Neil Morrice York Ebor Festival Day 4 Best Bets
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL DAY 4 BEST BETS
Race 1 SKY BET STRENSALL STAKES (Group 3)
BOWMARK
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick
BOWMARK gets the vote in a very interesting opener on his return from a mid season break and only a fifth career start. The Kingman colt couldn’t make the huge class jump that too him into the French Derby field but he’s well regarded by his trainer, and had shown abundant promise before that trip to Chantilly. KING’S GAMBIT looms as a big danger on his drop back to 1800 metres. He finished strongly from off the pace on his latest start at Ascot, and deserves to pick up a Pattern race. It would be an audacious move to run BULLET POINT just three days after his success here. If he shows up he needs respecting, as does the hat-trick seeking GLADIUS.
Prediction: 1st BOWMARK, 2nd King’s Gambit, 3rd Gladius
Race 2 SKY BET MELROSE HANDICAP
No2 DAIQUIRI BAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
DAIQUIRI BAY has troubled the judge in some of the top middle distance 3yo handicaps this year and now stretches out to a mile and threequarters for the first time. The way he finished off his race at Goodwood strongly suggests he’s going to relish it, while his dam was a winner over two miles. More than one of the field are capable of shaping into Group horses next season including POLE STAR, who is the winner of three of his last four for Charlie Johnston. TARRIANCE appeals as the pick of a twin attack on the contest by owners Juddmonte while has trainer Andrew Balding also harbours hopes of success with FANTASY WORLD who is on a hat- trick. GOLDEN HANDSHAKE would be the most popular of winners – he’s also looking for a third straight success and is owned by the King.
Prediction: 1st DAIQUIRI BAY, 2nd Tarriance, 3rd Pole Star, 4th Fantasy World, 5th Golden Handshake
Race 3 SKY BET CITY OF YORK STAKES (Group 1)
No 4 NEVER SO BRAVE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
This relatively new Group 1 sees ROSALLION redirected from Deauville and with a great chance to add to his two successes at that level last season. Trying a new trip today, the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner was a close second in the Queen Anne and then chased home shock scorer Qirat in the Sussex Stakes. He is however up against a rapidly improving miler in NEVER SO BRAVE who toyed with the opposition when landing the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot. He has improved a stone since joining Balding and looks all over a Group 1 winner waiting to happen and should take a lot of stopping. MARANOA CHARLIE was only denied in a photo in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville and needs including in all exotics on a first outing for Christopher Head.
Prediction: 1st NEVER SO BRAVE, 2nd Rosallion, 3rd Maranoa Charlie
Race 4 SKY BET EBOR HANDICAP
No6 ETHICAL DIAMOND (Each Way)
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey: William Buick
Willie Mullins has a good chance of notching a third success in the big betting race of the week with ETHICAL DIAMOND. While saddling a heavily backed favourite in HIPOP DE LOIRE the Closutton maestro also holds strong claims with my selection who benefitted from a waiting ride to score cosily at Ascot last time. That was over a mile and a half, and I fancy Buick will sit cold on him until well into the home straight. Ethical Diamond hasn’t been without his problems, but as a confirmed dual,purpose horse is very much in the mould of Mullins’s previous Ebor winners. Ireland’s challenge also includes MR PERCY, who landed some good bets at the Curragh on his latest Flat start, and more recently scored over hurdles. He’s up 8lb however, which could just anchor him. FRENCH MASTER couldn’t quite cut the mustard in the Goodwood Cup but he’d previously finished strongly to score at Goodwood and Ascot. He’s back in his comfort zone and looks a big player.
Prediction: 1st ETHICAL DIAMOND, 2nd Hipop De Loire, 3rd French Master, 4th Mr Percy
Race 5 SKY BET CONSTANTINE HANDICAP
No 9 POCKLINGTON (Each Way)
Trainer: Geoff Oldroyd – Jockey: PJ McDonald
POCKLINGTON did not enjoy the rub of the green on a recent visit here but was finishing best of all. He’s an unexposed springer with relatively few miles on his racing clock, and can make a good fist of it from what looks a favourable draw. BADRI is another I like and one that could make the podium at a bigger price. He’s a consistent performer, and will arrive late on the scene. SUPER SAIYAN is a joker in the pack after hosing up at Doncaster on a first run after a long absence. This is just a fourth career start out of a yard known only for its jumpers, but he looks very progressive.
Prediction: 1st POCKLINGTON, 2nd Super Saiyan, 3rd Badri, 4th Strike Red
Race 6 JULIA GRAVES ROSES STAKES (Listed)
No8 REVIVAL POWER (NAP)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
There are some good chances at the end of the card and REVIVAL POWER is definitely one. The Bungle Inthejungle filly has terrific gate speed that almost earned her success in a conditions race at Goodwood. She is a close relative of Nunthorpe winner Winter Power and comes here in very good order. Godolphin’s SILENT APPLAUSE landed some good bets in a three runner but hot nursery at Haydock and might prove the better of Charlie Appleby’s runners. DICKENSIAN is greatly respected after earning runs in the Windsor Castle and the Molecomb. He looks carded for a frame finish at the very least.
Prediction: 1st REVIVAL POWER, 2nd Dickensian, 3rd Silent Applause
Race 7 SKY BET STEVE BIRCH FINALE HANDICAP
No4 GREEK ORDER (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Bell – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Although he’s had a few chances, GREEK ORDER jumps off the page as one of the better betting propositions of the final day. The step up in trip can prove a key factor for Murphy’s mount, who filled the minor place in the Golden Mile and has been in great form since. MARHABA GHAIYYATH is one I shall have a saver on, while WESTRIDGE makes obvious appeal after his Goodwood triumph but has been handed an 8lb rise in the weights.
Prediction: 1st GREEK ORDER, 2nd Marhaba Ghaiyyath, 3rd Westridge
