Neil Morrice provides tips for the final day of The York Ebor Festival as well as cards at Sandown, Chester and Chelmsford on 21/08/2021.
York – 21/08/2021
Race 1 – Strenall Stakes (Group 3): MY OBERON (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Class dropper MY OBERON can successfully defend an unbeaten record on the Knavesmire for a trainer whose horses are primed to perfection for this meeting.
The Dubawi colt has earned in Group 1 company in his latest two starts, latterly finishing fourth to Love in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. The cheekpieces he wore that day are dispensed with, and he can halt the winning sequence of Real World.
Race 2: SURREY GOLD (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: David Egan
SURREY GOLD suffered from the lack of pace at Ascot last month, his first outing since scoring in runaway style at Newbury.
This lightly-raced individual needs to be forgiven that lapse, and in a race that’s certain to be competitive from gate to line can bounce back. In what is one of the best betting mediums of the week, Oman and Summer’s Knight are others to include in all exotics.
Race 3 – City Of York Stakes (Group 2): SPACE BLUES
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
SPACE BLUES is the type to attract professional wagering after getting into this minus his Group 1 penalty.
Last season’s Prix Maurice de Gheest winner has enjoyed a select campaign in 2021, finishing a creditable fourth in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time, a run that should have put the cutting edge on him for this assignment.
Race 4 – EBOR HANDICAP: ON TO VICTORY
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
The historic Ebor always attracts a number of dual-purpose horses and can fall to the progressive ON TO VICTORY, who has a good draw, and ran better than his finishing position indicates at Goodwood last month. His previous effort to get within a length and a half of Hukum in a Listed race at the same course reads particularly well, while the extra 5lb his talented apprentice takes off his back is a further positive.
As ever there are a couple of ‘plots’ that could unravel, with Irish raiders Mt Leinster and Shantou firmly in that category.
Near the top of the weights, Fujaira Prince brings a class element to the table off just one outing this season, making the grey a player, while even more interesting is Hamish, a dual course winner who looked to have bundles of potential before meeting a setback after placing in last season’s Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Race 5: BALLET STEPS
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
While lacking the experience of her foes, once raced and unbeaten BALLET STEPS takes the eye in the Listed Roses Stakes.
The daughter of Dabirsim did a Houdini act in getting out of trouble to land some good bets on her Beverley debut and has learned plenty from that first visit to the track. She can stave off the challenges of Attagirl and Eternal Halo to show she’s an ace in her trainer’s juvenile pack.
Race 6: AERION POWER (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
From a cracking draw on the inner AERION POWER can trouble the best of them in this hotly contested handicap. The Kingman colt has gone close in back-to-back Class 2s at Doncaster and Goodwood and was probably unfortunate not to finish closer as he raced on the wrong part of the course in the home straight last time.
Race 7: BLACKROD
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Billy Garritty
BLACKROD has contested successive races on Grade 1 courses in his three outings this year, finishing second to First Folio here in June and going one better with a tenacious effort at the Newmarket July meeting. This upwardly mobile individual is worth staying with and should get the better of the attractively weighted Blind Beggar.
SANDOWN – 21/08/2021
Race 1: SASHEQ
Trainer: Amanda Perrett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
SAAHEQ got into all sorts of trouble on his penultimate start here and was then far from disgraced in a better contest at Doncaster. If he enjoys racing real estate in the closing stages he can put the record straight.
Race 3 – Solario Stakes (Group 3): REACH FOR THE MOON (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
REACH FOR THE MOON found only Port Lonsdale too strong in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, looking the likely winner until we’ll, inside the final furlong. He duly bolted up when dropped in grade at Newbury, form boosted when the second Harrow landed the nursery at York on Thursday.
Race 4: VILLE DE GRACE (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
The diminutive VILLE DE GRACE could prove a surprise packet at double-figure odds in the Listed Atalanta Stakes. Beaten only two and a half lengths by Alcohol-Free in the Fred Darling (Group 3) in April, she should be forgiven a subsequent flop at York. She’s in good order on this return from a three-month absence.
CHESTER – 21/08/2021
Race 3: DANCING KING (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Franny Norton
The featured Listed race can go to DANCING KING. A four times scorer from the beginning of March to the start of June, the selection has been highly tried in two subsequent outings. His third to Yibir in the Queen’s Vase reads especially well as he comes back off a freshening break.
CHELMSFORD – 21/08/2021
Race 4: CLAIM THE CROWN (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Ray Dawson
CLAIM THE CROWN was too green to do himself justice on debut at Newmarket, Mobutu nevertheless shaped well enough to get into the frame. The Acclamation colt will know a lot more and can open his account.
Race 5: BOWMAN
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Liam Jones
BOWMAN impressed when returning to Polytrack at Lingfield, pulling right away in the shirt home straight. He’s taken those exertions in his stride and can get the better of class dropper Bless Him in this Chelmsford City Cup.
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