Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing at the York Ebor Festival, including his feature race analysis. Get ready for day four! Let’s find out what’s good on the betting front.
York undercard Best Bets
Race 3: LAURENS (3)
Trainer: Karl Burke
Jockey: PJ McDonald
Taking Group 1 winning form into a Group 2 is never a bad thing and the City Of York Stakes has LAURENS written all over it. The filly had to play second fiddle to Mustashry in the Lockinge Stakes but after a rare blip at Royal Ascot bounced back to win the Prix Rothschild at Deauville. Stepping back to seven furlongs shouldn’t present any problems for her, and will help connections decide whether she heads for the Prix de la Foret or the Sun Chariot Stakes afterwards.
Race 6: TUDOR CITY (16)
Trainer: Tony Martin
Jockey: John Egan
A fascinating runner in this tough handicap is TUDOR CITY. Fresh from a memorable victory in the Galway Hurdle the 7yo has his attention turned to the Flat off what looks a reasonable mark. A mile and a quarter is normally an inadequate test for the gelding, but a strong pace looks assured in the 17-runner contest and that should ensure he’s doing his best work at the finish.
York Feature Race
SkyBet Ebor Handicap
The richest handicap run in Europe is the undoubted betting bonanza of the week with Hollywoodbets paying Fixed Odds to five places.
Having won eight of his nine starts for Mark Johnston this year, KING’S ADVICE is going to have a welter of followers and commands abundant respect.
He has very good tactical speed and when last seen at the Goodwood Festival dug deep into his resources to land the spoils. He carries a 4lb penalty but cannot be ignored.
WITHHOLD has landed three handicaps since joining Roger Charlton including a £100,000 contest, the Marsh Cup, at Newbury last time. A former winner of the Northumberland Plate, he is more dangerous when getting his own way in front, but that scenario is unlikely in such a large field containing several others that like to get on with things.
John Gosden’s BEN VRACKIE is definitely a name to conjure with in spite of finishing in the ruck behind King’s Advice on the Newmarket July course last month. He was hampered at a crucial stage and wasn’t given a hard time after that. And looking at his good form at Ascot in June makes him a real player in this if he can bounce back.
A big mover in the ante-post market, RAHEEN HOUSE is now in the hands of William Haggas and if ever a horse has promised to land a decent spot it’s him.
When third in a Group 3 here last time he was only beaten by a neck when staying on strongly at the finish. It takes a Group Class horse to win this, and this amazingly consistent five-year-old has plenty to bring to the table.
The Johnston operation also fields BAGHDAD and MAKING MIRACLES, with the former worth a second look stepping up in trip after posting a creditable third placing behind Desert Encounter in a Group 3 at Goodwood. In less good form is Making Miracles, who needs to recapture his good form from the spring when he plundered the Chester Cup in bottomless ground.
Ireland has its own potent challenge headed by MUSTAJEER. Fourth in the race last year, he’s been brought steadily to the boil by trainer Ger Lyons this season, staying on nicely to finish just out of the money in a Group race at the Curragh last time. The ground, track and trip should be perfect for this hooded six-year-old.
Willie Mullins has the twin spearhead of TRUE SELF and MAX DYNAMITE. The former needs rain while Max Dynamite placed in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Ascot and then hosed up at Killarney.
Neil Morrice’s Predicted Finish:
1st BEN VRACKIE
2nd Raheen House
3rd Mustajeer
4th Withhold
5th Max Dynamite
