A bumper prize pool is set to be up for grabs with the Tote Placepot on Friday, as the action continues at York’s Ebor Festival. Six competitive races will light up the Placepot on 22nd August and here at GG we pick out out selections for each race, as we look to try and grab a slice of the pot.
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Leg 1: 1.50pm – Sky Bet Handicap
Leg 1 Selections: (5) French Duke, (8) Zanndabad
A winner of a valuable Goodwood handicap last season, French Duke has struggled to kick on this season and was last seen finishing down the field at Goodwood last time out. However, the drop back in trip for this opening contest at 1.50pm should see him in a better light and off a mark of 97 he has to be in with a shout. Eleventh in the Northumberland Plate, Zanndabad was last seen finishing second over hurdles at Galway, but a return to the Flat should see him sparkle and with stamina assured Tony Martin’s charge can stay on in the closing stages to make the frame.
Leg 2: 2.25pm – Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes
Leg 2 Selections: (1) Trawlerman
Having started his season with a classy win in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown, Trawlerman then went and bounded to an emphatic eight-length win in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot to cement his place as the premier stayer in training. A former winner of the Ebor Handicap, the Godolphin raider will return to the scene of that fine success and if he can repeat that Ascot run then he should have far too much class for the likes of Al Qareem and Sweet William.
Leg 3: 3.00pm – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes
Leg 3 Selections: (2) Do Or Do Not
Ed Walker’s Do Or Do Not has been knocking on the door in an array of quality juvenile races this season without getting his head in front. However, he can finally get his name in lights on Friday and land victory in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at 3.00pm. He followed up an excellent second in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot with another runner-up spot in the July Stakes at Newmarket, while he was third in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. This looks a little easier on paper and if he can emulate his recent runs then should be a cut above his rivals here.
Leg 4: 3.35pm – Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes
Leg 4 Selections: (4) Night Raider, (16) Lady Iman
It’s one of the most competitive Nunthorpe Stakes in recent times and a real head-scratcher for punters, but two rapid sprinters that can make the frame are Night Raider and the two-year-old speedball Lady Iman. The former was sixth in the King George Stakes at Goodwood last time out, but his front-running style could see him skip clear of his rivals and never come back to them, while Lady Iman is looking to become the first two-year-old since Kingsgate Native in 2007 to win this race. She has been a revelation this season and blasted to Molecomb Stakes glory last time out, and in receipt of huge weight here she could well scorch to glory off 8st 2lbs.
Leg 5: 4.10pm – Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Handicap
Leg 5 Selections: (13) Blessed Star
Placed in all her seven career starts, Charlie Johnston’s Blessed Star is a solid selection for the competitive 4.10pm fillies’ handicap. Last seen finishing third at Goodwood, she continues to remain on the same mark of 77, and it’s that figure she takes her chance off on Friday afternoon. While she may find one or even two too good for her again in this contest, she has shown she’s a real consistent performer and can help us make it through to the sixth and final leg.
Leg 6: 4.45pm – British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes
Leg 6 Selections: (10) New Monarch
Second on both his starts at Ascot and Newbury, New Monarch will attempt to go one better in the 4.45pm maiden contest and stepping up to seven furlongs looks to have the potential to improve. Both his runs have come over six furlongs and Andrew Balding’s son of Acclamation has looked like a longer trip would suit and he can get the better of the likes of Naval Light and Frescobaldi, who have both shown plenty on the track so far in their fledgling careers.
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