We were back in the winners enclosure on Day 3 with Max Dynamite (12/1 adv), a most impressive victor in the Lonsdale Cup. He looks to be an exciting prospect and perhaps The Melbourne Cup now beckons. Orions Might on the other hand.... the less said the better! Saturday is the final day of this magnificent meeting, and the Ebor is the highlight. Below are my views and selections for every race on a tricky looking closing card.
2.00 Strensall Stakes (Group 3) 1m 208y
Dane O'Neill looks to have chosen to ride Mahsoob instead of the William Haggas trained Mutakayyef, and it may turn out to be a decision he rues. It is entirely understandable to see why O'Neill has picked Mahsoob given his rapid progression this year and his record of four wins in five starts, but his effort when upped to Group 2 company last time was disappointing, and whilst the drop in trip today may well suit him, he was beaten far enough the last day to raise enough doubts about his capability at this level.
Mutakayyef, on the other hand, has already proved himself in this sort of company, with two excellent efforts in Group 3 contests last season. He hasn't been seen for almost a year, but that is not a worry as he has run well fresh before, including at Newmarket in the Darley when just behind useful type Berkshire (9f soft). Haggas has been in good form this week, and if Mutakayyef is fully wound up for his seasonal return he should make a bold bid at 8/1.
STEVOS' SELECTION: MUTAKAYYEF (8/1)
2.35 Melrose Stakes Handicap (Class 2) 1m6f
Yorkidding won handily on her last visit to York, and whilst she is 13lb higher in the handicap now she still is of interest in a wide open race. She showed that this sort of trip suits her well with a good run over 13.5F off 82 last time at Musselburgh, and indeed her last win came over 14F at Sandown.
Silvestre De Sousa, on board for her last two wins, is back in the plate today and this filly's current price of 20/1 looks more than generous. She can make her presence felt and looks worthy of a little each way support.
STEVOS' SELECTION: YORKIDDING (20/1) E/W.
3.10 Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) 6F
In depth preview and selection can be found here at Bettingtools.
3.45 Ebor (Heritage Handicap) 1m 6f
This is the one we have all been waiting for, The Ebor, one of the most illustrious handicaps around. This race has been good to me over the years, and my highlight was Sergeant Cecil romping home in 2005 for Rod Millman on his way to an historic handicap treble. Good times.
This years renewal looks as difficult a puzzle to solve as ever, and there are a couple of Irish raiders, Quick Jack and Clondaw Warrior, vying for favouritism at the head of the market. Both come here in fine fettle on the back of wins in big handicaps on their last outings, Quick Jack over hurdles at Galway and Clondaw Warrior the Ascot Stakes and the Premier Handicap on the level in Galway too. Both are lurking with intent at the foot of the handicap, and it would be dangerous to discount either, especially with Irish trainers having a good recent record in this race.
One at a huge price that could run well is Litigant, another at the foot of the handicap. He is having his first run back after quite a long injury layoff, and his fitness has to be taken on trust. He proved himself a classy stayer before his setback, and is five from seven over trips ranging from 10.5f to 16f, with one of those defeats an unlucky one. His best form has come on an artificial surface, but he has had just the two runs on good ground and both resulted in victory(beaten on debut on soft). He won well first time out last year, and while this is undoubtedly a tough race to return in, his trainer believes he is better than a handicapper and I am sure he will have him primed to run a big race. He can be backed at 40/1.
Arabian Comet is another of interest, and with Haggas on song and 'very excited' about running this filly at a track she has form at, she is entitled to plenty of respect. Grand National winning jockey Graham Lee is booked, so he knows how to get the job done in a big field. 20/1 looks huge about her chances and I can't see it lasting.
STEVOS' SELECTION': LITIGANT 40/1 (E/W). ARABIAN COMET 20/1 (E/W)
4.20 Roses Stakes (Listed) 5f
Kurland is the each way suggestion against the favourite in this race. She won well over this trip on debut, and she has subsequently run with credit behind Acapulco at Ascot and Illuminate at Newmarket, both Group 2s with the first over 5f and the second over 6f. The drop back to 5f today ought to suit and she is a confident each way selection dropping down a couple of grades.
STEVOS' SELECTION: KURLAND 10/1(E/W)
4.55 Handicap (Class 2) 1m 2f 88y
Hanseatic is the speculative each way suggestion here at a huge price for Mick Easterby. This well bred sort is closely related to a Listed winner over this trip, and on his last start over 10.5f in 2013 he hacked up off a mark of 83. Something obviously went wrong since that win, and he was off for two years, changing hands in the meantime.
He returned here over a mile back in July and it was an underwhelming effort. However, his next run over the same trip at Haydock was much more encouraging, and he stayed on nicely in the final furlong, shaping as if a return to form was not far away. The handicapper dropped him another couple of pounds for that effort, and he comes here just 4lbs higher than for that easy win at Haydock back in 2013. Easterby has been among the winners in recent days, and at his current odds of 33/1 he could run into a place stepped back up to the trip that suits him best.
STEVOS' SELECTION: HANSEATIC 33/1 (E/W)
5.25 Apprentice Handicap (Class 2) 5f
Chris Wall and Ashley Morgan are an alliance that has tasted plenty of success in the last couple of seasons, and they team up here with the well regarded Listed winner Accipiter, who shaped well for the first time in a while on his penultimate run at Bath off a mark of 90 when 3rd beaten under a length. Last time out at Goodwood he was snatched up when coming late with his challenge, and while he would not have won he certainly would have been a lot closer. It is not a race to be risking the family silver on, but as long as the ground comes up good or better Accipiter should run well at 20/1.
Lightscameraction is another of interest at a big price for Gay Kelleway, and he has the assistance of the relatively experienced Danny Muscutt in the saddle. He is highly rated by Gay, and was a 'surprise' winner at 25/1 at the high quality Good Friday meeting in Lingfield. He won't mind a bit of an ease if the rain does arrive, and with form on good ground too his price of 25/1 looks way too big.
STEVOS' SELECTIONS: ACCIPITER (GOOD GROUND OR BETTER) 20/1 (E/W)
LIGHTSCAMERACTION 25/1 (E/W).
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