The York Ebor Festival, one of the last major flat meetings of the season, is set to grace the charming North Yorkshire course from Wednesday. Culminating with the Betfred Ebor Handicap on Saturday, the richest flat handicap race in Europe, this year’s meeting boasts a mouth-watering menu of Grade One clashes and enticing handicaps. Tuesday kicks off with a fascinating clash involving three of the top one mile performers this season in the Juddmonte International and this is where we start our preview. Look out for our best tips for bookmaker’s offers and a possible livewire outsider in the big one for Saturday!
WEDNEDAY: THE JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL
This year’s renewal of the extended one mile 2 furlong event is dominated by the eagerly anticipated three way dual of Churchill, Barney Roy and Ulysses. All three have strong valid claims although the below par performance from Churchill at Royal Ascot in the St James Palace Stakes is still an itching concern. Aidan O’Brien was probably right to withdraw him at the last minute from the Goodwood Sussex Stakes on the basis of the ground and he won’t want too much rain between now and Wednesday. Churchill is currently best priced 11/4 available widely although William Hill will award you with a 15% bonus if your selection wins by 2 lengths or more!
Barney Roy has been in great form and a little unlucky to be pipped on the line by Ulysses in the The Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown last month. Richard Hannon reports him to be in fine fettle and believes the extra furlong will not trouble him on the Knavesmire track. Best 11/4 which is widely available.
Despite beating Barney Roy at Sandown, Ulysses will need to improve here to be seriously considered but should not be ruled out after a respectable second behind Enable at Royal Ascot last time out. Best priced 7/2 and widely available.
THURSDAY: THE DARLEY YORKSHIRE OAKS
Very hard to see this going beyond the way of Enable, although not a great betting proposition at prohibitive best odds of 1/3 (Betfred). My fingers, arms and legs are still giving off smoke from the Douvan Cheltenham horror show so will avoid these odds like the flu. However, she was devastating in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot, seeing off Ulysses by 4 ½ lengths. Each way punters should look no further than the O’Brien trained Alluringly who was only a length behind Enable at Chester last May. She did lose her way a bit over the mid-summer period but gained a confidence boosting win last time out at Gowran Park, giving the widely available 20/1 shot a live outside chance.
FRIDAY: THE COOLMORE NUNTHORPE STAKES
A dual between the brilliant Lady Aurelia and the versatile Battaash offers a relishing contest for the renewal of the sprint classic. Lady Aurelia has been a great servant to the Wesley A Ward team and deserves favouritism after her resounding victory in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. The banker of the meeting for me and worth pouncing on the 7/4 available with Betfair Sportsbook. Battaash has been the subject of heavy punting recently and represents a clear and present danger to the banker but Aurelia should just hold him off. Marsha at 10/1 (Betfred, Bet Victor, Coral, Boylesports) for the each way option.
SATURDAY: THE BETFRED EBOR HANDICAP
Last and most certainly not least we concentrate on the culmination of the meeting, The Betfred Ebor Handicap. Flymetothestars is the current market leader and has been dominating the market trading in recent days.
Considering the poor performance of favourites since 1990 (only four winners) and the fact that Flymetothestars has never run on turf, I will be looking down the list for some value outsiders. He is also reported to be in need for softer ground and will not run if the going is too fast, hence a risky anti-post proposition. Having said that, the current favourite can be grabbed at 9/1 with Paddy Power and Betfred, although no place bonuses are currently available at the time of writing.
Consistency is the name of the game for this tricky betting heat and the Iain Jardine trained Nakeeta may just fit this category. He has run encouragingly in his three runs this season, most noticeably at York in May where he stayed on well over the course and distance to finish second behind the classy Dal Harraild. He’s open to further improvement and would be a solid each way chance with a place bonus incentive. Currently best priced at 20/1 with most firms.
Dubka is another one that interests me. This Sir Michael Stoute trained 4 year old stayed on gamely in a Group 3 listed race over the distance at Goodwood earlier in the month and may be open to improvement at best odds 25/1 (bet365, Sky Bet).
Considering the decent performance of outsiders in recent renewals of this event, I see no harm in taking a chance on Frederic trained by Keith Dalgleish who has notched up a couple of wins in much lower rated races but seems to appreciate a good test of stamina. Best priced at 50/1 with Betfred and bet365.
Good luck with all bets for the Betfred Ebor Festival!
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