Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
This marvellous meeting at York stages its final day on Saturday, with the Ebor Handicap the highlight of the day. This is backed up on television by two further handicaps and two Class 1s from the Knavesmire, making five races.
This is backed up by two races from Goodwood, both of which are Class 1s, so there is no shortage of top-class contests on ITV Racing this Saturday with four Group races across the two meetings, and I’ve searched for value across these, and the handicaps and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday York Lucky Fifteen
1.50 See The Fire
2.25 Wild Waves
3.35 Fairbanks
4.10 Elmonjed
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
For this week’s Lucky Fifteen, I will concentrate on this fine meeting at York and begin with the 1.50- the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes, a Group 3 run over 1m 1f.
Andrew Balding’s See The Fire is one of the bookies fancies. This filly gets her sex allowance of 4lbs, and she has been running in Group 1s this year. She was a fair 4th in the Eclipse at Sandown in July, then was only beaten a neck in the Nassau at Goodwood earlier this month. On that form, she is sure to go well.
Owen Burrows’ Alyanaabi won a Group 3 last season and ran 5th in this year’s 2000Gns, but he has disappointed since then on his two starts.
Roger Varian’s Enfjaar has won a couple of hot handicaps this term, including one here at York in July. He takes on Group horses for the first time.
George Scott’s Phantom Flight won a Listed race at Newbury in July the ran third in a Group 3 at Goodwood at the beginning of August. He drops back in trip hoping for better luck.
Ralph Beckett’s Frankel colt, Task Force, was third in a Group 3 at Goodwood and can go well but it’s See The Fire for me.
The Sky Bet Melrose Handicap is at 2.25. This Class 2 contest is run over 1m 6f for 3-year-olds. Top weight is Aidan O’Brien’s The Equator who won at Leopardstown in April. Since then, he has run 5th in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot. He may want some give in the ground.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Reaching High won over this distance at Wolverhampton earlier this month. This is much tougher.
Andrew Balding runs Tactician, who has two wins to his credit this season but steps up in class here.
Too Bossy For Us won for Kevin de Foy back in May. He has been beaten twice since by Align The Stars. More is required here.
Mrs John Harrington’s filly Mo Ghille Mar has won three times in Ireland this year but was disqualified once. She looks handily weighted and can go well.
But I prefer another Balding runner, Wild Waves. This colt won at Doncaster and Kempton earlier in the season, then ran again at Haydock and slipped badly on the home turn. Racing was abandoned after that race on the round course, and Wild Waves was fancied that day. He can gain recompense here.
The 3.35 is the BIG ONE, the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, a Class 2 contest run over 1m 6f. This race has been targeted by the Irish in recent years, having won three of the last five, and they could possibly win it once again.
Aidan O’Brien has one of the current favourites with the high-weighted, Queenstown, who has been second on two occasions at Leopardstown and Navan in Group company.
Henry de Bromhead runs Magical Zoe who won her maiden at Down Royal in June then ran third in a Group 3 at Fairyhouse the following month. She may be a little inexperienced in what can be a strongly run race.
Last year’s winning trainer, Willie Mullins, runs Hipop de Loire, who is having his first run since coming over from Germany, where he was a Listed race winner and has been running in Group 3 company this season. He could be anything.
As to the UK trainers, William Haggas trains Naqeeb who ran a fine second at Newbury last month but looks rather high in the weights.
David O’Meara’s Epic Poet moves up in trip after a fair season in top class company.
But I side with Andrew Balding’s Fairbanks, who won at Newmarket in July over this trip. He then went to Goodwood and was only beaten a neck by a horse fancied for the St Leger. He can see off the Irish raiders.
The Sky Bet Constantine Handicap is at 4.10, another Class 2 handicap over York’s sharp 6 furlongs. A low draw looks the place to be on the course for the these sprints and Michael Dods Commanche Falls has the box seat with number 1 draw. He won a Listed race over this course and distance last year and also a Group 3 at Newbury.
Things have not gone to plan for Commanche Falls this season but he drops back to handicap company to try to get back to winning ways. But he has plenty of weight.
Last year’s winner, Albasheer, trained by Archie Watson, returns to try and regain his crown, but he has 5lbs more this time. He won over 5f at Ascot in July, then disappointed at Goodwood earlier this month.
Richard Fahey’s Dare To Hope won at Ripon last weekend. He is drawn 3 and can go well once again. However, this is tougher.
David O’Meara’s Summerghand is a York favourite and won here for the second time last August, but time is telling on the 10-year-old. However, he has a nice draw, 6, and can finish in the top six.
But my preference is for a horse at the other end of the age spectrum: William Haggas’s 3-year-old Elmonjed. After a couple of good-placed races, he won a Class 2 at Windsor this month, adding to his two victories from last season. He is nicely drawn in Stall 2 and can take this.
Saturday York Lucky Fifteen
1.50 See The Fire
2.25 Wild Waves
3.35 Fairbanks
4.10 Elmonjed
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
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