Neil Morrice York Ebor Festival Day 2 Best Bets
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL DAY 2 BEST BETS THURSDAY
Race 1 SKY BET LOWTHER STAKES (Group 2)
No2 ARGENTINE TANGO (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The super consistent ARGENTINE TANGO needs to find a little improvement to win this, but with Ryan Moore in her irons that could happen. The Mattmu filly hasn’t missed in the big fillies’ races for juveniles, carding success in a Listed race at Newmarket followed by earning efforts in the Duke Of Cambridge on the July course there and behind Lady Inman in the Molecomb at Goodwood. ROYAL FIXATION finished strongly to force a picture with the smart Venetian Sun in the same Newmarket race. As that was just a second start for the Palace Pier filly there should be plenty more to come. AMERICA QUEEN trotted up on her Haydock introduction after being heavily supported. She has Ryan Moore in her saddle, and is an unknown quantity.
Prediction: 1st ARGENTINE TANGO, 2nd Royal Fixation, 3rd America Queen
Race 2 HARRY’S HALF MILLION BY GOFFS
No11 KAMAKAMELEON ( Each Way)
Trainer: Dylan Cunha – Jockey: David Egan
KAMAKAMELEON landed some good bets when opening his account at Doncaster and was popular in the market for the Newbury Super Sprint only to miss the break and fail to get in an effective blow. He’s been freshened up since a run that was better than it looked, and at his big double figure price can trouble the judge. TADEJ is a solid favourite following his Group 3 triumph at Deauville, and it’s worth factoring in that he was a course and distance scorer at this track at the end of May. Clive Cox is looking for an unprecedented third win on the bounce in this valuable Sales race with SONG OF THE CLYDE. He reports the Sergei Prokofiev colt to be in tip top order, and having come up against the super smart Egoli at Newbury last time it’s doubtful he will meet anything of that ilk. ITALICA is a terrier-like battler, who though beaten in a Listed race at Ascot is effectively taking a class drop and must not be overlooked.
Prediction: 1st KAMAKAMELEON, 2nd Song Of The Clyde, 3rd Italica, 4th Tadej
Race 3 CLIPPER HANDICAP
No4 NORTHERN EXPRESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: David Egan
On a day I hope is kind to roughies, NORTHERN EXPRESS gets the vote. Although underwhelming in most of his 2025 starts he’s been given a little leeway by the handicapper and is too good a horse to write off. He ran a cracker in this race 12 months ago and can again get into the shake-up, although a saver is strongly advised on URBAN LION. He probably did himself no favours by attempt to go from gate to wire in the Shergar Cup, but still ran well to make the podium, and has relatively few miles on his racing clock. He’s considered a Cambridgeshire type by his trainer, but as the faster conditions are what he wants connections were tempted to come here first. BULLET POINT is effectively 3lb well in as he will go up next week. He ran a blinder when second at Ascot where his dominating tactics almost paid off, and could be tough to reel in if getting a hassle free passage from the front.
Prediction: 1st NORTHERN EXPRESS, 2nd Urban Lion, 3rd Bullet Point
Race 4 PERTEMPS YORKSHIRE OAKS (Group 1)
No3 MINNIE HAUK
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The York executive might be inwardly disappointed that only four fillies have turned up for this Group 1 which puts more pressure on MINNIE HAUK confirming her status as the best middle distance 3yo filly in Europe. The dual Oaks winner is assisted by having a couple of free going opponents in GARDEN OF EDEN and QILIN QUEEN, and should make it a fifth triumph in the last six runnings of the contest for Aidan O’Brien. The other runner ESTRANGE can form the flip side of the exacta.
Prediction: 1st MINNIE HAUK, 2nd Estrange
Race 5 BRITISH EBF & SIR HENRY CECIL GALTRES STAKES (LISTED)
No4 ROSE PRICK (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Walker was on the mark in the corresponding race in 2024, and in ROSE PRICK has a filly that could form a surprise packet. She has run well at Listed level, and though the jury is out regarding the step up to a mile and a half it could be the making of her, especially with the champion jockey on board. Dermot Weld’s ALICE MONET is one to include in all exotics as she’s shown no sign of stopping in gate to wire successes at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, and almost certainly wants to go further. CHARLOTTE’S WEB and BUTTERFLY WINGS also enter calculations in an open heat.
Prediction: 1st ROSE PRICK, 2nd Alice Monet, 3rd Charlotte’s Webb, 4th Butterfly Wings
Race 6 MEWS HOTEL OSSETT EBF STALLIONS NURSERY
No4 DAYDREAMA (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
This is the favoured nursery option for local fancy DAYDREAMA, who at a tasty double figure price appears to have been overlooked in the book. The son of Dream Ahead has done nothing wrong in landing some good bets for his back to back successes at Pontefract and Carlisle, and though drawn wider than ideal, could easily have a part to play. HENGROIN was a snug winner of an Epsom novice and now goes handicapping for a trainer that knows the time of day. He should get into the argument, while a pea out of the same pod is Ryan Moore’s mount PEEL PARK. If turning out, DUBLIN BAY could prove a factor from the bottom of the weights. He scored twice in the space of five days and the step up to 1400 metres should suit.
Prediction: 1st DAYDREAMA, 2nd Hengroin, 3rd Peel Park, 4th Dublin Bay
Race 7 BRITISH EBF FILLIES’ HANDICAP
No7 DANCE IN THE STORM (NAP)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
This is a tough card for punting and I shall definitely leave extra funds in my pocket for DANCE IN THE STORM, who could become a getting out of jail ticket in the nightcap. Since having her attention switched to turf the Night Of Thunder filly has produced three solid runs to score and place at Sandown and then get chinned by the progressive Mudbir at Goodwood. That was only a sixth career start for the hooded Nap, who needs to overcome a very trappy outer draw, but will prove hard to beat if she does. MAYBE NOT has shown versatility to score on turf and sand this summer and represents a trainer whose distaff runners at York must always be respected. BONUS TIME is a very interesting visitor from Ireland who is frequently supported. This 1400 metres looks what she wants, and should it rain she’s bred to handle the cut.
Prediction: 1st DANCE IN THE STORM, 2nd Maybe Not, 3rd Bonus Time
