Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 20 August 2022

YORK EBOR FESTIVAL – DAY 4

Race 1 Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

No5 ALFLAILA
Trainer: Owen Burrows – Jockey: Jim Crowley

ALFLAILA trounced his Pontefract foes one notch below this class with a telling change of gear that saw him going away from Marie’s Diamond at the finish. Confirming the promise of his wide margin comeback win in a Class2 handicap at Ascot, the Dark Angel colt is now in a good position to turn the tables on MIGHTY ULYSSES from when they met at the Newmarket July meeting. The latter was in his own right bouncing back from defeat that day, but benefitted from a pace-snaring peach from Frankie Dettori. Today, in a race where the three-year-olds can dominate, SONNY LISTON could also enter calculations at juicy odds.

Race 2 Sky Bet Melrose Handicap

No9 NUSRET
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: Mr P Sheehy

This traditional hot betting heat will take some sorting out, and in selecting NUSRET there is a limitation clause over wagering levels. The Golden Horn colt appeals as the only Irish raider in the field, and as one who having put his head in front might possess new confidence for this first run in a handicap. There’s no doubt it’s a baptism of fire, but his stamina is assured as he was pulling away at the finish of that initial success at the Curragh.

Top weight WILD CRUSADE would show himself to be a Group horse if making this a fourth success from only five outings in 2022, and if stablemate AL NAFIR beat him in receipt of 10lb it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise.

Hat-track-seeking SOUL STOPPER has attracted plenty of support on each of his three visits to the track this season and was hugely impressive at Chester where his superior stamina really kicked in at the finish.

SOULCOMBE upped his game after being gelded and equipped with blinkers to deliver at Haydock and Ascot before finishing in the money behind Secret State at Goodwood, form which was given a boost by the winner in the Great Voltigeur here on Wednesday.

Prediction: 1st NUSRET, 2nd Soulcombe, 3rd Soul Stopper, 4th Wild Crusade

Race 3 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2)

No4 JUMBY
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton – Jockey: Jim Crowley

New Bay colt JUMBY successfully moved from handicaps into a Group 2 when taking out the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury a week ago. So well has he taken those exertions that connections have opted for a bold follow-up attempt. He has the clear beating of POGO, who was unable to adopt his preferred forcing tactics.

Fillies SACRED and SANDRINE enter the equation with plenty to recommend them and it would be no surprise to see the former give Sandrine more than a race than was the case in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

While Sandrine grittily held KINROSS at bay, Sacred looked like she needs a step up the distance ladder.

Of the roughies, ART POWER should not be dismissed lightly. He’s been slow coming to hand, but if taking to a longer trip has the class to get into the argument.

Prediction: 1st JUMBY, 2nd Sacred, 3rd Sandrine

Race 4 SKY BET EBOR HANDICAP

No5 EVER PRESENT
Trainer: Jessica Harrington – Jockey: Shane Foley

The Irish have established a knack of taking away this mega valuable stayers’ race, and by fielding EVER PRESENT, OKITA SOUSHI and EARL OF TYRONE have a big combined chance of landing the spoils for the third time in the last four years.

As a three times scorer from only five career starts EVER PRESENT could easily have more to offer and he’s already proven his staying power over further than this mile and three-quarters. He took home a minor cheque in Listed company when returning from a protracted break, a run that should have brought him nicely to the boil.

Australia gelding EARL OF TYRONE has attracted plenty of support in his three successes this year, and doing so with real authority. His trainer is proving a master at laying one out for a touch, and it seems the Ebor has been on this four-year-old’s agenda for some time.

OKITA SOUSHI has a similar profile to Ever Present’s, and despite being beaten as an odds-on chance at Leopardstown needs plenty of respect.

Home hopes lie chiefly with GAASSEE, an impressive winner here at the May meeting who did little wrong when last seen placing in Haydock’s Old Newton Cup. Encouraging to his supporters is that he was doing all his best work at the finish.

Godolphin’s TRAWLERMAN landed some good bets at Goodwood to appear dangerous under a penalty, while of the roughies CALLING THE WIND is a consistent operator that could sneak into the frame or even pull off a minor shock.

Prediction: 1st EVER PRESENT, 2nd Earl Of Tyrone, 3rd Gaassee, 4th Calling The Wind, 5th Okita Soushi

Race 5 Sky Bet Constantine Handicap

No19 CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: David Egan

CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD has sneaked into this sprint handicap at the base of the weights. While he always needs the cards to fall in his favour when coming from off the pace, it might be worth chancing that to happen as he delighted his trainer in his final blow out for this earlier in the week.

SUMMERGHAND was drawn on the wrong side when finishing a creditable fourth in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last Saturday. He had previously enjoyed a similar fate in the Stewards’ Cup, and after some time in the wilderness could fare better.

TABDEED was a big mover in the Stewards’ Cup market before failing by a short head to catch COMMANCHE FALLS. At these revised weights he has a good chance of turning the tables.

REGIONAL, just behind them in fourth, must also be afforded healthy respect.

Prediction: 1st CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD, 2nd Summerghand, 3rd Tabdeed, 4th Regional

Race 6 Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed)

No10 TREASURE TROVE
Trainer: Paddy Twomey – Jockey: Billy Lee

TREASURE TROVE upped her game to go close at the Curragh last week and the daughter of Siyouni must be seriously considered for a trainer who looks like he’s on a mission. The Siyouni filly can take full advantage of the 8lb she receives from ROCKET RODNEY, who did nothing wrong in a Pattern race at Goodwood and is one of the quickest two-year-olds in training.

Race 7 Sky Bet Finale Handicap

No4 INJAZATI
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Jamie Spencer

INJAZATI is one to watch closely in the market for what is his first outing since April. On that seasonal return he failed to justify some hefty wagering but as a horse that’s won off a break in the past he could easily bounce back. He put together a fine hat-trick last year, and this is just an eight career starts for the chestnut. SPECIAL ENVOY has few miles on the clock, and as another that regularly attracts money is of similar interest, while recent winners SPIRIT DANCER and PIECEDERESISTANCE can also claim cheques.

CHESTER

Race 1 No1 FRANKNESS (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Harry Davies

FRANKNESS was totally dominant in opening her account over this course and distance three weeks ago. The daughter of Frankel can shrug aside her penalty and add to the fine record of her trainer on the Roodee.

Race 7 No5 MANCINI
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Ben Sanderson

MANCINI ran a cracker at the Galway Festival and hails from a stable amongst the winners this week. It’s more than two years since his last success, but he’s on a good mark if his pilot can get the right tune out of him.

CHELMSFORD CITY

Race 1 No1 HIROMICHI (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass

HIROMICHI showed gritty determination to get up in the final few strides to open his account at Ffos Las. The grey is now partnered by an apprentice that has ridden him both on the track and at home, and he holds solid claims to make it back-to-back victories.

LINGFIELD PARK

Race 2 No5 KITBAG (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Franny Norton

KITBAG was green on his debut at Haydock but has made good strides at home subsequently. With a forward showing he can give a boost to stablemate Chourmo who is in action later on the card.

Race 4 No1 CHOURMO (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charlie Bennett

Postponed colt CHOURMO was perhaps unlucky not to win at Chelmsford, and after that second career run is fully primed to go one better. He faces stern opposition from Zacatela but carries plenty of stable confidence to post.