Thanks to Will Kedjanyi for this fabulous in-depth preview of Day 2 of the York Ebor Festival. JP
1.55 – Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2): Fairyland was a hugely creditable third in the Albany Stakes when racing alone on the far side, but the lamentable form of her stablemate makes her impossible to recommend at the time of writing. Angel’s Hideaway was not far behind her at Royal Ascot and has since finished runner up to the Prix Morny winner Pretty Pollyanna and before she won the Princess Margaret Stakes in impressive style herself at Ascot. She ought to take the beating.
Wide margin Novice Stakes winner Flawless Jewel will be waiting in the wings and Little Kim, a disappointment in the Super Sprint, will be on the premises if back to the winning form she showed in the Prix du Bois at Deauville two starts back.
Of the others, two-time winner Firelight makes most appeal.
Advice: 3 pts win Angel’s Hideaway (2/1 general)
2.25 – Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes (Class 2) (2YO only): Kodyanna’s only poor run has come in the Queen Anne and there’s no shame in that considering how we’ll the form has worked out. She has since won a nursery here off 83 and finished second in a Deauville Group 3 afterwards.
This race has been dominated by Richard Hannon (three winners in last 10 years) and William Haggas (three winners in a row from 2013-2015) so it’s no surprise that He’zanarab, Masaru and Fanaar are all well liked in the betting.
He’zanarab is the choice of Ryan Moore but Masaru looked a useful prospect when easily landing a minor event at Windsor, which has seen the four length second and third subsequently win their next time. There were two and a half lengths between the second and the third and Masaru had more in hand at the line than the four-length winning margin suggested. Secret Venture, Concierge, Red Balloons, Celebrity Dancer and Big Baby Bull are all contenders.
Advice: 2 pts win Masaru (5/1 general), 1 pt each/way Kodyanna (15/2 Ladbrokes, Hills, Bet Victor)
3.00 – Clipper Logistics Handicap (Class 2): Firmament got no run when it counted in the Betfred Mile at Goodwood, but he finished like a well handicapped horse and at this much more conventional track he should hopefully be able to get a fair crack, and if he can show his best then he’s got every chance of going much closer. He was far more disadvantaged than Poet’s Society (second), Original Choice (third), Mythical Madness (fifth) and Hors De Combat (sixth).
Senority won the Betfred Mile for The Queen and can go well again up just 6lbs, whilst Afaak, second in the Hunt Cup, is worthy of his place towards the head of the market.
Kyrnen has had just one poor effort since the start of the season, and he can be forgiven that in the Hunt Cup. It is a strong sign that he was able to bounce back and finish third in the John Smith’s Cup here over 10 furlongs, form what has been boosted out of the park by Thundering Blue since winning the SkyBet York Stakes and then finishing third in the Juddmonte whilst Borocco has finished second in two group races. This drop in trip might help and he should go very well if in the same form.
Advice: 1 pt each/way Firmanment (8/1 general), 1 pt each/way Kyrnen (8/1 general)
3.35 – Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies’ and Mares’ Group 1): Another top-class renewal where Sea Of Class is taken to continue her meteoric rise. Her wicked turn of foot to take the Irish Oaks, having wisely missed Epsom on account of the ground, was one of the most impressive things seen this summer and now she ought to get a fearsome pace to aim at thanks to the presence of Bye Bye Baby and Flattering, one which only enhances her chances of coming late and passing the field.
Laurens will prove to be an incredibly tough rival for her to handle, however. The Fillies Mile winner has since won the Prix-Saint Alary, beating the subsequent Group 1 winner With You, and then grabbed victory in the Prix Diane when finding most of about six horses in with a chance two furlongs out. She appears slightly big in comparison to the favourite and a price on her to finish in the first two or three would be of interest, based on the price.
They will need to be on their mettle to beat Coronet, who was just beaten in the Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud and then a creditable, if albeit well beaten third in the King George. John Gosden’s charge looks to have a strong each/way shout here.
Magic Wand got stuck in the mud at Epsom when fancied for the Oaks and then was deeply impressive in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. Off the back of that, she was sent off favourite for a fast ground Irish Oaks but she scoped badly after a limp performance and it appears that she was suffering from the bug that has ruined the stable’s summer to a great extent.
Dermot Weld’s Eziyra was third to last year’s winner Enable before winning twice since at Cork and Leopardstown in strong races for the Grade (Group 3) and her return, a good beating of the solid yardstick Stellar Mass, suggests she can run well here.
Horseplay was second to Coronet earlier in the year here and improved to take the Lancashire Oaks, although a couple of defeats for the runner up God Given since tells us that it’s not Group 1 form and she might struggle here.
Advice: 2 pts Laurens Top 2 finish (6/5 Betfair)
4.15 – British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+): Sun Maiden was heavily in season when a dismal fourth in the Gordon Stakes’ but before she’d made a very sound debut in group company when third in the Ribblesdale and if she’s back to that form she could take a great deal of beating.
This will be a hotly anticipated race for the return of the blueblood Lah Ti Dar, who made such a deep impression when winning her maiden and then the Pretty Polly. She looked as if the sky would be the limit then, but she was then forced to miss the Oaks and then the Ribblesdale thanks to two setbacks and she is likely to improve for this a great deal too.
Alwaysandforever was a good second in the Chalice Stakes and should be on the premises, whilst What A Home should enjoy this return to faster ground after finishing third at Chantilly last time. Watch out for the progressive Snow Wind, a taking Chester winner last time for William Haggas.
Advice: 1 pt win Sun Maiden (9/2 general)
4.50 – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105): Desperately tough to sort out but Preening’s third in Listed company the last twice read well here and she can go well here off a revised handicap mark, She looked like she had more to give when she was a game winner at Sandown in June and whilst 14lbs higher now, she has fully earned that rise. Move Swiftly and Victory Wave are worthy favourites.
Starlight Romance and Betty F have fair each/way chances whilst Homeopathic would be interesting if bouncing back to the form she’d showed when winning a Fillies’ Handicap at Chelmsford.
Advice: 1 pt each/way Preening (8/1 general)
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