14:25
York
Odds correct as of 11:01am 21st Aug
We’ve been spoilt at York this week, as the Ebor Festival has provided some excellent racing action. It comes to an end on Saturday and we have seven more races to enjoy. Here are some potentially overpriced outsiders, proven course performers and some key trends to consider for the Ebor, which is the day’s main event. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Devil’s Peak (20/1, bet365) got off the mark in a Class 4 handicap at Newbury last month and was a good second in a race at Glorious Goodwood next time. We haven’t seen the best of him just yet and it’s quite possible that the step up to 1m6f can facilitate a significant amount of improvement.
Lifeplan (28/1, bet365) landed the Gimcrack Stakes at this meeting as a two-year-old and he was entitled to need the run when third on seasonal debut earlier this month. Declan Carroll’s colt shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the step up to 7f and it would be dangerous to rule him out.
Furthur (28/1, bet365) represents Andrew Balding and he has been in fine form at York this week. This son of Waldgeist placed at Royal Ascot last term and also landed a Group 3 by a comfortable margin. Below his best so far this season, perhaps dropping into handicaps can inspire a better display.
Flora Of Bermuda has had four previous starts at York and she has won two of them and finished second once. Andrew Balding’s mare landed a Group 3 here over 6f on her penultimate start, so don’t rule her out here.
Klassleader is popular in the betting for the big race of the day and he won a valuable handicap here over 1m4f in May. He remains lightly raced and is entitled to progress over this sort of trip.
Dain Ma Nut In has a 67 per cent strike-rate at York and he came out on top in this very race last year, off a 10lb lower mark. Lexie Clarkson takes 7lb off and another big run isn’t out of the question.
Willie Mullins has won this race twice in the last three years and the master trainer is set to be represented by two runners on this occasion.
Irish trainers have an excellent recent record in this race, winning six of the last 10 renewals, and Joseph O’Brien, Willie Mullins, Henry de Bromhead and Ger Lyons are sending runners over.
Recent trends suggest that class rises the to the top, with every winner in the last decade being rated 101 or higher. Don’t be afraid of horses carrying big weights with that in mind.