STAR HORSE RACING PREVIEW: York Ebor Festival 2023 | Day Three

We had a winning start to Day 2 thanks to Relief Rally’s late charge but no such luck thereafter, as Dapperling disappointed in the Sales’ race before getting some interference, Northern Express had a poor position in the Clipper Logistics Handicap, and Al Husn disappointed in the Yorkshire Oaks when looking not to get home, although it’s doubtful she’d have played a part.

The 2023 Ebor Festival, Day 3
York Racecourse
Wednesday 23rd August – Saturday 26th August
Live on ITV 1 HD from 1.30pm and Racing TV from 1.00pm

First Race: 1.50pm
Last Race: 5.15pm

Nunthorpe (3.35pm)

The market has this as a rematch between last year’s winner Highfield Princess and Bradsell, who dominated the King’s Stand at Ascot back in June. Since then, Highfield Princess has finished third in the Platinum Jubilee and taken the King George (sprint) at Goodwood in style so perhaps favouritism is justified at York but Bradsell looked to win fair and square at Royal Ascot and perhaps there shouldn’t be so much between them in the market.

Flying juvenile Big Evs took the Windsor Castle and Molecomb Stakes in great style and should run a big race despite this being just his fourth start, and outside the front three the progressive Equality and Regional have each/way chances on this ground.

Platinum Jubilee winner Khaadem and the high class Twilight Calls may find this slightly too quick on this course (the same goes for Aesop’s Fables) and the last on the shortlist would be Dramatised, who’s 2-3 on fast ground with her only defeat coming in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Turf, in an intriguing renewal.

Rest Of Card

It’s been a wonderful season for Ralph Beckett and that can continue with Balance Play in the opening Heritage Handicap. An impressive winner at Chester and Goodwood when he had more in hand than the winning margin suggested, he’s facing different ground today but ran well enough on good to firm ground when third in a competitive Heritage Handicap at Epsom, where he didn’t quite handle the track over a trip that was too short for him in hindsight.

York ought to suit him, and he was the more impressive he further he went at Goodwood, so a mile and a half here ought to suit him down the Knavesmire and he should have every chance in another quality York handicap, with plenty of strong competition.

The Lonsdale Cup (2.25) is one of the most interesting races of the entire week, with the first five in the betting – Coltrane, Courage Mon Ami, Quickthorn, Broome, and Giavellotto – all rematching from the Goodwood Cup, where Quickthorn received a brilliant Tom Marquand ride to steal a march on his rivals.

It’s been an eventful season for Kylian Mbappe on the football field and his equine namesake can win a trophy of his own with success in the Gimcrack Stakes (3.00). A hugely impressive winner of the Dragon Stakes at Sandown, he didn’t have a chance to show his best at Goodwood when Ryan Moore got trapped on the rail in the Molecomb Stakes.

He did well to finish as close as he did on that occasion after getting outpaced and with a clear run he should take plenty of beating here. Ballydoyle’s Johannes Brahms deserves plenty of respect after his Windsor Castle second to Nunthorpe contender Big Evs, whilst King’s Gamble and Haatem also need plenty of respect.

The last race on ITV (4.10) is a 1m2½f fillies’ handicap where Amanzoe – second to State Occasion in this race last year – would make most appeal if her fitness could be guaranteed off a mark of 98.

Kings Valley made the most appeal in the Convivial (4.45) but there probably isn’t much between leading contenders Battle Cry, Under The Sun, Zain Blue and Castle In The Sand – before we get to the newcomers – and the race looks best left for betting purposes.

William Haggas and Tom Marquand have enjoyed a great week and they could take the closing handicap with Tafreej. He’s not had the most luck this season – he’s suffered interference in good handicaps at Goodwood, Chester and Newmarket’s July Course this season – but he’s got some of the best form in this race and when he got a clear run, he was a smooth winner at Yarmouth from an 89 rated runner up. Based on his Newmarket run he’s more than capable of winning a handicap off 90, and he’s got fast ground form in the book which just adds to his appeal.

WILLIAM KEDJANYI

RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Balance Play 1 pt win in 1.50 York at 4/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Kylian 1 pt win in 3.00 York at 2/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Tafreej 1 pt win in 5.15 York at 9/2 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)