The declarations are in for day one of York’s Ebor meeting, with seven races to increase the pulse. GG tipster Joe Napier has four selections across the opening day’s card for you to follow, with an outsider to take on two favourites in the Acomb Stakes…
2.25 York – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3)
The Godolphin-Coolmore rivalry dominated this Group 3 last season, with the Acomb Stakes arguably the strongest two-year-old race of 2024 in the UK. The Lion In Winter and Ruling Court were clear in the market, but were split by 22/1 shot Wimbledon Hawkeye and it is possible to look beyond Distant Storm and Italy, the two clear favourites for Charlie Appleby and Aidan O’Brien respectively, for value here.
Distant Storm’s debut victory is working out well and in the Ruling Court mould of being an expensive two-year-old purchase and well-backed on debut, will surely be popular. Italy was potentially unlucky when second in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket meanwhile, but another standout piece of form belongs to ROCHFORTBRIDGE.
Adrian Paul Keatley is doing fairly well with his juveniles this season, with a 33/1 Listed winner among his six scorers. His son of Mehmas caused an almighty upset on debut at Ayr when beating Chesham runner-up Thesecretadversary, who rebounded from that 2/13 reverse by going one better in Listed company ahead of a Ballydoyle-trained favourite. Rochfortbridge will have to prove that to be no shock, but there was no fluke about the result on face value, so he could go well again.
4.10 York – Sky Bet Stayers’ Handicap
Irish-trained runners have won this three times in the last decade, with a one-two last year, suggesting Alphonse Le Grande could again claim a big handicap on these shores. However, at the foot of the weights, it could be that TERRORISE can improve enough for this step up in class.
Brian Ellison’s four-year-old had ten flat runs before being pitched into Grade 1 company on his juvenile hurdling debut in April. There must have been high hopes for him for that level of ambition, so while he was ultimately pulled up, he is a winner since under both codes, with his course and distance success last time out most striking.
It was his first start beyond 1m6f on the level and he scooted clear to win by four lengths. The third won next time out off the same mark and the sixth nearly did too, so the form looks robust enough. Officially he is 1lb out of the weights, but an 8lb rise for his success would not have looked too harsh and conditions here evidently suit him.
4.45 York – IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies’ Handicap
The draw bias at York is only becoming more and more exaggerated, with near-side berths worth avoiding until evidence proves otherwise. In this competitive heat, stall 9 is the draw for SARATOGA SPECIAL, who catches the eye for Jessica Harrington.
She was narrowly beaten in decent heats on all four starts as a two-year-old, including a second in Listed company at the Curragh. She was off the mark on her seasonal debut back in April, but after failing to kick on in two Listed starts thereafter, she was fifth in a hot handicap at the Curragh in June, then caused a 50/1 upset back up in Listed company at Ayr.
The fourth in that aforementioned handicap opposes here, but despite her Listed victory, Saratoga Special is now 4lb better off at the weights, while the fourth and sixth at Ayr have both won at the same level since. That was no seismic shock on the formbook and her seventh of 11 in Group 3 company at Sandown was respectable enough in this contest. She may be improving quickly enough to feature heavily.
5.20 York – Sky Bet Nursery Handicap
It could be Brian Ellison’s lucky day, as at the opposite end of the 2m handicap spectrum, his runner in this 6f nursery, TEMPLE OF ATHENA, looks to be one who can go very well in the finale.
She is one of just two runners in this field to have had the minimum number of two runs to qualify for a handicap mark, but being unexposed in the eyes of the handicapper is no great negative. She was an easy winner on debut at Beverley, then ran a decent race to be third in the Alice Keppel Conditions’ race at Glorious Goodwood in which she may well have been beaten by two very useful fillies.
The winner has been supplemented for the Nunthorpe and made her late bid down the centre, while Temple Of Athena was ridden towards the further rail. She therefore stayed on well for a place and a mark of 79 looks potentially very generous, with 7lb claimer Shay Farmer aiding to take a significant portion of weight off her back.
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