Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Day 2 of the 2024 York Ebor Festival.
2024 York Ebor Festival – Day 2
Race 1 SKY BET LOWTHER STAKES (Group 2)
No4 HEAVENS GATE (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The North has a worthy favourite for this early 1,000 Guineas trial in unbeaten LEOVANNI, who with her successes at Nottingham and Ascot has looked very fast. She’s not the type of breeding who will be going over a mile soon, but this is a quick six furlongs, downhill, and she will be hard to peg back if getting on a roll. Challenging the Queen Mary winner is HEAVENS GATE who is a dual scorer over 1200 metres either side of a creditable third behind stablemate Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. Runner-up in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket, the Coolmore-owned filly was untroubled to notch a confidence-boosting triumph at Naas earlier in the month, and possesses armoury to get the job done.
Race 2 No16 TERRITORIAL KNIGHT (Each Way)
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Tom Eaves
Ryan has a fine record in the big Sales races which adds to the allure of TERRITORIAL KNIGHT taking away a cheque. The son of Territories gained experience of this course on his first run and has gone a long way forward in subsequent outings at Wetherby and Pontefract. He was most impressive when opening his account at the last-named venue. One taking a class drop that can also get into the argument is the Richard Hannon-trained AN OUTLAW’S TALE, who is from the final crop of Dandy Man. He has placed form on a pattern company and interestingly is an only runner from Herridge Stables. Hollie Doyle is an eye-taking booking for MAW LAM, who went down in a close photo in a Listed race at Deauville, and brings easily the best overall form to the table for trainer Adrian Nicholls.
Race 3 No7 METAL MERCHANT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: James Doyle
METAL MERCHANT needs to be delivered with precision timing, and in that respect, Doyle is the perfect foil for him. Beaten on a photo on the only previous occasion the pair teamed up, this switch to racing on a turning track can assist the selection. The Newbury Spring Cup winner has trawled the major mile and seven-furlong handicaps subsequently and did little wrong when reverting to 1400 metres and being beaten a length into fourth in the International Stakes at Ascot last time. He has a tricky draw to overcome, but if he runs as well as he’s been working he will be in the shake-up. ELNAJMM bids to add to William Haggas’s great record with handicappers at this course and the gelding will command a good chunk of the betting turnover on the contest. He’s attempting to stretch his winning sequence to four, but has a 6lb penalty to shoulder for his latest triumph. ARAGON CASTLE travelled beautifully but failed to get the mile and a quarter on his latest outing at Goodwood. Now pulled back to a mile he can take away a cheque. NEW IMAGE has a happy knack for making the frame in valuable handicaps as his figures of 13141321 illustrate. David O’Meara’s charge squeaked home at the Shergar Cup, and having run well on his only previous visit here has plenty to recommend him. At longer odds, JAMES McHENRY is one to bear in mind for a stable that should enjoy success this week.
Prediction: 1st METAL MERCHANT, 2nd Elnajmm, 3rd Aragon Castle, 4th New Image, 5th James McHenry
Race 4 PERTEMPS NETWORK YORKSHIRE OAKS (Group 1)
No3 QUEEN OF THE PRIDE
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
John Gosden sets a poser by saddling his older mare EMILY UPJOHN as well as the rapidly improving QUEEN OF THE PRIDE and the market suggests the young pretender will emerge on top. A product of Roaring Lion’s final crop, she is looking to hunt down a hat-trick after successive Pattern race triumphs at Haydock. The selection was hugely impressive in taking out the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks where she looked better the further she travelled. Conversely, Emily Upjohn has underwhelmed on her last two outings, the latest when out of the money in the Nassau Stakes. She appears to have it all to prove. The Coolmore challenger CONTENT stays well for a filly with plenty of speed in her chart but she could struggle to overturn the Irish Oaks placings with Ralph Beckett’s YOU GOT TO ME who led a furlong out and was always holding the runner-up.
Prediction: 1st QUEEN OF THE PRIDE, 2nd Content, 3rd You Got To Me, 4th Emily Upjohn
Race 5 No11 SEA JUST IN TIME
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
The Galtres Stakes run in memory of Sir Henry Cecil features a rapidly emerging force in SEA JUST IN TIME. Haggas has campaigned the daughter of Sea The Stars similarly to his 2023 winner Sea Theme and it’s clear she is very well regarded at Somerville Lodge. Although her only previous foray into Listed company was met with a muted response, she looked right back in business when returning from a mid-season break to score on Polytrack, taking the step up to a mile and a half in her stride. Most of the opposition have more experience, but she has a touch of class which can see her stave off the attentions of local hope KARMOLOGY.
Race 6 No14 QASEEM (Each Way)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Clifford Lee
If Burke doesn’t hit the target with Karmology then he can with Qaseem in this red-hot nursery. The Acclamation colt posted near-misses at Redcar and Chester before scoring on his first handicap assignment at Haydock, and that consistency can serve him well as he competes from a good draw from which he should soon get competitive. SPELL MASTER shared the spoils in a game display at Goodwood and enters calculations for Andrew Balding while at longer prices Richard Hannon’s ANGEL HUNTER and recent winner HOT PROPERTY are also worth considering.
Prediction: 1st QASEEM, 2nd Spell Master, 3rd Angel Hunter, 4th Hot Property
Race 7 No3 ELIM (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Bethell enjoyed notable success with ELIM at the end of last season, and though the Make Believe hasn’t quite started in the same form from where she left off there’s plenty to recommend her in an admittedly tricky nightcap. The selection ran well when just out of the money at Royal Ascot and picked up some black type in Caernarfon’s race at Pontefract. She’s enjoyed a select campaign and should be cherry-ripe for a frame finish at the very least. SUNFALL is a filly that’s returned to form and also needs respecting, while at much longer odds I shall tickle QUEEN’S REIGN and especially BACK SEE DAA who has really come to herself and can get into it.
Prediction: 1st ELIM, 2nd Sunfall, 3rd Queen’s Reign, 4th Back See Daa
