GEORGE BOUGHEY: York Ebor Festival – Day Two

Four runners head to York on Thursday for the second day of the Ebor Festival, headed by Libertango in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes, writes GEORGE BOUGHEY.

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Libertango – 1.50pm York

Things didn’t quite go Libertango’s way in the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket and I’m hopeful that returning to a slick six furlongs at York will see her to better effect.

We’re drawn 15 on the near side and I probably would have preferred to be a little lower, but there looks to be enough around us to take us into the race.

She’s had a faultless preparation for this and has done plenty of work. She looks as well as she could and has been training super. Billy knows her very well and I’m pretty bullish about her chances.

Perfect Nation – 4.45pm York

This has been the plan for Perfect Nation for a while and he has really thrived since the breeze-ups. He looks fantastic at the moment and we’ve got a nice draw in stall four.

We know he jumps and travels well, so hopefully he can find a good position. Billy has been keen to try him on slightly slower ground. He has won on the all-weather and on good to firm, but the feeling is that a little bit of ease could suit him.

Conditions look like they could be coming right for him and it’s all systems go.

Mirzimaan – 4.45pm York

Mirzimaan looks a progressive horse and has done very well physically. He’s still a big, raw horse who I think will ultimately be better next year, but he possibly should have won last time and that has left him on what looks a very attractive mark.

Perfect Nation has the more favourable draw of the pair, but it is difficult to choose between them and I think both go there with solid win chances.

Tryst – 5.20pm York

Tryst has been a revelation since dropping back in trip to seven furlongs. We had always thought she had plenty of pace, but her pedigree suggested she would stay further and we tried to stretch her out. Ultimately, she just didn’t seem to get home and we got that wrong.

She is up 6lbs and this is a much harder race, but she is in the form of her life. She has a nice enough draw which should allow Billy to float into a good position and she has shown a real liking for better ground recently. She won’t get things her own way like she did last time out but she’s in rude health. Hopefully there isn’t too much rain and she can continue her progression

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