Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing taking place at Day 1 of the York Ebor Festival, including video analysis. He also gives his top picks for the racing action at Bath and Stratford!
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL DAY 1
Race 2: TATTERSALLS ACOMB STAKES (Group 3)
No2 – CLOUDBRIDGE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
CLOUDBRIDGE takes rock solid credentials into a race that can have a bearing on the Classics, and in his case the 2,000 Guineas. By Hard Spun out of a Storm Cat mare, he hosed up on his Leicester introduction with a wide margin delivery from Soft Whisper. He faces stiff competition from another once-raced unbeaten colt in Royal Scimitar but can sweep that rival aside.
Race 3: SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR STAKES (Group 2)
No4 – HIGHLAND CHIEF
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: David Probert
The St Leger market could be in for a shake-up after this recognised trial in which the Gordon Stakes form comes under scrutiny. Mogul beat HIGHLAND CHIEF by threequarters of a length at Goodwood with Subjectivist back in third but there are grounds to believe the placings can be reversed. Mogul looked to be carrying plenty of condition when well beaten in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and then managed only sixth in the Investec Derby. It probably took those two races to get him fit, and that shone through at Goodwood. Highland Chief never got a look in at Epsom but raised his game to show in the Gordon that he has prospects of developing into a serious contender for the Final Classic next month. He’s delighted connections in his subsequent work. King Edward VII winner Pyledriver disappointed in the Derby while Berkshire Rocco is a solid staying type but lacks a turn of foot. That leaves the unbeaten Darain as the joker in the pack. John Gosden’s beautifully-bred colt hasn’t come off the bridle for his triumphs at Newbury and Newmarket and granted his trainer’s superb record with this type of colt, needs to be afforded abundant respect.
Prediction
1st HIGHLAND CHIEF
2nd Mogul
3rd Darain
4th Subjectivis
5th Berkshire Rocco
Race 4: JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL STAKES (Group 1)
No4 – MAGICAL (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Since it’s inception in 1972 this race has rightly developed into one of the best races in the world, and though only five contest the prize it’s brought together another mouth-watering clash of the generations, with 2,000 Guineas hero Kameko taking on the older brigade led by ante-post favourite Ghaiyyath, Lord North and MAGICAL. Kameko was a brave winner of the Newmarket Classic but failed to get the mile and a half when fourth to Serpentine in the Investec Derby, then filled the same spot when reverting to a mile behind Mohaather in the Sussex Stakes. Trainer Andrew Balding is probably right when proposing that Kameko was a shade unlucky that day and that this mile and a quarter could prove his colt’s optimum distance. Ghaiyyath has plundered all before him in three straight wins this year, looking a stronger and more reliable performer for owners Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby than he was last season. He routed his foes in a Group 3 at the Dubai Carnival, proved far too good for Anthony Van Dyck in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket, and put in a career-best by flooring Enable in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. He will almost certainly dominate in an attempt to blunt the speed of the likes of Lord North, whose turn of foot manifested itself in his impressive dismissal of Addeybb in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting. Kameko might also be ridden for a turn of foot, as will Magical, who with her two successes from as many outings this year appears to have taken her form to a new level. Having signed off the 2019 campaign with a sparkling display to land Ascot’s Champion Stakes, she has in two Group 1s at the Curragh given every indication that at the age of five she’s operating on a higher platform. She was no match for Enable in the Yorkshire Oaks here 12 months ago but should she meet her old adversary over a mile and a quarter now, I suspect she may gain her revenge. In the meantime, the daughter of Galileo can take this on the way to another high profile international campaign in the remaining months of the year.
Prediction
1st MAGICA
2nd Kamek
3rd Lord Nort
4th Ghaiyyath
Race 5: No16 – MAKE MY DAY
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Ron Hornby
The upwardly mobile MAKE MY DAY makes plenty of sense as a lightly-weighted improver with few miles on the clock in this stayers’ handicap. The Galileo gelding moved from John Gosden to Ralph Beckett after enduring problems following a first success at Goodwood last June. On his return to action over a mile and a half here last month he skipped clear of his rivals, beating Prejudice by two and a quarter lengths. This move up to two miles is something he should take in his stride.
BATH
Race 1: No3 – TEDDY B (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Considering he was very weak in the market and ran green, TEDDY B put in an encouraging first effort to chase home Miss Fernandez here last week. The Sepoy gelding had a good blow afterwards, suggesting the run will have done him the world of good.
Race 3: No6 – MOONRAKER
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
MOONRAKER has looked a better horse on sand than turf, reserving his best for the Southwell Fibresand. However, his shrewd trainer has made three visits to this track with him since racing resumed, with a second to Coronation Cottage an indication that he’s on the verge of a return to winning ways. We will get a line onto that form when his conqueror runs in Race 2.
Race 6: No4 – SOME PICTURE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
SOME PICTURE has improved from race to race this season, latterly finishing second on a first visit to this track behind Robert Guiscard. With the first time cheekpieces worn that day retained, together with the addition of the stable’s useful apprentice Bass, the daughter of Kodiac is in a good spot to go one better.
Race 8: No3 – FOUR FEET
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Emma Taff
A late flurry of support for FOUR FEET never looked like bearing fruit at Lingfield where the gelding had a mountain to climb and could only stay on through beaten horses. The same apprentice does the steering and if able to be closer to the pace may be able to show that run to be all wrong.
STRATFORD
Race 3: No6 – SARASOTA STAR
Trainer: Martin Keightley – Jockey: James Best
Since going jumping SARASOTA STAR has put in three earning runs in as many starts. The hooded son of sprinter Zebedee stays well and will also handle cut, being out of a mare by Dalakhani. He needs to prove his fitness after a lengthy absence but makes plenty of appeal.
Race 4: No2 – MONSIEUR D’ARQUE
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
MONSIEUR D’ARQUE took a big step forward when scoring at Market Rasen, having slightly lost the plot last season. It looks like he’s turned the page and can continue to do well, getting the vote over Ashutor in this two-mile handicap chase.
Race 9: No1 – JAKAMANI (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Bradstock – Jockey: Alfie Jordan
If paper favourite Keyboard Joan repeats her trait of failing to settle, JAKAMANI could be the one to cash into land this concluding Bumper. The selection was a 40-1 roughie when second to Last Royal at Uttoxeter last month and can build from that promising effort.
