The Tote Placepot will be running throughout the York Ebor week, with a decent prize likely to await any winners. The day two cards look tremendously competitive and GG try to guide you through all six legs with our selections below.
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Leg 1 : 1.50pm York – Sky Bet Lowther Stakes
Leg 1 Selections: (1) America Queen
Ed Walker won this last season and arguably holds a stronger chance this season given Royal Fixation’s excellent run in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket last month. However, while she nearly upset the established favourite that day, she could be vulnerable from stall 11 to America Queen for Richard Hughes. Few horses win on debut as a two-year-old by 12 lengths, but that’s exactly what the daughter of Havana Grey did at Haydock in early July. The form might not amount to much in terms of opposition, but some of her rivals were competing for useful connections, and it was the manner of victory that was so taking. She should hold her own at this level.
Leg 2: 2.25pm York – Harry’s Half Million By Goffs
Leg 2 Selections: (13) Raakeb, (22) Saffron Dandy
Richard Hannon loves winning this race, claiming it on five occasions since 2016, as well as having a 33/1 third in 2023. As such, Raakeb really stands out, as he has been pitched into tough company almost from the start, finishing third in the Woodcote Stakes, seventh in the Coventry Stakes and sixth in the Super Sprint behind today’s rival Anthelia. However, he now gets an 11lb swing at the weights to race off levels with that rival, and that, coupled with the extra furlong and a good draw, can turn the tide in his favour.
Alongside him, stablemate Saffron Dandy is also worth including. Either side of a remarkable run of favourites winning, there were 33/1 and 22/1 winners in 2018 and 2024, both of whom massively stepped up their form for this race. Hannon’s filly won a four-runner contest at Bath on debut, but connections must think she has an engine, as she was sent to contest an Irish Group 3 at Naas next time out but ran too green. This should be calmer and she commands respect in this race given her trainer.
Leg 3: 3.00pm York – Clipper Handicap
Leg 3 Selections: (2) Bullet Point, (15) Leadman
Another big field to negotiate. Although he is comfortably first choice, Bullet Point is one of two selections should he get pestered on the lead. On form, he is overdue a big handicap win, having been narrowly touched off in the 30-runner Royal Hunt Cup, and then again at Ascot off 3lb higher, in both of which he attempted to make all. Ascot does not favour front-runners as much as York does though, so this should suit and stall 3 helps him immensely, while he also gets to race off the same mark as last time.
In case there is a burn-up at the head of affairs, Leadman provides ample backup. David O’Meara’s yard are in cracking form, striking at 28% in the last two weeks, with this five-year-old so nearly increasing that further when second at Newbury over 7f on Saturday. The step back up to 1m is a positive and he is effectively 5lb well-in here getting to race off 87 (Official Rating now 92).
Leg 4: 3.35pm York – Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1)
Leg 4 Selections: (3) Minnie Hauk
With the ground set to be firmer than good unless unforecast rain arrives, Minnie Hauk’s chief rival Estrange might not even run. As a result, this should be fairly straightforward for the two-time Oaks heroine against stablemate who will be setting the fractions and a rival in Qilin Queen who she beat by 13 lengths at Epsom. It could get trappy and tactical, but she is demonstrably the best filly in the contest.
Leg 5: 4.10pm York – British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed)
Leg 5 Selections: (2) Karmology, (6) Alice Monet
Three-year-olds have generally held sway in this contest over the last decade, but with plenty having stamina doubts, the consistent Karmology has distinct each-way potential for Karl Burke given she is a proven stayer of this trip. She was runner-up 12 months ago and has now made the frame in six separate Listed contests; there is plenty of hope for her to do so again.
Of the Classic generation, Alice Monet is most eyecatching. She did not show much on two starts below 1m to begin her career, but has since caught fire, winning by ten lengths to get off the mark at Fairyhouse, then landing a handicap off a mark of 87 over 1m1f at Leopardstown. In both of those she made all and the increase in distance to 1m4f looks fine for her on pedigree. For a yard with two winners in this since 2012, including with the very useful Search For A Song for the same connections in 2019, she might have the most potential.
Leg 6 Selections: 4.45pm York – Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap
Leg 6 Selections: (2) Stellar Sunrise, (12) Hengroin
The draw is far from ideal for Stellar Sunrise, but stall 19 may be more beneficial over 7f than it is 6f, with the slight kink at that part of the Knavesmire track allowing him to get across from his wide draw. He possibly won a very strong maiden at Glorious Goodwood and Andrew Balding has taken two of the last four runnings of this, so has to enter calculations.
Further down the weights, Hengroin has been steadily improving since his debut, finishing second to a useful type at Windsor, then running in what could well prove the strongest maiden of the season on Newmarket’s July Course. He was not disgraced in seventh that day, and with so much of that form working out, coupled with him having gotten off the mark himself at Epsom at the end of last month, a mark of 81 looks workable with Owen Burrows striking at a terrific 25% strike rate this season.
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