Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing taking place at Day 3 of the York Ebor Festival, including video analysis. He also gives his top picks for the racing action at Salisbury, Wolverhampton and New Abbot!
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL DAY 3 BEST BETS
Race 1: No4 – KOEMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The slight ease in the ground can benefit much-travelled KOEMAN, as will the addition of champion jockey Murphy. Having picked up useful prize money without winning at the Dubai Carnival, the selection has acquitted himself well in both outings on turf since racing resumed, and should enjoy this belated first visit to the Knavesmire, with the long home straight likely to suit his racing style.
Race 3: AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMCRACK STAKES ( Group 2)
No – 10 YAZAMAN
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Five unbeaten records go on the line in the Gimcrack, but the two that stand out have already suffered defeat. Paper favourite Minzaal was fourth on debut before impressively opening his account at Salisbury and is a very useful prospect, while the blinkered YAZAMAN has finished second in two Group 2s and has the best form. The Kodiac colt has twice got to within a length and a quarter of Prix Morny-bound Tactical before finding Supremacy too hot to handle in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. On the balance of form the Haggas colt comes out on top and can thwart Minzaal, while earning runs are possible of gritty Ascot scorer Mohawk King and hat-trick seeking Mystery Smiles. Seven Brothers could also have a big say and rates the best of the northern runners, in a race Yorkshire trainers are always desperate to win.
Prediction
1st YAZAMAN
2nd Minzaal
3rd Mystery Smiles
4th Seven Brothers
5th Mohawk King
Race 4: COOLMORE NUNTHORPE STAKES (Group 1)
No6 – ART POWER
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
The Nunthorpe has cut up to such an extent that it’s hard to look past last year’s breathtaking winner Battaash and the young pretender to his crown, ART POWER. Battaash has done his best to rule the roost in the sprint division over the past four seasons, his triumphs including an unprecedented four King George Stakes at Goodwood, a Prix de l’Abbaye, a King’s Stand Stakes and the 2019 Nunthorpe. His brilliance is undiminished and the idiosyncrasies that plagued him on his first two attempts at this race have long since been ironed out and confined to the history books. That said, he faces a rapidly improving speedball in Art Power, who as a three-year-old has abundant scope for further progression and is the apple of trainer Easterby’s eye. The Dark Angel colt hasn’t looked back since opening his account in soft conditions over this course and distance last autumn, taking out a Newcastle novice, a valuable handicap at Royal Ascot and latterly a Group 3 at Naas by an aggregate of eleven and a half lengths. On ground, that should ride just on the easy side of good, I fancy him to give the odds-on favourite plenty to think about on the way to even better things. Playing for places only are the likes of A’Ali and Moss Gill.
Prediction
1st ART POWER (Nap)
2nd Battaash
3rd Moss Gill
4th A’Ali
Race 5: No5 – MAXIMAL
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
This Convivial Maiden Stakes can throw up a colt with Classic pretensions and MAXIMAL looks the best of this bunch following his narrow defeat on debut at Newbury. The Galileo colt travelled best only to be nailed in the final stride by Guru. The winner was an expensive flop at Kempton earlier in the week but was probably out of sorts, suggesting not too much notice should be taken of it regarding a line onto Maximal. On the contrary, the selection can put down a marker for next season’s 2,000 Guineas by thwarting Tawleed.
Race 6: No8 – DALANIJUJO (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Joe Fanning
In an open fillies’ handicap, DALANIJUJO could be the value option. The strong travelling daughter of Night Of Thunder is getting upwards of 7lb from her seven opponents, having improved from race to race this season. She looked likely to win at Chester last time and was coming back at the winner Snow Ocean at the line. This will be easier ground than she’s encountered, but she should handle it.
SALISBURY
3: No1 – INCOGNITO (Nap)
Ed Walker – Jockey: Luke Morris
has settled into her new stable, a fact mirrored by her narrow defeat on only a
second outing for Walker at Haydock where she attracted plenty of support. The
Elusive City filly can improve from that and gain a first career triumph.
5: No5 – SEVENTH KINGDOM
John Gosden – Jockey: David Egan
Listed Stonehenge Stakes gives Frankel colt SEVENTH KINGDOM a good chance to
return to winning ways. He came home unchallenged on debut at Doncaster before
finding Master Of The Sea too hot to handle in a Group 2 at Newmarket. That is
outstanding form to take into this, while first-time cheekpieces might also
prove a boon.
8: No13 – THAI POWER
Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
POWER is bred to handle the testing underfoot conditions that may prevail even
though he ran poorly on the one occasion he tried it as a juvenile. This season
the Kingman colt has looked content both on sand and turf, scoring on the
Kempton Polytrack before finishing runner-up in consecutive races at
Wolverhampton and Sandown (twice).
1: No2 – MAKER OF LIGHT
Roger Varian – Jockey: E Walsh
OF LIGHT is the one with improvement under the bonnet and can take out this
novice auction stakes. He ran into the ultra-smart Cairngorm on debut at
Newbury and caught many an eye in finishing just five lengths off that colt,
only to disappoint when a well-supported favourite when moved up to seven
furlongs at Yarmouth. He’s almost certainly better than that and is better
drawn than his main rivals in the betting.
7: No13 – ALPINE MISTRAL (Nap)
Shaun Keightley – Jockey: Josephine Gordon
big jump is needed from ALPINE MISTRAL in order to defy an 11lb rise in the
weights but the filly has been so impressive in her two successes at Ripon and
Yarmouth that the completion of a hat-trick is on the cards.
ABBOT
1: No1 – TEMPLEPARK
Fergal O’ Brian – Jockey: Max Kendrick
done nothing wrong for his in-form stable over both fences and hurdles through
the summer, TEMPLEPARK has strong claims to complete a hat-trick in this novice
hurdle. The seven-year-old has to shoulder a double penalty but should prove
too strong for Calum Gilhooley.
2: No6 – SOVEREIGN DUKE (Nap)
Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
sets a poser by saddling the form pick Pisgah Pike as well as former useful
Flat performer SOVEREIGN DUKE. The selection was good enough to finish eighth
to Kew Gardens in the Queen’s Vase two years ago before enduring training
issues that restricted him to just three subsequent outings. However, he’s
reported to have schooled well, will enjoy this tight track and ground just on
the easy side of good.
8: No2 – REBEL LEADER
Harry Whittington – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
has his summer jumpers in good order and REBEL LEADER will be fitter for his
satisfactory return at Southwell when third to Kitty’s Light. That was the
gelding’s first run in a chase and he will be more worldly-wise for this
handicap in which he holds more scope for improvement than any of his foes.
