Our form expert is over 70pts up for August after further tipping success at 6/1, 14/1 and 16/1 this week - don't miss his selections for Sky Bet Ebor day at York.
The Verdict: Saturday August 23
2pts win Bowmark in 1.50 York at 11/2 (General)
1pt e.w. Boatswain in 2.25 York at 16/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4)
1pt win Mudbir in 2.05 Goodwood at 11/2 (BetVictor, Sky Bet, Paddy Power)
1pt e.w. Siege Of Troy in 3.35 York at 14/1 (bet365, Boylesports 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6)
Lay Siege to the bookies in the Ebor
Since Willie Mullins first won the Sky Bet Ebor in 2009 Irish trainers have assembled a great record in the valuable handicap, winning seven of the last 16 renewals, and they have a strong hand in this year’s race.
Mullins has the two at the top of the market in Hipop De Loire and Ethical Diamond, Aidan O’Brien is double-handed, Henry de Bromhead bids to retain the trophy and both Joseph O’Brien and Jim Bolger are represented too.
However, Johnny Murtagh is going for his third win in the race and with such a great record from so few runners his filly SIEGE OF TROY looks a big price.
The daughter of Siyouni isn’t short of pace relative to this test, winning her maiden over 10 furlongs, but she’s obviously inherited plenty of stamina from her dam’s side and more looks forthcoming now she goes out a couple of extra furlongs in trip.
She’s a half-sister to Middle Earth who won the Melrose over the course and distance and the way she kept on in both the Duke Of Edinburgh behind Ethical Diamond (she gets an 8lb pull at the weights) at Royal Ascot and then last time in a Leopardstown Group 3, both over 1m4f, bodes very well indeed.
That Group 3 run was really encouraging now she goes handicapping again and she’s officially 3lb well-in, while Murtagh has intriguingly booked the services of 7lb claimer Patrick McGettigan, who he spoke of in glowing terms in a RacingTV interview on Thursday night (see tweet below).
When Murtagh won his first Ebor with Mutual Regard he was ridden by a 5lb claimer in Louis Steward and the upshot is he’s got an improving Group-class filly running for a big handicap prize off a very light weight.
The Verdict: Back SIEGE OF TROY in the 3.35 York
Get on the Boat in the Melrose
The Sky Bet Melrose Handicap over the Ebor course and distance for three-year-olds looks as competitive as you’d expect but I do think there’s some mileage in BOATSWAIN’s price at around 16/1.
Simon & Ed Crisford’s horses are in terrific form and both their York runners have run well, while Boatswain has continually shaped like he has a handicap in him off his current rating.
The son of New Bay didn’t run at two and was gelded before he saw a racetrack, but he has improved as he has gone out in trip despite not winning since his debut and he has shown promise on his last two runs.
In the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot he wasn’t beaten far despite meeting trouble in running, while last time at Sandown he again didn’t get a clean run through and he wasn’t suited by the race turning into a sprint for home up the hill.
The handicapper has only dropped him 1lb, but he looks competitive off 93 now he’s going to have a sound gallop to aim at and with William Buick booked for the job a career-best is expected.
The Verdict: Back BOATSWAIN in the 2.25 York
Bow to hit the mark for Gosdens
Earlier on the card BOWMARK can confirm himself a horse on the upgrade in the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes for John & Thady Gosden.
This looks a very good spot for him getting 7lb from the older horses on the weight-for-age and the likes of King’s Gambit and Bullet Point might struggle to give a horse of his talent the half a stone.
The son of Kingman was unraced until the December of his two-year-old career but he looked a typical Gosden late-bloomer when he bolted up at Kempton in that month.
In the spring he looked seriously progressive when a neck second in a Newcastle Listed race on just his second start and then he sluiced up again in a York novice at prohibitive odds.
Such was the impression he made he was pitched in the French Derby where he weakened late on after racing keenly early, but he was only beaten just over six lengths and retains all his vast potential.
Gosden is a master at being patient with this type of horse and he reminds me very much of Friendly Soul last year who returned from over a couple of months off by bolting up dropping in trip at Ascot before going on to bigger things.
Like Bowmark she is by Kingman and it looks significant Gosden has given him 83 days off and brought him back in slightly calmer waters dropped in trip at a track he likes.
The Verdict: Back BOWMARK in the 1.50 York
Throw some Mud at Goodwood
It could be a good day for the Gosdens with Westridge looking to have an excellent chance in the final race at York and I don’t want to miss their MUDBIR in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap over at Goodwood.
I’d expect him to break sharply enough to negate his wide draw in the first-time cheekpieces and if Jim Crowley gets a prominent sit he looks well capable of defying a 4lb rise following his last win over the course and distance.
He only just held on from the fast-finishing Dance In The Storm last time but he received a bump and that filly franked the form with an excellent run in third despite adversity in a deep handicap at York on Thursday.
The half-brother to Mostahdaf looks the type to keep on progressing to pattern level and that talented sibling took his form to greater heights once cheekpieces were applied.
Just a 6lb rise for two handicap wins looks fair with the assessor’s hands somewhat tied and after he wandered about under pressure last time the improvement for the application of headgear could be fairly significant.
The Verdict: Back MUDBIR in the 2.05 Goodwood
Preview posted at 1545 BST on 22/08/25
More from Sporting Life
- Racecards
- Fast results
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.