What a start. Stormy Impact never got into the race while our NAP Stardom Glory, who was unproven at the trip, tried to make all. The mind boggles. I thought Zaydann was coming to win his race but his run flattened out in the last 1f and Kilmeaden was given a ride for the ages in the staying handicap. We try again on Day 2, check out his 2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday previews and tips below.
1.50 – Lowther Stakes (Group 2)
Based on what we saw in the opening race on Day 1, a low
draw is preferable. That’s a pity, because when I looked at this race
ante-post, I thought Crystal Queen was an absolutely insane price. However, she
has been drawn in stall 19 so I am a bit hesitant to stick her up.
Should I stick to my guns, or look elsewhere? Well, given
her wide draw and the fact that easy ground is an unknown, the percentage call
is to leave her alone. Hopefully I don’t live to regret that decision.
The insanely dry weather we have had this summer means that nearly
all of these have to prove they handle an ease in the ground. One that doesn’t is
the Clive Cox trained filly Miss Kodi. She made her debut on good to soft
ground at Chepstow in June and absolutely bolted up by 7l and she had two
subsequent multiple winners behind.
On her next start Cox stepped her up in class in the G3 Japan
Cup Stakes at Ascot. She finished fifth behind Moonrise but she was only 1.5l
behind the winner (12/1 here) and just 0.5l behind Velozee, who finished just 1.75l
behind Sun Goddess in a Curragh G1 on her next outing.
Miss Kodi did swish her tail when Ryan gave her a couple of
smacks at Ascot but she didn’t lose any momentum and to my eye, she ran through
the line well. She hasn’t got to improve that much to get closer to Moonrise
and on this easier ground, she might well turn the tables. With odds of 33/1 on
offer, Miss Kodi is the each way pick.
2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday Tip: Miss Kodi e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
2.25 – Goffs’ Harry’s Half Million (Class 2)
A monster pot on offer here and a maximum field of 22 go to post.
I have a dire record in these sales’ races and to be brutally honest, it is very
difficult to get away from the claims of Sun Goddess. Already a G2 and G1
winner, her draw probably isn’t ideal and she’s unproven on slow ground but her
dam is related to plenty of soft ground winners and Sioux Nation’s progeny can handle
an ease (like Matilda Picotte) so she will probably be fine.
Clive Cox has won the last three renewals so Satellite Of
Love has to be feared. He’s rated 90, so he’s 24lb inferior to the jolly, but
he’s 2/2 and who knows what his ceiling might be.
Bigger Odds
The one that appeals most at bigger odds is the Adrian Keatley
trained Thebesthasyetocome. By Starman, this colt was a shade disappointing
over 5f at Thirsk (good) on debut but stepping up to 6f on soft ground at Ayr showed
him in a much better light.
In that race he came under the pump pretty early and I’d imagine
he traded fairly high in running around 2f from home. Even 1f out it looked
like he might struggle to win but it seemed like the penny suddenly dropped inside
the final furlong and he absolutely powered clear to win by over 3 lengths.
Obviously, this is a much deeper race but he’ll love the bit
of cut in the ground and he’s got a nice draw in stall 2. My fear is that 6f at
York might be a bit sharp for him but he should be finishing stronger than most
and he’s got G2 and G1 entries over 7f so clearly, he’s well thought of at
home. With odds of 33/1 on offer, Thebesthasyetocome is worth chancing e/w for
small stakes.
2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday Tip: Thebesthasyetocome e/w @ 33/1 (4
places)
3.00 – Grand Finale Handicap (Heritage)
We have already had a bet on Cerulean Bay in his heritage
handicap and my reasoning can be read
here. He shouldn’t have any issues on the rain softened ground, he’s got an
acceptable draw in stall 9 and I’ll stick with him.
2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday Tip: Cerulean Bay already advised e/w @ 20/1
3.35 – Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1)
Kalpana is the favourite for this 1m4f G1 and justifiably so
on the back of her fantastic win at Royal Ascot. However, her best recent form
is on rattling quick ground so these softer conditions are a concern, though
she did win on soft back in 2024.
I fancied Sparan Nua to run a huge race in the Irish Oaks
and considering how the race unfolded, she did very well to finish a 4.75l
third behind Johanna Walsh and Inis Mor. On her next start Jim Bolger decided
to drop back in trip to 1m at Leopardstown and the decision backfired as she
could only manage fourth.
This trip is much more her bag and she has won on good to
yielding, so the ground here should be fine for her. Interestingly, Jim Bolger
won this with a filly called Pleascach back in 2015 and she had a pretty
similar prep. After running a huge race to finish a 1l second in the
Ribblesdale at Ascot over 1m4f, he dropped her back to 1m2f with no success on
her next start at the Curragh before stepping back up to 1m4f and winning this.
Hopefully Sparan Nua follows in her hoofsteps at odds of 28/1.
