York’s Ebor Festival begins on Wednesday with a fantastic card that centres around the Group 1 Juddmonte International. In anticipation of a top day’s racing, our Racing Editor has produced previews and selections for all SEVEN races on day one of the meeting. Check this out below, alongside an exclusive Betfair offer, which provides £60 in Free Bets when you bet £10 on the 13:50 York.
DUSKY LORD – (1:50 York, Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap) 9/1
York’s Ebor Festival kicks off with this devilishly tricky five-and-a-half furlong handicap, but the first thing to note when looking at this year’s lineup is that there is plenty of pace on with many of the runners capable of making the running.
If this does turn into something of a burn-up pace-wise, then it could set up for DUSKY LORD.
Roger Varian’s gelding hasn’t really kicked on from a Newmarket reappearance win, but he did best of the hold-up horses at Newmarket on penultimate run and then finished fast for second at Glorious Goodwood.
This extra half furlong should suit on that evidence, and first-time blinkers have the potential to unlock improvement. Dusky Lord is one of the least exposed in this field, and this fast ground (granted we don’t get too much rain) will suit him well.
Mondammej looked a slightly unlucky fifth in this last year and bumped into the Nunthorpe favourite here on penultimate run, it’d be no shock to see this quirky 5yo run a big race.
MILL STREAM – (2:25 York, Tattersalls Acomb Stakes) 7/2
Godolphin’s Local Dynasty won impressively on debut and represents a stable in great form.
He warrants respect here but did take a little time to get going on debut and if that’s the case again here then MILL STREAM may have already flown.
Jane Chapple-Hyam’s colt was picked up for 350,000 guineas as a yearling and is bred to make his mark as a juvenile, being a half-brother to last year’s Prix Morny third Asymmetric.
He was well punted for a Doncaster maiden on debut last month and justified that support to run out a cosy winner. Mill Stream backed up the promise shown there to finish a close second in a Newmarket novice, bumping into the potentially smart Noble Style.
A horse with a good attitude and clearly plenty of ability, he gets the nod for this year’s Acomb.
York Racecourse,
Knavesmire Rd,
York,
North Yorkshire YO23 1EX.
United Kingdom.
York Racecourse
Known as ‘The Knavesmire’, racing has been staged over this turf since 1731 and is without question one of the most attractive racecourses in the world. The highlight of each season is the prestigious three-day Ebor Meeting in August which features three Group 1 races. The Dante Meeting in May, also over three days, is another immensely popular fixture featuring a mix of classic trials, pattern races for older horses and top-class handicaps.
SECRET STATE – (3:00 York, Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes) 2/1
Charlie Appleby’s taken two of the last four renewals of the Great Voltigeur and his SECRET STATE can land this year’s race.
This Dubawi colt bumped into the classy Francesco Clemente on debut and has won all four starts since, taking competitive 1m4f handicaps at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood the last twice.
That most recent success marked Secret State down as a Group horse masquerading as a handicapper, and a glance at Secret State’s pedigree (dam first past the post 1000 Guineas) suggests that he is bred to be well above average.
As short as 8/1 for next month’s St Leger, Secret State looks less complicated to ride than most in this field and probably hasn’t stopped progressing on the back of just five starts, so rates the strongest bet of the day.
MISHRIFF – (3:35 York, Juddmonte International Stakes) 4/1
Baaeed is yet to taste defeat in nine starts and is certainly bred to stay at least 1m2f, but there appears too great a price difference between himself and MISHRIFF based on the 5yo’s impressive victory in this race 12 months ago.
Mishriff spreadeagled his rivals that day and although 0-4 since he looked desperately unlucky not to claim the Coral-Eclipse on penultimate run when encountering notable trouble in running.
Mishriff blew the start in the King George subsequently and the energy he expended getting back into a position to challenge told in the closing stages.
That 1m4f trip seems to just stretch Mishriff’s stamina, and he’ll be far better suited by this distance, whilst it’s also hoped that he’ll break better today. Baaeed hasn’t been doing a great deal once hitting the front recently, and this tendency to only just do enough could allow Mishriff to pounce late.
ZOFFEE – (4:10 York, Sky Bet Stayers Handicap) 7/1
A cracking renewal of this Stayers Handicap and a few in with chances.
Frankenstella still retains potential and goes well at this track, whilst Alfred Boucher should appreciate stepping back up to this trip.
Preference instead goes to ZOFFEE, however, who has looked progressive since joining this yard.
Winner of the Northumberland Plate consolation earlier this season, Zoffee looked unfortunate not to supplement that at Newmarket’s July Festival when third, just finding the post coming too soon and leading merely yards after the line.
Zoffee caught the eye at Glorious Goodwood last time out, travelling through the race like much the best horse before just appearing to find the extended 2m4f trip too great a test of stamina. Dropping back to this distance looks a huge plus on that evidence, and he retains scope for improvement for this yard, so at the prices looks worth siding with to land this prize.
PINK CRYSTAL – (4:45 York, Celebrate ITM’s 200th IRE Voucher Winner Fillies’ Handicap) 5/1
This 5f fillies’ handicap looks like a good opportunity for PINK CRYSTAL to bring up the hat trick.
This daughter of Shamardal is yet to finish out of the three in her seven starts to date, claiming 6f handicaps at Thirsk and Brighton the last twice.
Being a strong traveller Pink Crystal isn’t expected to have any problems with this drop back to 5f, and a 3lb rise for her latest win doesn’t look excessive given she won a shade cosily under jockey Tom Marquand, who keeps the partnership intact here.
Out of a Listed winner, Pink Crystal has the potential to rank far higher than a mark of 84.
David Evans’s Cuban Breeze is also a filly in form and Ryan Moore now takes over in the saddle, she rates the main danger to the selection.
BRAVEHEART BOY – (5:20 York, Sky Bet Nursery Handicap) 11/1
Mrs U S A is still learning on the job and there’s every chance that she’s going to prove better than an opening mark of 81, whilst Ramazan was impressive at Haydock last time and is clearly well thought of by his connections.
At the prices, however, the vote goes to BRAVEHEART BOY.
Tim Easterby’s colt caught the eye when runner-up in a Redcar novice on debut, travelling very powerfully into his race just finding a more clued-up rival too strong.
He endured a nightmare run at Carlisle next time and looks worth forgiving for his sixth-place finish, and ridden more positively at Pontefract last time he showed battling tendencies to score, the front two that day pulling 5l clear of the remainder.
An opening mark of 81 appears workable, and therefore at a double-figure price Braveheart Boy rates the one to be with.
York Ebor Festival Day 1 Tips
DUSKY LORD – (1:50 York, Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap) 9/1
MILL STREAM – (2:25 York, Tattersalls Acomb Stakes) 7/2
SECRET STATE – (3:00 York, Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes) 2/1
MISHRIFF – (3:35 York, Juddmonte International Stakes) 4/1
ZOFFEE – (4:10 York, Sky Bet Stayers Handicap) 7/1
PINK CRYSTAL – (4:45 York, Celebrate ITM’s 200th IRE Voucher Winner Fillies’ Handicap) 5/1
BRAVEHEART BOY – (5:20 York, Sky Bet Nursery Handicap) 11/1