00pm)
SPACE BLUES enjoyed an excellent four-year-old campaign, and whilst not quite hitting the heights expected in three runs this year, he has appeared to hold legitimate excuses on each occasion.
He was beaten less than a length into fourth in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time, in a race that wasn’t set up to suit him.
He lines up in Saturday’s City Of York Stakes, where things should be run at a stronger clip, and an official rating of 117 leaves him well clear at the weights.
Three-year-old’s have been worth following in this race in recent years (took five straight renewals from 2015-2019), yet Mutasaabeq looks the strongest runner from that age group, and whilst visually impressive at Haydock last time, it is worth noting that the runner-up that day was rated just 84 and conceded four pounds in weight.
Space Blues was victorious on his only previous visit to York, and should he return to anywhere near last season’s Group 1 winning form he should prove far superior to these rivals. As such, the 7/4 available looks an attractive price.
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