Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
York is the final one of the four main Summer Racing Festivals, and this Saturday is the final day of the Ebor Festival from the Knavesmire. ITV Racing are covering five races from this great course that consists of a Group 1, where I very much doubt Rosallion will let Qirat get away from the pack as he did at Goodwood, a Group 3 and three Class 2 Heritage Handicaps, including the Ebor itself, a veritable feast of racing to look forward to.
All this is backed up by two races from Goodwood, both of which are Class 2 handicaps, so some top-class racing with five competitive handicaps filling the bulk of the programme and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 York. Golden Handshake
3.35 York. Ethical Diamond
4.10 York. Two Tribes
2.05 Goodwood. Rhoscolyn
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at York with the 2.25 the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap, this is a Class 2 race for 3-year-olds run over 1m 6f. This looks like a very open renewal of this race with Andrew Balding’s Tarriance one of the market leaders. He won a small contest back in May, then moved up rankings to win a Class 3 at Sandown last month. The stable is flying, so a bold run is expected.
Alan King’s Daiquiri Bay won at Chester in May and was only outpaced in the final furlong at Goodwood last month.
Charlie Johnson’s Pole Star is upped in class after a couple of victories at Haydock and Yarmouth.
Another Balding horse is also on a hat-trick- Fantasy World. His wins have come in Class 4 and 5 races, so this may be a step too far.
Similarly with Edward Bethell’s Talismans Time whose two Hamilton wins have been in Class 4 company.
The same can be said of William Haggas’s Golden Handshake, whose wins have come at Newbury and Lingfield. However, Haggas says he has sent a small team up to York but is happy with his contenders.
The biggest betting race of the meeting is at 3.35, the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap. This Class 2 Heritage race is run over 1m 6f. At the head of the weights is John and Thady Gosden’s French Master, who has won two handicaps over this trip already this season, but when tried in a Group 1 at Goodwood last month, he was found wanting. This drop back into handicap company will help, but he has plenty of weight.
The current short-priced favourite is Willie Mullins’s Hipop de Loire, who won over the sticks at Galway last month. He was fifth last year.
There are better handicapped horses in the field. I prefer another Mullins runner, Ethical Diamond, who won at Royal Ascot this year on his only run of the season.
Aidan O’Brien has London City in the lineup. He is a past course winner and ran a fine second in a Group 2 at the Curragh last month. A bold run is expected.
Roger Varian’s Shadow Dancer is another course winner. He was successful here last August. He had a run out at Goodwood last month over an unsuitable distance and can play his part here and hit the frame.
James Tate’s Majestic Warrior is upped in class and distance and has a bit to find against this opposition.
As an each-way outsider, Ian Williams’s Oneforthegutter won a decent contest at Newmarket last month, and a repeat of that performance could see him placed at a decent price.
But the Irish have won this race three times in the last four years and have plenty of chances to do so again. JP Murtagh’s Siege Of Troy has been going well in Class 1 company and will be close, but I give the nod to Ethical Diamond.
The 4.10 is the Class 2 Sky Bet Constantine Handicap, which is run over the sharp 6 furlongs. One of the favourites is Geoff Oldroyd’s Pocklington, who was fancied when running 5th here at York last month after finding himself short of room.
James Ferguson’s Jubilee Walk was second in that York race, beaten only a neck, and he can go well again.
Michael Dods’ Commanche Falls has been a great servant for the yard, and his last win was here at York two years ago, but he has struggled to get involved this term.
Harry Charlton’s Completely Random won twice in April and ran a fine 5th at Royal Ascot, but looks like he needs to drop down the handicap.
Jack Channon’s Chief Mankato won at Windsor earlier this month, adding to a victory at Chepstow in July. I expect him to be placed at a nice price off his low weight.
But my idea of the winner is at the other end of the handicap. The top weight is Richard Spencer’s Two Tribes, who is on a hat-trick after wins at Ascot in July and at Goodwood this month, where he romped home under a 6lbs penalty, beating several rivals he meets once again here.
I move to Goodwood for the final leg, and the 2.05 is the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap. This is a Class 2 race run over 7 furlongs. The top weight is Michael Appleby’s Royal Zabeel, who won at Newmarket earlier this month under 10st. He is expected to go close.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s Great Acclaim is in great form and has won twice in the last four weeks, including here at Goodwood, but has risen in the weights.
Ralph Beckett’s Palmar Bay won at Chester earlier this month, but it remains to be seen if he copes with the nuances of this track.
John and Thady Gosden’s 3-year-old Mudbir won here at Goodwood in early August after winning at Sandown the previous month. Another bold run is expected.
Another 3-year-old with a chance is James Fanshawe’s Back In Black after winning on his only outing this term at Newbury back in April.
But my preference is for the Goodwood specialist, Rhoscolyn, trained by David O’Meara. He has won here no fewer than six times, including over a mile earlier this month. His weight is somewhat worrying, but he has been winning over a furlong further, so I think that can be discounted.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.25 York. Golden Handshake
3.35 York. Ethical Diamond
4.10 York. Two Tribes
2.05 Goodwood. Rhoscolyn
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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