The Main Battles In Prospect At York This Week

Horse Racing is renowned for its great rivalries, and at this week’s Ebor Meeting there are some top-class battles in prospect. Here at myracing, we will cover them all in our free York betting tips, and this article delves further into the matches to occur this week – with our man Joe Eccles delivering his verdict on who he predicts to come out on top.

Crystal Ocean vs The Classic Generation

Three-year-olds have taken three of the last five renewals of the Juddmonte International, but they appear to face a tough task here against Sir Michael Stoute’s Crystal Ocean – who arrives on the back of a career-best performance in the King George.

Joe’s Verdict: Crystal Ocean – the admirable son of 2009 race winner Sea The Stars – is yet to finish out of the first three in his sixteen-race career to date. Conceding seven pounds to King Of Comedy and Japan will be no easy task, but James Doyle’s mount looks in a different class to this rivals if at his best – so is backed to notch a deserved second Group 1 success.

Enable vs Magical

Having battled gamely to come out on top in a titanic tussle at Ascot last time, Enable takes up her engagement in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks – which is set to be her final start on British soil before embarking on a record-breaking third Arc success.

Aidan O’Brien’s Magical stands in her way of an emotional farewell, with the four-year-old bidding to become just the third horse to finish in front of the mighty Gosden mare.

Having already seen off Magical in the Eclipse earlier this campaign, where Ryan Moore’s mount had a race-fitness advantage, Enable is likely to go off a warm order to maintain her winning sequence.

It is worth noting, however, that runners from Ballydoyle have previous for turning over a Gosden-trained odds-on shot in this race – with Tapestry claiming the scalp of 1/5 favourite Taghrooda in 2014.

Joe’s Verdict: Connections of Enable appear to have provided her with the perfect opportunity to sign off her UK Racing career with a win. She took this race in 2017, so has no track concerns, and having already seen off Magical in their three previous meetings – there appears to be no obvious reason why the Galileo filly will reverse the form this time around.

Ten Sovereigns vs Battaash

A mouth-watering battle in prospect on Friday with Ten Sovereigns and Battaash doing battle in the Nunthorpe.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge took his form to a new level when running out an impressive winner of the July Cup at Newmarket last time out, and that form has been boosted by the runner-up Advertise since.

The speedball Battaash also arrives here on the back of a win, having landed the King George Stakes at Goodwood earlier this month – where he was reported to have reached speeds approaching 50mph.

Joe’s Verdict: With Ten Sovereigns and Battaash both likely to be racing prominently, there is every chance the track record could be broken here. Of the two runners, Charlie Hills’ five-year-old is feared most, but with this potentially being set up for something coming from off the pace – a chance is taken on Mabs Cross.

A close second in the preceding renewal of this contest, she has been reportedly targeted at this by her trainer Michael Dods – who trained Mecca’s Angel to score in 2015 and 2016.

Bookies vs Punters

The Bookies won the battle at the Ebor Meeting last year, with just seven of the thirty-one favourites (including joint and co) winning – resulting in a £52.19 loss at £10 stakes.

With the well-backed Stratum disappointing in the Ebor itself, and 40/1 shot Alpha Delphini landing the Nunthorpe, two of the bigger punting races also appeared to go in their favour.

For those keen to gain revenge this time around, check out our free bets page for the bookmaker sign-up offers available.

Joe’s Verdict: Expect the winning machine King’s Advice to be a popular pick in the Ebor, and Saturday’s Great St Wilfrid winner Dakota Gold will also be a bad result for the layers should he follow-up in the Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap – which kicks off the action on Wednesday.

With hot-pots Stradivarius and Enable also in action, there is every chance the jollies can improve on last year’s seven wins.