Neil Morrice York Ebor Festival Day 3 Best Bets
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL BEST BETS FRIDAY
Race 1 SKY BET HANDICAP
No1 MOUNT ATLAS
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Staying is the game of MOUNT ATLAS, who loves the faster ground and put in a seasonal best when scoring in ready fashion at Ascot last time. His stable is enjoying a bountiful week, while these are the colours carried by Gimcrack winner Mill Reef in 1970. ZANNDABAD looked to be given plenty to do when out of the money in the Northumberland Plate, but he’s subsequently run well over hurdles, and frequently attracts support on his forays on the level. INSANITY failed to menace in this race last year but threatened with a podium finish at Ascot last time that he’s on the cusp of a return to the limelight.
Prediction: 1st MOUNT ATLAS, 2nd Zanndabad, 3rd Insanity
Race 2 WEATHERBYS LONSDALE CUP (Group 2)
No1 TRAWLERMAN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick
Before his grinding Gold Cup triumph TRAWLERMAN won over this two mile trip at Sandown which gives him a bombproof allure now back in a Group 2. On paper the only danger is his old adversary SWEET WILLIAM, but that one is getting into a habit of playing second or third fiddle, leaving AL QAREEM and DUBAI FUTURE to fight it out for the minor placings.
Prediction: 1st TRAWLERMAN, 2nd Sweet William, 3rd Dubai Future
Race 3 AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMCRACK STAKES (Group 2)
No DO OR DO NOT
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Tom Marquand
This isn’t the hottest renewal of the Gimcrack and the one that can take advantage is DO OR DO NOT. The Space Blues colt goes into bat as a five race maiden but can show he’s no paper tiger to give his trainer a first winner of the week. This might be a different track to Goodwood, where he finished third in a Group 2, but the cut back to six furlongs shouldn’t stem his resolve, and if on his A-game he should have too many guns for EGOLI, who was on the wrong part of the track when underwhelming at Goodwood but had smart form previously. Local hope RECIPROCATED didn’t get the trip over 1400 metres at Ascot and is capable of bouncing back. He had impressed on his first two starts and figures to prove dangerous.
Prediction: 1st DO OR DO NOT, 2nd Egoli, 3rd Reciprocated
Race 4 COOLMORE WOOTTON BASSETT NUNTHORPE STAKES (Group 1)
No9 ARIZONA BLAZE
Trainer: Adrian Murray – Jockey:David Egan
ARIZONA BLAZE might not have been on song when he ran in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, but the son of Sergei Prokofiev has more than made up for it with his near miss at Royal Ascot and success in a Group 2 at the Curragh. He’s operating at the peak of his powers and in an open Nunthorpe looks set to get involved again. Australian mare ASFOORA bids to better her fourth in this 12 months ago and can be forgiven a recent defeat at Goodwood when she couldn’t handle the testing conditions. LADY IMAN looks much the better of the juveniles that take their chance against the older sprinters. She rocketed home in the Group 3 Molecomb at Goodwood last time, and has attracted solid support in the ante post market. One that can outrun her price is SHE’S QUALITY, who gives Ireland another string to its bow following her own very good effort in defeat at Goodwood.
Prediction: 1st ARIZONA BLAZE, 2nd Lady Iman, 3rd She’s Quality, 4th ASFOORA
Race 5 ASSURED DATA PROTECTION EBF FILLIES ‘ HANDICAP
No4 ROARIN’ SUCCESS
Trainer: Harry Charlton – Jockey: William Buick
ROARIN’ SUCCESS opened her account at Hamilton before making a bold bid to lead throughout at Doncaster. She faces a tougher assignment, but gives the impression she is only just realising her potential, while her trainer likes nothing more than winners on the Knavesmire, a desire handed down to him by his father. ZGHARTA has won over a mile and a quarter this season and looked unfortunate when hitting traffic in her race at Goodwood. She can prove dangerous if finding some racing real estate this time. CAPE FLORA went up 11lb for scoring at Leicester but might have even more than that to offer for John Gosden, while BLESSED STAR is game and consistent, and can also earn.
Prediction: 1st ROARIN’ SUCCESS, 2nd Zgharta, 3rd Cape Flora, 4th Blessed Star
Race 6 BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF CONVIVIAL MAIDEN STAKES
No10 NEW MONARCH
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
NEW MONARCH can take the spoils in an open Convivial in which he deserves a change of luck. The Acclamation colt has hit the woodwork on both outings but done nothing wrong, and he brings a strong CV to the table against main market rival NAVAL LIGHT and the 500,000 guineas debutant INISHBEG
Prediction: 1st NEW MONARCH, 2nd Naval Light, 3rd Inishbeg
Race 7 SKY BET MILE HANDICAP
No15 POINT OF CONTACT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Kieren O ‘Neill
Park House Stables have another likely contender for the nightcap in the form of POINT OF CONTACT. The son of Blue Point was finishing out of the money for the first time in four starts this year when sixth in the equivalent race to this at Goodwood. On reflection he was unlucky, as he didn’t enjoy the best of runs through and nothing was going on as strongly at the line. FIFTH COLUMN was on the coat tails of the principals at the end of the Go,den Mile at the same meeting. He is lightly raced and open to progression in the same mould as the selection. BIG LEADER brings a fascinating profile to the table as he is unbeaten in three starts for Geoff Oldroyd whilst now 3lb higher in much stronger company than he is used to. Top weight FEARNOT is a reliable operator at this level, and following a recent Ascot win can make a good fist of defying his 5lb higher mark.
Prediction: 1st POINT OF CONTACT, 2nd Fearnot, 3rd Fifth Column, 4th Big Leader
