BRIAN TOOMEY: Ebor Festival Thoughts

We’ve had a flurry of runners in the last ten days or so, and as always, the horses have tried their hearts out, writes BRIAN TOOMEY.

Valadero and Flag Carrier went closest to getting their heads in front with second and third places respectively. Valadero was pretty unlucky at Chelmsford the more I look at it, as he was drawn the widest of all and just couldn’t quite hold on.

Likewise with Flag Carrier, who ran a blinder up at Doncaster but just couldn’t quite get the job done. Both are great pleasures to train for The New Zealand Racing Syndicate and Jeff Smith, respectively, and I’m looking forward to getting them back out again in the coming weeks.

While on the formbook you might think Classic Speed and Thunderstorm Katie didn’t run too well last week, in reality I was encouraged. Salisbury wasn’t really Classic Speed’s track on reflection, and saying that, he ran better than on the face of it, so keep an eye on him at a more conventional track. Thunderstorm Katie did brilliantly well to outrun her 200/1 odds at Ffos Las, and I’m looking forward to finding a nice opportunity for her soon enough in fillies’ company.

Aim For The Bull’s first day at school during Star Sports’ Brighton Festival gave me plenty of confidence for the future, as he’ll have learned plenty for that effort and is one I’m excited to train for the Bronte Collection.

Tuesday’s runner

It’s such a pleasure to train for Harry Redknapp, and his Wake Up Harry is out again on Tuesday evening at Brighton.

He’s in against a couple with decent track experience, but he’s training well and I’m looking forward to running him – hopefully he’s ready to get back into the winning groove after a host of promising efforts, with top young jockey Billy Loughnane in the plate.

Ebor Festival thoughts

There’s no bigger draw at this week’s York Ebor Festival than City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International on Wednesday. I know there’s been plenty of chat about him all year, and he’s not convinced everyone, but I think he’s the real deal and we could be about to see something special in the Juddmonte. I’d say there’ll be a good pace on in the race with 13 runners in the field, and the way the race will be run could allow him to show off his true ability.

The Yorkshire Oaks doesn’t look like a classic renewal to me, but the same can’t be said for Friday’s Nunthorpe. The rematch between Asfoora and Big Evs looks like a belter on paper, and I think it’s definitely going to be the Aussie mare coming out on top. She won’t have to carry a penalty here, and I think that’ll be the difference come Friday with Oisin Murphy in the saddle again.

The Ebor looks like a typically competitive affair, and Queenstown and Harbour Wind look like the two likeliest winners to me. Aidan O’Brien’s gelding has form behind the mighty Kyprios, and it’s encouraging to hear that the master of Ballydoyle thinks he’s well-handicapped.

Dermot Weld’s Harbour Wind will have to shoulder top weight, but I think he’s able enough to do it with credit. He looks a progressive son of Nathaniel whose form is working out well, and Weld is a genius, so don’t forget about him!