Day 2 of the Ebor Festival at York serves up another spectacular day’s racing. The Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks is the feature race at 3.35pm, whilst the Lowther Stakes is another fascinating Group contest.
Steve Chambers picks out his York Ebor Festival Day 2 tips here, as he looks to make it a profitable day on the Knavesmire.
York Racing Tips (Thursday 20 August)
It’s a 1.50pm start at York, with the action going right through until 5.20pm. Here are the best bets across the card.
3.00 York – The Lost King (1pt win – 11/1)
Andrew Balding’s The Lost King was impressive when winning at York last month, and the Kingman gelding can follow that up with victory in the 3.00pm. He’s been given a notable 6lbs rise for that win at the track in July, but he looks every bit of capable of defying that rise and scoring off 102. He failed to fire when nearly last in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he has generally been pretty consistent on the track in recent outings. He cruised through that contest over course and distance, so if he can replicate that run here then has to be considered a huge contender.
4.10 York – Rhapsody (1pt win – 6/1)
A winner at York in a handicap at the end of last season, Rhapsody is set to try and replicate that success on her return to the Knavesmire for the 4.10pm race. She will be tested in listed company in the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes for this event, but she has been progressive for William Haggas and can land this with aplomb. A very creditable fourth in the hugely competitive Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the daughter of Ghaiyyath then followed that up with a second placed finish in a Curragh Group 3. She stayed on eye-catchingly well in that Irish contest, so the step up in trip on Thursday could bring about more improvement, now she drops to listed level.
5.20 York – Starlight Lass (1pt win – 5/2)
John and Thady Gosden’s Starlight Lass heads into the final race of the day at 5.20pm as the one to beat. Taking wins at Newmarket and Yarmouth mean the daughter of Dubawi is going in search of a hat-trick in this hot handicap. However, having been given a mark of 87 on handicap debut, the Gosden team could be making the most of this lowly mark before going on to target bigger races later in the season. She has shown a really high level of form during those two wins, and whilst most of Thursday’s rivals are in the handicapper’s grip she is one that could just be well above her current mark.
York Ebor Festival Day 2 Tips – Thursday 20 August
3.00 York – The Lost King (1pt win – 11/1)
4.10 York – Rhapsody (1pt win – 6/1)
5.20 York – Starlight Lass (1pt win – 5/2)