Flat Racing ~ Saturday (Including Scoop 6)

[BillyHills]

Scoop6 & York Ebor Festival – Saturday 22^nd August The last day of the York Ebor Festival and four of the races are included in this weeks Tote Scoop6 bet. It wasn’t won last week so the Win Fund kicks off at £156,206 and with the added interest of the Ebor Handicap this week the pot should make the £400,000 mark. Races from Sandown and Chester make up the sextet of races this week. Leg 1: 2.00 York The Strensall Stakes gets the ball rolling this week band trainer David O’Meara will be keen to follow up after he took the race twelve months ago with Custom Cut. He saddles Mondialiste who was an easy 10-length winner last time at Pontefract. He should like the ground and looks well up to this class. Arguably Gabrial’s third in the Sussex Stakes is the best piece of form on show so has to be a danger along with Top Notch Tonto and Mahsoob. Selection: Mondialiste 5/1 Betfred (Top Notch Tonto) Leg 2: 2.35 York The Melrose Stakes is run over the Ebor trip and we have a maximum field here so the draw will be interesting for later on. This is wide-open so it may pay to concentrate on those lightly raced types. Wonder Laish has only had three starts and fits the profile we are looking for, trained by the in form Willie Haggas he won by 15 lengths last time out and now steps up to 14f for the first time. He could well improve again and his mark of 87 doesn’t look too high. Luca Cumani’s Al is the other one to consider, he won by 7 lengths at Newmarket and moves up in trip here and has come on leaps and bounds this season. Selection: Wonder Laish 10/1 Bet365 (Al) Leg 3: 2.50 Sandown A typical Saturday handicap and I like the chances of Basateen for Richard Hannon. He was 5^th last time at Haydock in a similar race and I think this more testing track will suit him as he was staying on that day. Top weight Spark Plug has done nothing wrong this season and his last run was better that the finishing position might indicate, he could go close along with the front runner Noble Gift but he has a difficult draw to overcome so will need to get out quick from the gates. Selection: Basateen 8/1 William Hill (Spark Plug) Leg 4: 3.10 York The Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes is always a race to savour and this year we have added interest from the American youngster Finnegan lining up. He was well fancied at Ascot but was pulled out of the Coventry on the day of the race. That race went to Buratino but he was then beaten at the Curragh next time so he has something to prove now. I’m going to give King Of Rooks another chance after solid placed efforts at Ascot and Goodwood. A return to 6f could be the key and did beat Buratino 5 lengths at Sandown earlier in the season. Selection: King Of Rooks 13/2 BetVictor (Finnegan) Leg 5: 3.30 Chester A 7f handicap at Chester and you cant go far wrong if you follow C/D winners here. With that in mind I think Apostle can get his head back in front for Dr Marwan Koukash. He was a good third here behind Sound Advice at the last meeting and is much better off now. Apostle was also hampered that day and has got a decent draw in stall 7. Last years winner Ocean Tempest has been out of form of late but don’t be surprised if he bounces back at a good price. Selection: Apostle 25/1 BetVictor (Ocean Tempest) Leg 6: 3.45 York: Betfred Ebor Handicap The big handicap of the day and the richest race of its kind in Europe. The Ebor is as competitive as ever and good news for many punters is that the first reserve Clondaw Warrior has scraped into the line up at the last minute. He won at Ascot for Willie Mullins and followed up at Galway and has drawn stall 1 for his hat-trick bid. Tony Martin is always feared in these races and he saddles Quick Jack who was a cracking second in the Chester Cup and then won over hurdles at Galway, he’s in box 11 and will creep into the race and be produced late on by Fran Berry. Ajman Bridge and Arab Dawn look the best of the home contingent. Selection: Quick Jack 8/1 Ladbrokes (Clondaw Warrior) Other races at York: In the 4.20 at York the Willie Haggas bandwagon looks likely to continue in the shape of Ornate (5/4 Boylesports) , he was impressive last time out at Ripon and although this is a step up in class he is entered in the Middle Park so is very well regarded. The 4.55 is a very competitive handicap over 10f and Roseburg (7/1 Coral) looks primed to run a big race for Luca Cumani. He was second at Doncaster on his reappearance and will be spot on now for this and goes in the ground. The final race of the Ebor Festival is an Apprentice race over 5f at 5.25 and it could be worth siding with solid C/D winner Handsome Dude (8/1 Ladbrokes) . He has been running well since and has the very able Jack Garritty in the saddle to assist him.

[richard-westwood]

345 york ebor hcap fun mac 99.17 clondaw warrior 99.15 astronereus 99.13 very close race this .....and close form lines suggest this could just come down to who wants it more on day or luck in running ......astronereus has done nothing wrong but in such a close contest he just looks a shade high in the hcap and this tends to go to a well treated horse near the foot of the race .....both clondaw warrior and fun mac fit that bill nicely especially the former who has hit a nice vain of form and looks every bit an improver but fun mac isnt out of it .....has close form lines with astronereus and has scope to be even better yet so nothing between him and clondaw warrior really ....close race ....ill take both and hope astronereus dosent upset the cart clondaw warrior 5 pts win 6/1 bet365 fun mac 3 pts win 14/1 betv