STAR PREVIEW Weds: York Ebor Festival | Day One

The last major British flat festival of the season, York’s Ebor meeting is also one of the highlights of the flat season and those making the visit to the Knavesmire this week will have a brilliant four days to look forward to.

The Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival
York
Wednesday 17th August – Saturday 20th August
Live on ITV 1 HD from 1.30pm and Racing TV HD

First Race: 1.50pm
Last Race: 5.20pm

We start with the Juddmonte International (3.35), where we have the world’s highest rated horse taking on two previous Group 1 winners, with the lowest rated runner having a mark of 115 (and even then, that horse is a Group 2 winner).

All eyes will be on Baaeed, making his first start at ten furlongs after going unbeaten at shorter, including five Group 1 wins. He’s barely had to get out of second gear to win the Lockinge, Queen Anne, and Sussex Stakes, giving the impression that he’s had more in hand than the winning margin on each occasion.

The visual impression that he’s given is that the extra two furlongs should suit him just fine – if anything, based on the way he’s seen out his races one might suggest that a son of Sea The Stars could improve for this test.

Things may not work out as simply as that – Baaeed is a very fast strider, much more so than his full-brother Hukum – and this is surely his toughest test since the QEII on Champs Day. Mishriff is the best horse that he’s faced since Palace Pier without question and if he repeats his six-length win in this contest last year, then he will have to pull out all the stops.

Things haven’t gone right for him since – he didn’t appear to move as well through the ground on Champions Day, was clearly wrong when last in the Saudi Cup, ought to have won the Eclipse with a clear run (Native Trail behind) and then ended up doing too much too soon in the King George when he over raced after a slow start.

If he breaks in time, he’s capable of shaking up the favourite and he sets the ten furlong standard on the best of his form, so would be a strong favourite in the without market.

Native Trail ran a fine race in the Eclipse and is respected, although Mishriff was the better of the two then and there appears to be no obvious reason why position should be changed here. Sir Busker got the better of Dubai Honour last time in the York Stakes over course and distance last time when there was a nose between them. Dubai Honor can reverse that form given that it was his first start since March, but he’ll need to find more improvement again to get involved.

High Definition is capable of getting involved at his best – he made Alenquer pull out all the stops in the Tattersalls Gold Cup – but he’s only put his best foot forward once since a very promising Dante third here, and on that basis he’s opposed here.

The Great Voltigeur Stakes (3.00) should give us plenty of Leger clues and Secret Stake can graduate to group company with victory here. He effectively confirmed himself a group horse when giving 4lbs and a beating to the reopposing Deauville Legend at Royal Ascot, form underlined by Deauville Legend’s subsequent Bahrain Trophy win (Walk of Stars very close third) and second at Glorious Goodwood to Secret State’s stablemate New London, with Derby second Hoo Ya Mal behind.

He can confirm that form again, and prove to be too god for the rishi raider Aikhal. The lurker of the race could be El Bodgeon, who needed the run badly in the Dante but then bounced back to finish a fine second in the Prix du Jockey Club, before then finishing third in the Grand Prix de Paris. That form – especially the Jockey Club second – reads exceptionally well and 11/1 feels big about his chances, even on this ground. The booking of Hollie Doyle is also a bonus.

Grand Alliance was unlucky not to win the King Edward Stakes – where he went right-handed across the track and that cost him victory – but he’s disappointed in the Derby and Glorious Goodwood either side of that.

This year’s Acomb Stakes (2.25) is a must watch contest with nine in the field, eight of whom are last time out winners. The one horse to get beaten last time might be the one who sets the standard, as Mill Stream was a close second to Noble Style (beat Walbank and subsequent Group winner Royal Scotsman on debut) at Newmarket.

The five-furlong opener (1.50pm) is ferociously competitive but Dakota Gold and Atalis Bay made most appeal of the favourites, whilst old timer Copper Knight and legendary handicapper Mondammej could be big prices.

The staying handicap that closes the ITV card (4.10pm) is chock full of quality but the market looks to have things about right, with Master Millner a worthy favourite after his Goodwood win although this is a tougher test with the likes of Soapy Stevens in attendance.

The other bet on the card could be in the Fillies’ Handicap, where the extremely progressive Pink Crystal can take this step up in class in her stride. She has looked ahead of her mark all season and was impressive in open company at Brighton last time.

WILLIAM KEDJANYI

RECOMMENDED BETS

BACK Secret State 2 pts win in 3.00 York at 9/4 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK El Bodegon 1 pt win in 3.00 York at 11/1 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Pink Crystal 1 pt win in 4.45 York at 9/2 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (AUGUST 2022): LOSS -11.12 points
(Excluding ante-post recommendations CLICK HERE)

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