Day two of York’s Ebor Festival contains a four-runner edition of its Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks, but our value man Matty Sutcliffe has looked at the more bountiful fields on the day to come up with five best bets for readers.
1:50 York – Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Group 2) (IRE Incentive Race) (Class 1) (2yo) – Come On Eibhlin 33/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
Space Blues filly COME ON EIBHLIN ran a huge race on debut at 250/1 in the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot when finishing ninth of twenty three, staying on well to be beaten four lengths on what looked to be the unfavourable part of the track on the far side.
The form of the race looks assured, with the winner going in again next time out before a second in the G1 Phoenix Stakes, the fifth won in listed company next time out and was then second in the G3 Princess Margaret Stakes, the sixth showed up well in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes before being a neck in listed company at Deauville, and the tenth landed a valuable Fillies Conditions Stakes at Goodwood last time out.
While she only won by a neck at Windsor when 8/15F next time out, she initially drew three lengths clear a furlong out and looked set to win by several before swerving violently right toward the rail after Jim Crowley gave her a crack, and her momentum sharply stopped. It was pleasing to see her regain her pace and get back on a true line, gamely fending off a subsequent winner in Gwen John.
She’ll need to improve on that form to trouble the market principals, but had she stayed on a true line last time out her price in here would be at least half of what she is now and the original promise displayed on debut at Royal Ascot brings her firmly into contention, with a low draw perhaps preferable if sticking to the far-side rail.
2:25 York – Harry’s Half Million By Goffs (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2yo) – Anthelia 6/1 2pt WIN
After spending a fair chunk of time deliberating how to make a case for one toward the rear of the market, the one obvious candidate I kept coming back to in here was ANTHELIA, who ticks most boxes as a winner of this contest.
The daughter of Supremacy has form figures of 11151 this season and while her sole blip came over six furlongs, she was only beaten two lengths giving weight away to the field in listed company and Rod Millman has suggested he got the tactics wrong on her that day.
I wouldn’t be all that concerned in that respect, as she’s been strong at the line in each of four wins this season including in listed company at Sandown which has thrown up some solid form, and most notably she just got up on the line to land the valuable Newbury Super Sprint, lowering the colours of the strong favourite Havana Hurricane who somewhat franked that form when third in the Richmond Stakes.
That’s undoubtedly the strongest form on offer here and her low draw only increases the enthusiasm for connections who won this with Shouldvebeenaring in 2022.
3:00 York – Clipper Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Aalto 25/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
A little faith is required with this selection, but you could say that about all bar the top three in the market as it’s one of those races horses conveniently ‘peak’ at the right time for.
He’s yet to win over a mile since taking a valuable handicap at Longchamp for previous connections, but AALTO posted a strong effort when a length second to Crack Shot on seasonal debut last term over a mile at Newmarket, before a four length fourth over a mile at Newbury next time out. He proved he can take to the course at York when a length fifth here last June, before staying on strongly to win the competitive Bunbury Cup at Newmarket.
While he went off the boil thereafter, he put behind him a 29L defeat on seasonal debut this term to be beaten a nose in the Bunbury Cup last month by More Thunder, and that form has worked out exceptionally well. The winner took the G2 Hungerford Stakes last weekend now rated 19lbs higher, and they pulled thee lengths clear from the third has ran well twice since including in the International Handicap. The fifth took a 49k Class 2 at Ascot last time out after a second in the Golden Mile now rated 3lbs higher, and the sixth was also fourth in the Stewards’ Cup next time out.
We have to trust that Aalto can put behind a blip in the International Handicap when reportedly never travelling, but if he can return to the form of his Bunbury Cup second then a mark of 96 is more than workable with Billy Loughnane on board for the first time, who has a 24% strike rate when teaming up with Ian Williams in the last 12 months.
4:10 York – British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed Race) (GBBPlus Race) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Rose Prick 20/1 1pt EW 3 places
Last year’s winner Scenic only had a Kempton novice success to her name with subsequent form figures of 653 that season prior to landing the Galtres, and lightning can strike twice for connections in the form of ROSE PRICK in what looks a weak enough contest.
The daughter of No Nay Never has predominantly been campaigned between 7F-1M throughout her career and is yet to win since her two year old days, but the innate ability is there as show when beaten a length into third in listed company at Kempton on seasonal debut prior to just being touched off in an Ascot handicap off a mark of 92. Since then she has form figures of 55453 in Listed company and she posted a career best RPR on her latest effort when upped to twelve furlongs for the first time at Nottingham, rallying well to grab third having been outpaced three out after making the running.
She wasn’t entirely disgraced when midfield in the Sandringham after a break, but the decision to drop her in trip didn’t look an obvious one and now she steps up further to 1m4f she is strongly considered to return to the winners enclosure.
Though by No Nay Never, she’s out of a Sea The Stars mare from the family of two winners over 1m4f including one placed multiple times in group company and given she’s ran well here before (length fourth over 7F), she looks one of the better bets on the card.
5:20 York – British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Perfect Part 20/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
I was all set to make PERFECT PART a strong selection, but the draw in 17 and the jockey booking (would’ve preferred Shay Farmer) has slightly eased my enthusiasm, for all I still believe she’s been aimed at this contest and can give a good account of herself.
The daughter of Mehmas landed the Hilary Needler on debut at 125/1 last season, and proved that was no fluke with four subsequent solid efforts including an eye-catching three length fifth in the Lowther on this card.
She returned this season with another eye-catching effort at Doncaster in listed company when a two length fourth to horses rated 17lbs, 14lbs and 18lbs higher than her respectively, finishing ahead of multiple winners including Witness Stand and Frost At Dawn who was second in the King George Qatar Stakes.
She put a blip on the all-weather behind her when agonisingly beaten a length over C&D here after quite literally never coming off the bridle. That form’s worked out nicely throughout the field since, and she’s backed it up on both subsequent starts.
Perfect Part was a three-length fourth when faring best of those racing in rear in Listed company at Musselburgh with that form working out nicely, and she was poorly positioned in rear at Chester when once more staying on for fourth despite coming very wide on the turn under tense handling.
As mentioned, she’s doesn’t receive the handy claim of Shay Farmer and she is drawn toward the car park, so we’re going to require some serious luck in running but she’s proven to run well off this mark and she should’ve won off it here in May, so provided she gets the gaps then she’s taken to outrun her odds.
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