York Ebor Festival Day 1 Tips

Passing Star finished in a frustrating 4th for us last week, and I couldn’t believe he got done for a place. He was travelling all over them 2f out and I was already counting my winnings as the race entered the closing stages. However, rather than hold on to him George Downing went for everything 1.5f from home and Passing Star emptied 50 yards from the line and ended up missing out on 3rd by a measly head. If he was ridden with a bit more patience I have no doubt he would have won, but unfortunately it goes down as a loser.

Tomorrow sees the start of one of my favourite meetings, the Ebor Festival at York, and I will be posting tips for nearly every race either here or for Mybettingbonus. The big one on Day 1 is the Juddmonte International Stakes and though only 7 horses go to post it is a very high quality renewal. There is only light rain forecast so the ground should be perfect (currently good to firm) and there will be no excuses on that front. Hopefully we get a few winners, and you can find out what I fancy on Day 1 below.

Roboy Boy looks well overpriced at York.

RACE 1

A maximum field of 20 horses go to post in the opening 5.5f handicap sprint and a case can be made for quite a few of them. A low draw is usually advantageous on the straight course at York and I think Robot Boy could be ready to bounce back to form from stall 4 with Jamie Spencer taking over in the plate. David Barron has his string in stupendous form and Spencer has rode this son of Shamardal to victory twice before.

Robot Boy hasn’t performed well on his last couple of starts but the ground wasn’t quick enough for him on either occasion. He was only beaten 3L off a mark of 99 on his last start on good to firm at Musselburgh and he is 6lb lower off 93 now. He won over course and distance off the same mark last October, Barron has had 6 winners in the last fortnight and Spencer has two wins and a 2nd from 7 rides on Robot Boy. At odds of 25/1 he is worth chancing each way in a wide open sprint.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: ROBOT BOY E/W @ 33/1 (5 PLACES BETFRED)

RACE 2

I have posted a selection for this race for Mybettingbonus and you can find out what it is by clicking here after 6pm.

RACE 3

Another race I have covered for Mybettingbonus. Click here for my selection.

RACE 4

Again, I have covered this contest for Mybettingbonus so check what I fancy by clicking here.

RACE 5

With a maximum field of 17 horses taking their chance in this 16.5f handicap it looks a fiercely competitive contest. The draw won’t be massively important over this distance, but if you are backing a front runner a low draw would be preferable. Ian Jardine is a trainer that I rate very highly and he is flying at the moment, sending out 2 winners from his last 3 runners. He looks to have a great chance here with Edge Of Sanity. This 8yo son of Invincible Spirit looks feasibly handicapped off 93 and his course form puts him right in the mix.

He has evidently had some problems as he was off for over two years after leaving Brian Ellison for Jardine. He made his return to action over today’s course and distance back in July and he ran an absolute blinder to be 3rd, beaten 1.5L by Theydon Grey. He is now 3lb better off with that rival, yet he is almost three times the price, and as he is likely to strip fitter with that run behind him he has to have a serious chance of reversing the form. Paul Hanagan rides and he has hit the frame on 4 of 6 rides for Jardine. Edge Of Sanity won here off 96 back in 2014, so off 3lb lower with his trainer flying and with a top jockey booked I think he is worth chancing each way at 20/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: EDGE OF SANITY E/W @ 20/1

RACE 6

Another race where a full quota of 20 horses will be lining up at the start for this 6f nursery handicap and it looks a wide open heat. One that could go well at a price is Ghayadh for Hugo Palmer and Josephine Gordon, a team that has been going really well in recent weeks. This son of Kyllachy won easily on debut at Beverley (5f gd/fm) and though he has been well beaten on both runs over 6f since, I think it has been the ground rather than the distance that is to blame for his defeats (soft and good).

There is no shortage of stamina in his pedigree and his half brother Raaghib won over 7.5f. His dam also won over 7f so there is no reason why he shouldn’t get 6f. He seemed to relish the rattling quick ground on his debut and this will be his first chance on similar ground since. Palmer is in great form, sending out 6 winners in the past fortnight and Josephine Gordon has 2 wins and 5 top 4 finishes from 11 rides for Al Shaqab Racing. As long as it doesn’t rain we think Ghayadh could run big, and at odds of 25/1 he is the each way selection.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: GHAYADH E/W @ 25/1 (5 PLACES PADDY POWER)