Neil Morrice York Ebor Festival Day 1 Best Bets
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL DAY 1 BEST BETS WEDNESDAY
Race 1 Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap
No12 BRAZEN BOLT (Each Way)
Trainer: Ruth Carr – Jockey: Warren Fentiman
BRAZEN BOLT has looked like a new broom this summer and the hat-trick seeker can keep up the good work with a big earning run in this opening sprint handicap. Since his move to Carr the gelding has posted figures of 93211, and greatly impressed with his gritty determination at the finish at Goodwood. That form was boosted when the third, Redorange, finished second in a Listed race at Deauville. THE MAN impressed on a first start after wind surgery over course and distance and needs respecting. AIR FORCE ONE is another recent winner who is firmly in the mix, while veteran COPPER KNIGHT is a standing dish in this race and can never be safely ruled out on his favourite terrain.
Prediction: 1st BRAZEN BOLT, 2nd The Man, 3rd Air Force One, 4th Copper Knight
Race 2 TATTERSALLS ACOMB STAKES (Group 3)
No4 ITALY
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The form of ITALY’s debut success is working out, while he can be counted a shade unfortunate to have been edged out in the Superlative Stakes, as the winner raced wide of him. The Wootton Bassett colt is reportedly flying at home, and can follow in the footsteps of his trainer’s 2024 winner of this race, The Lion In Winter. Godolphin’s DISTANT STORM looms as a big threat following his initial success as that form is working out, and the fact that he ran green indicates there should be bundles of progression in him.
Race 3 SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR STAKES (Group 2)
No1 LAMBOURN
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Dual Classic winner LAMBOURN is making this St Leger trial a stepping stone to another Group 1 the name of which is yet to be completely firmed up. His dominating tactics paid off with a decisive conversion in the Betfred Derby, while he was untroubled to see off his stablemate Serious Contender in an admittedly weaker than usual Irish Derby at the Curragh. His countryman CARMERS is the one that could upset the applecart and is hard to weigh up, although his success in the Queen’s Vase was boosted when the second, Further, took out the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury. PRIDE OF ARRAS has twice underwhelmed since plundering the Dante on this terrain and looks up against it, while although having scope for progression, STAY TRUE brings only Listed form to the table, having been beaten in the Lingfield Derby Trial on his latest outing.
Race 4 JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL STAKES (Group 1)
No3 OMBUDSMAN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick
With four countries represented this is a good renewal of the Juddmonte. There’s been floods of money for Japanese runner DANON DECILE who has had this on his radar since triumphing in the Sheema Classic at Meydan. On that occasion he beat Calandagan decisively, with the second going on to frank the form by taking out the King George. DELACROIX flopped in the Derby only to bounce back to land the Eclipse in gritty fashion. He looked more comfortable pulled back in trip at Sandown. DARYZ is a fascinating contender from France who is unbeaten in four for Francis Graffard. He’s won in Listed and Group 2 level on his last two starts making him the joker in the pack. He’s been heavily backed, and displayed a smart turn of foot when lifting the Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud. SEE THE FIRE landed a fillies’ Listed race by a record margin here in May only to then be soundly beaten in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot and the Nassau at Goodwood. However, her pilot was delighted with her work last week, and is expecting a huge run from the filly. OMBUDSMAN was the winner of that Ascot race before just failing in a head bob against Delacroix at Sandown. Gosden has been delighted with him, and there’s a very good chance the older horse will now take his revenge.
Prediction: 1st OMBUDSMAN, 2nd Daryz, 3rd Delacroix, 4th Danon Decile, 5th See The Fire
Race 5 Sky Bet Stayers Handicap
No6 DANCING IN PARIS (Each Way)
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
DANCING IN PARIS was a winner here last season as well as at Ascot and Southwell. He’s run some cracking races in defeat this year, especially when second to Sam Hawkens at the Goodwood Festival. FIREBLADE is an improving type who should give a good account for his South African trainer, while one that can go well at a price is ALMUHIT, for whom Wayne Lordan is a very interesting booking.
Prediction: 1st DANCING IN PARIS, 2nd Fireblade, 3rd Almuhit
Race 6 Ire Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies’ Handicap
No15 LADY ROXBY (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Tom Eaves
LADY ROXBY has excelled since her move to Herrington with a win at Beverley sandwiched between near misses at Thirsk and this course. She found plenty of trouble on the way to that narrow defeat, and while clearly on good terms with herself is worth supporting to get into the shake-up. NOVAMAY is doing her connections proud and needs taking seriously in her pursuit of a fourth straight success, while there’s also plenty to like about ECLAIRAGE, a confirmed front runner who although done no favours by the draw could take some pegging back.
Prediction: 1st LADY ROXBY, 2nd Eclairage, 3rd Novamay
Race 7 Sky Bet Nursery
No7 RIVER SPEY (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
RIVER SPEY was in my view a big eye catcher at Goodwood when doing all his best work at the finish in a warm looking maiden. In making the podium he stepped up considerably on his first two runs, and being drawn high on the straight course here can be an advantage. GO VINCE GO delivered on his first run in a nursery and represents a trainer that rarely leaves the Knavesmire empty handed. He can get into the shake-up, with OLD IS GOLD and MO OF CAIRO also worthy of inclusion.
