Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from the opening day of the 2024 York Ebor Festival.
2024 York Ebor Festival – Day 1
Race 1 No4 PILGRIM (Each Way)
Trainer: David Barron – Jockey: Joe Fanning
PILGRIM did us a favour when forming part of a bumper exacta pay off in a defeat of Blue Storm in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot. Returned 18-1 on that occasion, as was the runner-up, he will probably head the market in this hugely competitive sprint where he’s drawn on the wing.
The grey is clearly progressive and should complete a hat-trick although a couple that could cause him problems are HOLKHAM BAY and SHAGRAAN.
At longer odds, WEN MOON needs respect, while any support for TROPICAL ISLAND would also interest me. The last-named filly is better than she’s shown so far this season and is worth a saver.
Prediction: 1st PILGRIM, 2nd Tropical Island, 3rd Wen Moon, 4th Shagraan, 5th Holkham Bay
Race 2 TATTERSALLS ACOMB STAKES (Group 3)
No6 RULING COURT
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Few colts have impressed as much as Godolphin’s RULING COURT when storming home at Sandown last month. The son of Justify was handed fancy prices for next year’s 2,000 Guineas and looked the real deal as he stretched clear up the final hill.
The one that could challenge him is THE LION IN WINTER, also a winner on his introduction when coming home unchallenged for Aidan O’Brien at the Curragh.
JOUNCY landed some good bets at Goodwood and can play the experience card, while OUR TERMS was ultra game when making all to open his account at Ascot. Both are impossible to discount.
Prediction: 1st RULING COURT, 2nd The Lion In Winter, 3rd Jouncy, 4th Our Terms
Race 3 SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR STAKES (Group 2)
No1 LOS ANGELES
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
LOS ANGELES is a Classic winner running in a Group 2 and should with a win in this trial solidify his claims for next month’s St Leger. The Epsom Derby third was a gritty winner of the Irish Derby at the Curragh and looks the clear pick of his trainer’s three runners.
ILLINOIS is no slouch in his own right and found only Sosie his superior when last seen in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp. The son of Galileo is also being looked upon as a contender for the Final Classic.
KING’S GAMBIT is something of a joker in the pack following his unlucky defeat at Royal Ascot and subsequent second to Alflaila in the Sky Bet York Stakes at this track last month. He should relish the step up to a mile and a half.
Race 4 JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL STAKES (Group 1)
No10 AMBIENTE FRIENDLY (Nap)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Rab Havlin
To many connoisseurs, the Juddmonte is often the best race run in England each Flat season, but the fact that 13 horses contend for glory tells you this one is open. Derby winner CITY OF TROY is a double-your-money bet but plenty are prepared to take him on, with suspicions that he’s not as good as his connections talked him up to be at the start of the season. Well beaten in the 2,000 Guineas, he comprehensively made amends at Epsom but had to work to follow that up in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
AMBIENTE FRIENDLY chased City Of Troy home in the Derby but has subsequently been put in his place at the Curragh where he appeared to flatten out in the closing stages. His trainer now brings him back a furlong and a half on the distance ladder, giving him a new dimension and a real chance to take his revenge.
Something of an unknown quantity is French raider CALANDAGAN who backed up two Group 3 successes on home soil by holding Space Legend in the King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot.
ALFLAILA will have his chance boosted should King’s Gambit run well in the Great Voltigeur, and he looked back to his best when scoring over this course and distance last month.
BLUESTOCKING is the only distaffer in the field and is entitled to get into the shake-up following her second placing behind Goliath in the King George.
Of the longer-priced horses, MALJOOM is worth a second look. He became worked up in the preliminaries but still ran creditably to chase home Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes. It should have done him the world of good, and William Haggas has been red hot with his older horses in big races of late.
Prediction: 1st AMBIENTE FRIENDLY, 2nd Alflaila, 3rd City Of Troy, 4th Bluestocking, 5th Maljoom
Race 5 No11 EXTENSIO (Each Way)
Trainer: P O’Donnell – Jockey: J Sheridan
EXTENSIO needs to overcome a high draw in this stayers’ handicap but he’s in the form to do so after showing in two starts this year that he’s still progressing at the age of seven. In both those races at Fairyhouse he crossed swords with Sixpack, and while that horse beat him fair and square on the first occasion, my selection comprehensively turned the tables next time.
The one hurdle he has to overcome is never having run over two miles, but so strongly did he finish off his race that I can’t see that being a problem. In a good race for exotic wagering others to include in your perms are his compatriot SAMUI, the in form DIVINE COMEDY and at a longer price KNIGHTSWOOD.
Prediction: 1st EXTENSIO, 2nd Samui, 3rd Divine Comedy, 4th Knightswood
Race 6 No4 MISS ATTITUDE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Franny Norton
Few horses at West Ilsley did as well physically through the winter as MISS ATTITUDE, who strengthen up and filled her frame into a real powerhouse. The Cityscape filly has enjoyed a bountiful season, and while paying for it with a rise in the weights can definitely have a say in the outcome of this 1000-metre dash. Norton might feel that he was unlucky not to score on her at Goodwood, and will be keen to put the record straight. It’s the selection’s first visit to the Knavesmire, but she will travel and if getting the rub at the business end can definitely earn.
Race 7 No14 MANAGING DIRECTOR (Each Way)
Trainer: Bryan Smart – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
De Sousa looks a good booking for MANAGING DIRECTOR, who catches my eye on his first run in a handicap. The Cotai Glory colt has troubled the judge in a couple of well contested maidens and might have been underestimated by the assessor.
The North have a number of chances in the race including Elarqam filly SCATTER PENNY who is an unbeaten hat-trick seeker. ARTAGNAN has changed ownership and could also attract support, while at longer odds INVITED can claim a slice of the cake.
Prediction: 1st MANAGING DIRECTOR, 2nd Invited, 3rd Artagnan, 4th Scatter Penny
