The opening day of York’s Ebor meeting is today’s feature and conditions were described as good on Tuesday morning with a dry forecast for the meeting.
In the extended 5f handicap which opens the card there has not been a three-year-old winner in the past decade although there have only been a handful of runners from the classic generation in the last five years.
The 3-y-olds only receive 2lbs weight-for-age over five furlongs and, but I still believe Twilight Calls and Whenthedealinsdone (1.50) can run big races as both could make up into group performers going forward. Preference for the latter is marginal.
The selection finished a length and a half in front of Twilight Calls at Goodwood last time when readily landing a competitive handicap and he is taken to confirm the form on 6lbs worse terms. The 11/1 available on Tuesday morning was taken and the recommendation is 9s 5 places with MansionBet at the time of posting.
The Group 3 Acomb Stakes is one of my favourite juvenile races of the year, but I cannot split the top three in the market. Of more interest is the Gt Voltigeur Stakes which sees the return of one time Derby favourite High Definition (3.00) who has been off the track since finishing down the field in the Irish Derby at the end of June.
Aidan O’Brien saddles three of the eight runner field and he should know where he stands with market leader Kemari who carries a 3lbs penalty for beating Wordsworth at Royal Ascot in the Queen’s Vase over an additional couple of furlongs. There looks sure to be plenty of pace in the race and the selection’s running on third in the Dante over an extended 10f here back in May is very good form.
Ryan Moore one would imagine had the choice of mounts, and he has gone with the selection although his judgement has not exactly been faultless in recent months. The colt has been, hitherto, a bit of a talking horse but there can be no excuses this afternoon. Note the money on Tuesday was for stablemate Sir Lucan 4s from 10/3 with William Hill.
The absence of St Mark’s Basilica from the Juddmonte International is a shame but it does make the race more appealing from a betting medium. I have been with both of the market leaders Mishriff – Eclipse Stakes – and Love – King George – this season but believe both are vulnerable at this 10f trip this afternoon in trhe feature race of the meeting.
I was keen to oppose Mohaafeth (3.35) in the York Stakes over C&D last month when I felt jockey Jim Crowley rode him with too much confidence giving away valuable ground at the start. He cannot afford such a luxury this afternoon, but I feel he could be overpriced at 6/1 with 10Bet. He gets the each way vote.
The selection had won his four previous starts in the manner of a most progressive colt, and I hope Crowley does not give the leaders too much rope stepping up to the top table for the first time.
Jamie Spencer advised in a recent Racing Post interview ‘if you don’t like the way I ride don’t bet on me“ and that has been a profitable tactic for punters of late. The former champion jockey has not ridden a winner for the best part of a month and, after a good run earlier in the season, I am not convinced he is at the top of his game at present.
That said – and it does pain me to say – but Arcadian Sunrise (4.10) has every chance in the 2m handicap if his jockey does not give his mount too much to do. The ew selection – 4s with William Hill – has won his last couple over jumps and sandwiched in between ran a terrific race in a hot handicap at the Curragh when he was a bit too keen for his own good. John Queally has booked Spencer in the hope that he can get his mount settled althoughit should be noted he did make all at Thurles when breaking his duck on the level.
There is a competitive card at Carlisle, and I have thought that The Navigator (3.15) was coming to the boil in recent starts and the handicapper has dropped Dianne Sayer’s grey to what looks an attractive mark. The ew selection 12s with MansionBet – meets Goobinator on 9lbs better terms for just over 2L he was behind that rival here back in May and today’s better ground should suit.
If you include Tristan Durrell’s 7lbs claim Longhouse Sale (5.30) is 9lbs better off with Bathiva for the neck he was behind that rival at Uttoxeter when the pair were last seen at the end of June. He is taken to reverse the form on the revised terms at Worcester this evening. Teenager Duke Of Navan is a favourite of mine, but I was disappointed with his finishing effort at Perth although tonight’s better ground should suit. The 11/4 with Boylesports is fair.
