Flat Racing ~ Wednesday (York Day 1)

[BillyHills]

York Ebor Festival – Day 1 The first day of what should be a fantastic week of racing at the Knavesmire and the opening day’s feature race is the Juddmonte International. It’s been billed as the clash of the giants with Derby winner Golden Horn taking on the dual Guineas winner Gleneagles. 1.55: Symphony Group Stakes (Handicap) (5f89y) A Class 2 5f sprint to start the meeting off and this will be fast and furious from the off. We have at least five confirmed front-runners so in theory it could fall to a late finisher picking up the pieces. The Paul Midgley pair Desert Law and Silvanus look sure to go well but I have a liking for Shore Step from stall 9. The Channon runner was behind two very progressive horses in Bushcraft and Tanzeel and then last time was a very good fourth at Goodwood in the Stewards Cup consolation race. He can go close in this slightly weaker company. Of the others Huntsmans Close and Robot Boy are the class acts in a competitive opener. Selection: Shore Step EW 12/1 William Hill 2.30: Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3) (7f) The top one Adventurous sets the standard after his fair fourth at Goodwood in the Richmond Stakes. He now steps up in trip and represents the powerful Mark Johnston juveniles. Kevin Ryan was disappointed with Mohab on his debut here in July, he was backed as if defeat was out of the question but could only finish third to New Caledonia. He made no mistake next time out at Catterick and now has to prove his ability at tis much higher level; he’s obviously a smart youngster and should go close. Aidan O’Brien sends over Lieutenant General from his posse of 2yo’s and has to be respected. He won well last time at Leopardstown and looks to be improving with each run. Selection: Mohab 5/1 Paddy Power 3.05: Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (1m4f) Just seven runners line up for the Great Voltigeur and the top one on ratings is Storm The Stars who was 3^rd in the Derby and 2^nd in the Irish equivalent. This represents a drop in class but although it wont be easy he does look the one to beat on all known form. Balios carries a 3lb penalty for winning a Group 2 contest at Royal Ascot but was then behind Storm The Stars at Longchamp last time out so all in all faces a stiff task. The improver in the race is Tashaar from the Hannon stable; he won a handicap at Goodwood easily and now takes a big step up in class. Of the others Aidan O’Brien has three runners and on jockey bookings Bondi Beach looks the pick of those but will need to improve to win this I reckon. Selection: Storm The Stars 100/30 Skybet 3.40: Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) (1m2f88y) The big race of the day and a mouth-watering clash between two very good horses of their generation. Lets start with the favourite Golden Horn, he is now unbeaten in five starts which does include a C/D victory in the Dante lets not forget. He followed up in the Epsom Derby and then beat his elders in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown. He does need decent ground to show his best and should get it here and looks very hard to oppose. Gleneagles is a worthy opponent; he won both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas and the came out and won the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot. He tackles 10f for the first time here today and that is the only negative in either of the front two in the betting. The fly in the ointment could be Time Test from the Roger Charlton camp; he won a handicap easily on his reappearance and then bolted up in the Tercentenary Stakes at Ascot. He meets a different class of horse here but he could be anything. Selection: Golden Horn 8/11 Paddy Power 4.20: Fine Equinity Handicap (Class 2) (2m88y) A very competitive two-mile handicap here and we have 17 runners declared. Trainer David O’Meara saddles a couple and his Big Thunder will be popular with the punters after winning a similar contest over C/D last time out. He was well backed that day and beat his stable companion Saved By The Bell by a length and they lock horns once again here. This time the runner-up is weighted to get his revenge but that was Big Thunder’s first run for the yard and maybe there is more to come. Of the rest Teak is obviously worth a second look after decent efforts at Ascot and Goodwood. Silvestre De Sousa is back on board here and that might make the difference although he’s had a hard season already. Oasis Fantasy was well backed at Goodwood but could only finish 7^th but his form earlier in the season would give him every chance in this grade and has Frankie Dettori on his back for the first time. Selection: Big Thunder 6/1 888Sport 4.55: Betway Nursery (Class 2) (6f) 20 two-year olds thundering down the York straight and all but two of them are previous winners this season. That’s the puzzle in the final race and highest rated runner in the race is Whitman, not surprisingly from the Mark Johnston yard who has four runners in total. He made all at Nottingham last time and is clearly improving and will be ridden by James Doyle. I like the John Quinn runner Reputation; he won over C/D despite messing about and now could improve further with cheek-pieces on for the first time. The likes of Tawwaaq and Mayfair Lady are worth adding to the shortlist in what looks a very open finale. Selection: Reputation EW 10/1 Paddy Power

[richard-westwood]

155 york . midlander 99.54 shore step 99.48 huntsman close 99.45 robot boy 99 45 wide open hcap to start the day .... Any number of these could win this but in such a tough race you want some value and ..midlander fits the bill perfectly .....probably found 6 f a little stretched lto and much better over 5f ....up until last 5 f had looked very progressive for m johnston and still capable of improving at this trip .... has his work cut out to beat the more fancied horses but at 20/1 with betvic and his level of form over 5 f ....he looks hugely overpriced and worth a punt in an open race midlander 5 pts ew 20/1 betvic