York's Ebor Festival 2016...
Taking a look ahead to York next week for the 'Ebor' Festival, taking place 17th-20th August.
This year sees a record prize money in the pot worth £4 million, so is sure to attract the attention of some of the best British, Irish and European thoroughbreds in the racing world today. The highest rated race being the Juddmonte International with £900,000 for the winning horse will become the richest race at York, whilst the Ebor is Europes' richest flat handicap with £280,000 on offer.
As a tribute to Ray Gilpin, the veteran of the northern press rooms, who passed away last year, a prize from Sky Bet will be awarded to the best jockey over the 25 races of the festival, but who will it be? My guess is ... Frankie Dettori, currently 11/2 favourite...!
Day One, Wednesday 17th August.
Action kicks off at 1:55pm with the group 2, Symphony Group Stakes over 5 furlongs.
Best bet: I'm keeping my eye on 5yr old Boom the Groom for Tony Carroll with Andrea Atzeni taking the ride.
The 2:30pm group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, over 7F, with Aiden O'Brien dominating the entires with 5 declared including Courage Under Fire, Lancaster Bomber and Leo Minor.
Best Bet: The William Haggas trained 2 yr old Lockheed by Exceed and Excel with Frankie Dettori set to ride. Haggas is in fine form with 11 winners from 33 runs this August, whilst Mark Johnstone's Bear Valley has been impressive.
The Betway Great Voltigeur is next at 3:05pm, a Group Two race, over 1 mile 4 furlongs is also another race of interest, having seen 13 winners of the St Leger. Across the Stars for Sir Michael Stoute and Frankie Dettori. The lead favourite is with the Aiden O'Brien runner Idaho who was 2nd in the Irish Derby and Mick Channon's Harrison could improve.
Best bet: I'm leaning towards Idaho.
At 3:40pm, the highlight and feature race being the Group One Juddmonte International, open to horses aged 3yr and olderand run over 1 mile, 2 1/2 furlongs approx. Frankel won this race back in 2012 for Sir Henry Cecil and last years winner, Arabian Queen for David Elsworth took home the richest prize on offer at York. This year see's Postponed for Roger Varian and Charlie Appleby's Hawkbill go head to head. Clive Cox's runner My Dream Boat isn't without his chances after winning the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Best bet: have a feeling Postponed could be back to his best and The Grey Gatsby's trainer Kevin Ryan is looking to become the first yorkshire based trainer to win the Juddmonte. I'll always have a soft spot for Sir Isaac Newton, the other Aiden O' Brien runner.
4:20pm sees the Fine Equinity Stakes, a class 2 over 2 miles.
Best Bet: Botany Bay for Frankie Dettori or Sweet Selection H. Morrison.
4:55pm Betway Stakes, a class 2 for 2 yr olds over 6F.
Best Bet: Mark Johnstones' Lonely the Brave with Andrea Atzeni.
Thursday 18th August, Day Two... *Ladies Day*
1:55pm, Goffs premier Yearling Stakes, class 2 over 6F.
Best Bet: Angel Down for Henry Candy and Oisin Murphy could be a nice surpise winner. Mr Hobbs is one to watch for Sylvester Kirk and Frankie Dettori.
2:30pm Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, group 2 fillies, class 1, over 6F.
Best bet: I have two words for you.. Fair Eva, the classy Frankel filly set to make it third time lucky for Roger Charlton and Pat Smullen but then there is the other Frankel filly, Queen Kindly with Jamie Spencer on board for Richard Fahey.
3:05pm, Clipper Logistics Stakes, class 2 over 1 mile.
Best bet: Mustashry, the Sir Michael Stoute runner with Paul Hanagan.
3:40pm, Darley Yorkshire Oaks, British Champions Series, Group 1, fillies & mares, over 1M 4F.
Best Bet: The Godolphin runner, Endless Time, Charlie Appleby trained, ridden by William Buick. Found the Aiden O'Brien could improve on the seconds and make it a win though..
4:20pm, EBF and Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes, listed race, class 1, fillies and mares 3 yrs +, over 1M 4F.
Best Bet: I'd like to see the 3yr old by Galileo To Eternity for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori cross the finish line first in this race. 2 seconds and a win so far. Twitch for Hugo Palmer and James Doyle could be strong competition.
4:55pm, Eventmasters.co.uk EBF Fillies Stakes, class 2 over 7F.
Best Bet: Hawatiff for Mark Johnstone and Joe Fanning, likes good to firm ground and in great form.
Friday 19th August. Day Three... *The Coolmoore Nunthorpe Stakes*
1:55pm Sky Bet First Race Special Stakes handicap, class 2, 1m4F.
Best Bet: Barsanti for Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni.
2:30pm Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup, British Champions Series, group 2, class 1 over 2M.
Best Bet: Trip To Paris for Ed Dunlop has shown bags of potential and i'd love to see another win for the 5yr old bay gelding.
3:05pm Sky Bet City of York Stakes, group 3, class 1, 7F.
Best bet: I really would love to see Sovereign Debt get that elusive win for David Nicholls but Librisia Breeze for Dean Ivory is a very strong contender.
3:40pm Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, british champions series, group 1, class 1, 5F.
Best bet: Limato for Henry Candy with Harry Bentley in the saddle, also keeping my eye on The Last Lion for Mark Johnstone. In fact there too many good choices with Silver Rainbow and Meccas Angel also in the running.
4:20pm British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes, class 2 & a plus 10 race over 7F.
Best bet: Rivet William Haggas and Frankie Dettori.
4:55pm Nationwide Accident Repair Services Stakes handicap, class 2, 1Mile.
Best Bet: Oh This is Us for Richard Hannon and Pat Dobbs.
Saturday 20th August, Final, Day Four.. *Ebor Day*
TBC...
