Best bets for The Horse Racing Friday 22nd August 2024 around the world

It is day three of the Ebor Festival at York, and I am betting at the meeting, and I also have fancies at Newmarket and Hamilton plus one out in America on the day. 

Best bets for the horse racing at York Friday Day Three of the Ebor Festival

The going at York is now good (good to firm in places) and the forecast is for sunny intervals. I tipped Wafei at Glorious Goodwood when he was second not quite able to peg back Assailant. He runs in the opener the 1m4f Sky Bet Handicap at 1.50 off a mark of 86, up 3lb for the Goodwood run. An unexposed type you’d hope for better again as he seems to have got the hang of things this year. The yard of William Haggas is in decent enough form and hopefully the team at Somerville Lodge can kick the day off with a winner on what could be a good day for them. Billy ‘the kid’ Loughnane rides. I have some of the 4-1.

The 6f Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes looks a good contest. Big Mojo arrives after a big price success in the Molecomb at Goodwood but he must now prove he stays the trip and that that wasn’t a fluke. The Strikin Viking has run well in a couple of G.2s since his impressive debut success over track and trip, I tipped him in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, and has to be shortlisted but he looks likely to have to settle for minor honours again here.  Camille Pissarro is respected with the yard in fine form this week. Shadow Of Light arrives unbeaten from Moulton Paddocks and is the one for me. The three-parts brother to dual G.1 winning juvenile Earthligh having made an impressive debut for Charlie Appleby with a cosy length success at Yarmouth in early July. He followed that up when he readily defied a penalty in a Newmarket Novice Stakes earlier this month, in which he quickened away from his rivals to score by a comfortable two lengths. Charlie Appleby said this week “Shadow Of Light has definitely strengthened and sharpened up since his last run. We always hoped that he could potentially be a Gimcrack type of horse, which is why we got a run into him slightly earlier than we initially expected at Yarmouth. He came forward a good bit for his debut, but he has come on more significantly visually since Newmarket. He has the pedigree to be a high-class sprinter, and I feel we go into the race with a great shout.” William Buick rides before jumping on a plane to the States and I am on at 13-2.

The 5f Group One Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at 3.35 is the race of the day and as hoped we have Asfoora versus Big Evs part III. The Aussie six-year-old came out on top at Royal Ascot with Big Evs gaining revenge at Glorious Goodwood. I would be in the Big Evs camp again (tipped him at Ascot and Goodwood) but I can’t forget the interview I watched earlier in the year in which Mick Appleby said the Nunthorpe at York was not in the plan this season as apparently they feel he doesn't like the track. Asfoora is also considerably better off at the weights here than she was with her rival at Ascot and Goodwood so on this occasion I am with the raider from down under. I am on at 5-4. Bradsell, Regional and Believing look likely to be scrapping for place-money.  

Treasure Time, the three-year-old gelding I hold a handful of shares in with raceshare goes in the lucky last the Sky Bet Mile Handicap at 5.20. He found plenty of trouble in running at Goodwood last time and I think we can put a line through that run. It does mean he remains on a mark of 87 and I am convinced he will be leaving that figure behind sooner rather than later. He is drawn in stall one which has to be seen as a positive, a low draw looked an advantage in the race over the eight-furlongs here yesterday, and similar prominent riding tactics as employed at Newmarket in his two runs before Goodwood would suit as it’s a fairly long straight giving him every chance if he turns in in a good position. William Haggas seems happy with him and Tom Marquand rides. I have mentioned before how his siblings have progressed with age and racing so there is every reason to believe he can be in the mix here. I am naturally on and have 10-1. Midnight Gun and the lightly raced Dosman are feared.

Best bets for the horse racing at Newmarket

Dougie Costello is on riding duty for the yard of Charlie Appleby at HQ and has chances. I back Moulton Paddock two-year-olds making debut at HQ as standard so Magical Trail has been backed in the opener the 7f Jenningsbet Fillies' Novice Stakes at 1.35.The daughter of Blue Point is a half-sister to the G.3-placed Romantic Rival and can get off the mark first time out. I have 11-4. 

At 2.10 Al Misbar will hopefully make it second time lucky in the 7f Jenningsbet British Ebf Novice Stakes. I tipped him on debut at Ascot a couple of weeks back when fourth. By multiple G.1 winning sprinter Blue Point (also won the 6f G.2 Gimcrack Stakes as a juvenile) he is out of Anna Law. She never troubled the starter in four career starts but comes from a family that has produced some very good sprinters in recent years and she herself foaled Group winning sprinter The Antarctic and multiple G.1 winner Battaash; both sired by Dark Angel. He was slowly away at Ascot and never really involved; he should be a lot sharper today. I am on at 11-10. 

Best bet for the horse racing at Hamilton

La Yakel runs in the 1m4f Phoenix Utilities Ltd Lanark Silver Bell Handicap at 7.05 and should be backed. A member of my Dirty Dozen last year he registered one win and a couple of seconds in 2023 and remains of interest off a mark of 99. William Haggas doesn't send that many north of the border (has two on the card), and the relatively light raced five-year-old can take this. He should be a fair deal fitter for his comeback run at Ascot and the ground has turned in his favour, two wins on softer going. Cieren Fallon rides and at 3-1 I am on. 

Best bet for the horse racing at Saratoga

Across the pond at Saratoga the team satellite team of Moulton Paddocks based at Godolphin’s historic Greentree barn in Saratoga have a runner in the shape of Star Guest in the 5½f Smart N Fancy Stakes (Black Type Conditions) for 4yo+ Fillies & Mares at 7.46 with Flavien Prat again taking a ride for them. I have tipped her before, including last time when she was a little slow away and raced wide never really getting into it. Stall 3 tonight helps and she should have learnt from her first experience of American racing. Get the best price you can when they chalk-up.

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