York Ebor Festival Day One best bets Wednesday 21st August 2019
We have the four-day York Ebor Festival getting underway on Wednesday up on the Knavesmire. It is the usual mix of decent pattern races and tricky handicaps, not least, of course, the Ebor itself. Many moons ago back in 1739 a certain Dick Turpin was hung on the Knavesmire; hopefully, I will be robbing the old Bookmakers for a few quid over the coming days - stand and deliver!
My fancies for day one follow.
The first of the pattern action this week is the Group Three 7f Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at 2.25 on Wednesday. I was pretty impressed with Persuasion winning on debut. The Charlie Hills trained colt was green as grass at Goodwood, he missed the break and took a pretty keen hold early, held his head to the side at times and got blocked in more than once. When Doyle asked him to go about his business though he did just that and picked-up nicely to get up close home a shade cosily. 4’s was available earlier this week and I have it.
The Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes over 1m4f at 3.00 is often seen as a trial for next months St Leger, Kew Gardens was third in this last year before going on to glory at Doncaster. Logician will put his unbeaten record and St Leger credentials on the line against just four rivals. I talked of the Gosden trained grey in the 2nd preview video and with Broome not coming over now from Ballydoyle the son of Frankel looks capable of improving passed to like of Constantinople and Nayef Road. 5-4 is short enough but I took that as I honestly think he looks a good bet.
The world's highest-rated horse Crystal Ocean will face eight rivals in the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes at 3.35. 11-8 is the best price I have seen this week, which I have, as it is hard to pick any holes in his form – connections would have been happy to see Enable go for the Yorkshire Oaks! King Of Comedy has to enter calculations with the weight-for-age and the step-up in trip could well suit whilst the same comments apply to the colt that beat him at Ascot Circus Maximus. Neither colt has come up against a battle-hardened one like the jolly yet though. I said in the preview videos I cannot see the point of running Japan here in this, 1m4f or further is surely his game and this appears a strange warm-up for the Leger where surely he goes next; that said knowing Ballydoyle he’ll prove me wrong now!
Be lucky