Current Going: good to firm
Updates as the week commences...
This year sees a record prize money in the pot worth £4 million, so is sure to attract the attention of some of the best British, Irish and European thoroughbreds in the racing world today. The highest rated race being the Juddmonte International with £900,000 for the winning horse will become the richest race at York, whilst the Ebor is Europes' richest flat handicap with £280,000 on offer.
As a tribute to Ray Gilpin, the veteran of the northern press rooms, who passed away last year, a prize from Sky Bet will be awarded to the best jockey over the 25 races of the festival, but who will it be? My guess is ... Frankie Dettori, currently 11/2 favourite...!
Day One, Wednesday 17th August.
Action kicks off at 1:55pm with the group 2, Symphony Group Stakes over 5 furlongs.
Best bet: I'm keeping my eye on 5yr old Boom the Groom for Tony Carroll with Andrea Atzeni taking the ride.
The 2:30pm group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, over 7F, with Aiden O'Brien dominating the entires with 5 declared including Courage Under Fire, Lancaster Bomber and Leo Minor.
Best Bet: The William Haggas trained 2 yr old Lockheed by Exceed and Excel with Frankie Dettori set to ride. Haggas is in fine form with 11 winners from 33 runs this August, whilst Mark Johnstone's Bear Valley has been impressive.
The Betway Great Voltigeur is next at 3:05pm, a Group Two race, over 1 mile 4 furlongs is also another race of interest, having seen 13 winners of the St Leger. Across the Stars for Sir Michael Stoute and Frankie Dettori. The lead favourite is with the Aiden O'Brien runner Idaho who was 2nd in the Irish Derby and Mick Channon's Harrison could improve.
Best bet: I'm leaning towards Idaho.
At 3:40pm, the highlight and feature race being the Group One Juddmonte International, open to horses aged 3yr and olderand run over 1 mile, 2 1/2 furlongs approx. Frankel won this race back in 2012 for Sir Henry Cecil and last years winner, Arabian Queen for David Elsworth took home the richest prize on offer at York. This year see's Postponed for Roger Varian and Charlie Appleby's Hawkbill go head to head. Clive Cox's runner My Dream Boat isn't without his chances after winning the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Best bet: have a feeling Postponed could be back to his best and The Grey Gatsby's trainer Kevin Ryan is looking to become the first yorkshire based trainer to win the Juddmonte. I'll always have a soft spot for Sir Isaac Newton, the other Aiden O' Brien runner.
4:20pm sees the Fine Equinity Stakes, a class 2 over 2 miles.
Best Bet: Botany Bay for Frankie Dettori or Sweet Selection H. Morrison.
4:55pm Betway Stakes, a class 2 for 2 yr olds over 6F.
Best Bet: Mark Johnstones' Lonely the Brave with Andrea Atzeni.
Thursday 18th August, Day Two... *Ladies Day*
1:55pm, Goffs premier Yearling Stakes, class 2 over 6F.
Best Bet: Angel Down for Henry Candy and Oisin Murphy could be a nice surpise winner. Mr Hobbs is one to watch for Sylvester Kirk and Frankie Dettori.
2:30pm Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, group 2 fillies, class 1, over 6F.
Best bet: I have two words for you.. Fair Eva, the classy Frankel filly set to make it third time lucky for Roger Charlton and Pat Smullen but then there is the other Frankel filly, Queen Kindly with Jamie Spencer on board for Richard Fahey.
3:05pm, Clipper Logistics Stakes, class 2 over 1 mile.
Best bet: Mustashry, the Sir Michael Stoute runner with Paul Hanagan.
3:40pm, Darley Yorkshire Oaks, British Champions Series, Group 1, fillies & mares, over 1M 4F.
Best Bet: The Godolphin runner, Endless Time, Charlie Appleby trained, ridden by William Buick. Found the Aiden O'Brien could improve on the seconds and make it a win though..
4:20pm, EBF and Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes, listed race, class 1, fillies and mares 3 yrs +, over 1M 4F.
Best Bet: I'd like to see the 3yr old by Galileo To Eternity for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori cross the finish line first in this race. 2 seconds and a win so far. Twitch for Hugo Palmer and James Doyle could be strong competition.
4:55pm, Eventmasters.co.uk EBF Fillies Stakes, class 2 over 7F.
Best Bet: Hawatiff for Mark Johnstone and Joe Fanning, likes good to firm ground and in great form.
Friday 19th August. Day Three... *The Coolmoore Nunthorpe Stakes*
1:55pm Sky Bet First Race Special Stakes handicap, class 2, 1m4F.
Best Bet: Barsanti for Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni.
2:30pm Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup, British Champions Series, group 2, class 1 over 2M.
Best Bet: Trip To Paris for Ed Dunlop has shown bags of potential and i'd love to see another win for the 5yr old bay gelding.
3:05pm Sky Bet City of York Stakes, group 3, class 1, 7F.
Best bet: I really would love to see Sovereign Debt get that elusive win for David Nicholls but Librisia Breeze for Dean Ivory is a very strong contender.
3:40pm Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, british champions series, group 1, class 1, 5F.
Best bet: Limato for Henry Candy with Harry Bentley in the saddle, also keeping my eye on The Last Lion for Mark Johnstone. In fact there too many good choices with Silver Rainbow and Meccas Angel also in the running.
4:20pm British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes, class 2 & a plus 10 race over 7F.
Best bet: Rivet William Haggas and Frankie Dettori.
4:55pm Nationwide Accident Repair Services Stakes handicap, class 2, 1Mile.
Best Bet: Oh This is Us for Richard Hannon and Pat Dobbs.
Saturday 20th August, Final, Day Four.. *Ebor Day*
TBC...
Current Going: good to firm
Updates as the week commences...
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