York’s 2022 Ebor Festival has already been fantastic and now it has proven impossible to shorten down our betting list any more for the Friday and Saturday. We have a huge weekend in store.
Friday 19th August 2022
3.00 York (Gimcrack Stakes – Group 2) – NOBLE STYLE
There are no Group 1 races for the juveniles just yet, but events like this one are often Group 1’s in all but name. This is a fascinating race therefore, one in which Noble Style may outclass his rivals.
He needed the run when winning last time out after a slight setback which forced him to miss his date in the Coventry at Royal Ascot, but his debut was spectacular.
The pace he showed over five furlongs early on was incredible given his breeding and this colt could be anything at this stage.
Marshman was visually spectacular but beat nothing last time, while Royal Scotsman is penalised and was well beaten by Noble Style on debut.
3.35 York (Nunthorpe Stakes – Group 1) – DRAGON SYMBOL
Not a vintage renewal of this massive £533,000 sprint, at least not on paper, and with that in mind the Nunthorpe could be ripe to be taken out by one at a bigger price.
Though their form is decent, those at the top of the market really haven’t earned their stripes in Group 1 races and that lack of experience could catch them out.
Of those at big prices, Dragon Symbol is rather going under the radar. He’s just four, had a great time as a three-year-old, and with more patient training may well have won what was a stronger renewal of this race last year.
He is getting better all the time with his new trainer and his prep at Hamilton was ideal. He, along with Lazuli and Flotus, is a great each-way betting option.
5.20 York (Handicap) – BAY OF HONOUR
At the end of a brilliant day’s racing there is one more betting opportunity with Bay Of Honour.
Operating should take out the bulk of the betting market, given that he represents Coolmore, the Gosdens, Ryan Moore and is on a hat-trick, while Leuven Power is very interesting after slamming his rivals last time.
Bay Of Honour’s win thirteen days ago was so easy though and the form is solid. He could outclass this field under the no.1 jockey.
Saturday 20th August 2022
1.50 York (Strensall Stakes – Group 3) – BASHKIROVA
Generally speaking, I really like the form of Mighty Ulysses and Alflaila, however the three-year-olds have a terrible record in this race which makes you wonder about weights etc.
Of the older horses, Bashkirova is penalised for her excellent win at Epsom but taking her form at face value still makes her a top contender in this event, while the speed figures she posted on Derby day where also excellent.
She was punted off the boards at Ascot last time and has now had a break; she looks good enough.
2.05 Sandown (Atalanta Stakes – Group 3) – LAUREL
In the first of two fascinating Group 3’s at Sandown, we may see a newcomer emerge in the top-level fillies and mares’ mile division.
Potapova is interesting at a big price, though it would have been nice to see her run before Bashkirova to check the Epsom form, while Fonteyn has gone well in Group 1 company.
Grande Dame is a lovely type and can run well again, but within the Gosden stable she is second choice to the once-raced Laurel who appears to have some real star quality.
The daughter of Kingman was spectacular on debut at Newmarket and holds an entry in the Sun Chariot Stakes.
2.25 York (Melrose Handicap) – WILD CRUSADE
Back at York, the Melrose is essentially the Ebor for three-year-olds and as such is hard to solve given how progressive the field is.
Inverness, Caius Chorister, Nusret, Soulcombe and Godolphin’s Al Nafir (second choice) may all be backed, but Wild Crusade is definitely an improving type and represents value.
That Al Nafir is second choice certainly doesn’t harm confidence given that William Buick has chosen our horse over him, one who was short of room when racing here before and who beat Warren Point. Solid.
2.40 Sandown (Solario Stakes – Group 3) – SILVER KNOTT
In the Solario, Defence Port has a chance and on the book Desert Hero looks the most likely winner.
The latter-named however did well on soft ground and faces a different task this time, while the master of these races Charlie Appleby throws National Stakes entry Silver Knott in who has been very green and has a ton of improvement to come despite being a last time out winner.
3.00 York (City of York Stakes – Group 2) – SACRED
William Haggas’ Sacred is often forced to wait around for these fast-ground seven-furlong races, despite having run very well in Group 1 company at Ascot over six.
She has her conditions here and she is the most solid of this bunch, though Al Suhail, Brad The Brief and Art Power may be fighting for places.
3.35 York (Ebor Handicap) – TRAWLERMAN
We’ve successfully gone for Trawlerman before and there’s no reason at all to ditch him now.
His first win as a three-year-old marked him out as a future Group horse, he won first time out at four, was given no chance at Ascot and was eased when his chance went at Newmarket.
He predictably came back to form in great style when landing a similar race to this at Glorious Goodwood, he’s not finished yet and in fact was entered in the Lonsdale Cup against Stradivarius and co.
Candleford is an obvious danger, while Okita Soushi, Licence, Earl Of Tyrone and Gaassee are all live contenders in a massive race.
5.20 York (Finale Handicap) – SPECIAL ENVOY
If Trawlerman wins then we’ll be left hoping for a big handicap double for the Gosdens, the second leg being this Special Envoy in the Finale.
The Frankel colt only made his debut this year, really taking the eye at 9/1 in behind Warren Point, which is form that ties him in with the likes of Wild Crusade, Israr and Blue Trail. Ebor runners Aimeric and Soulcombe were also in behind that day.
Since then, Special Envoy has won twice at Windsor, he’s a work in progress and you’d think 98 doesn’t represent his true ability so he could be well in. Phantom Flight is the big danger.
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