Ebor Festival: Previews and tips for day four at York
Check out the views from connections, Man On The Spot selections and video previews ahead of the key day four events at the Ebor Festival.
1350 Sky Bet Symphony Group Strensall Stakes
David O'Meara - Lord Glitters: "He's in good form. We're stepping him up beyond a mile for the first time. We think he'll be fine and we're happy with him," said the Upper Helmsley handler.
Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum - Mustashry: "He's back well again now, he's just had a few little issues this season. He won nicely at Sandown first time out and then had a little hold up again. I've been informed that he's fighting fit again, he's happy in his work and hopefully he can win this again. He was always viewed as an immature horse who would improve with age, and he has been."
William Jarvis Chief Ironside - William Jarvis: "He ran a really good race at Goodwood, I was very pleased with him, I think this looks tougher, though. This looks a stronger race in depth, so he'll need to improve again. It was nice to see the fourth from Goodwood, Glorious Journey, come out and win a Group race in France earlier this week, so the form is in the book. That was a career-best by some way, but he'll need another here, I think."
Andrew Balding - Morando: "Things haven't gone his way this season but he needs rain. It doesn't look like they will get much there so I think he is unlikely to run."
The consistency of LORD GLITTERS at the very top level augurs well for his chance here as he drops back to Group 3 company. His performances in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood do set the standard and he may well provide a Yorkshire winner in the opener. Mustashry has been campaigned with typically patient brilliance by Sir Michael Stoute and has to be of interest stepping back into Group company, whilst Seniority has proved himself well worth a shot at this grade after impressing in landing the Golden Mile handicap at Goodwood. Threading has been found wanting the last twice but if she could recapture her best she'd be of interest in receipt of both the age and fillies allowance. Zaaki and Morando are not discounted either.
1500 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah - Expert Eye: "There was an uncertain forecast at Goodwood, they weren't sure how much rain they were going to get, so we felt he was more sure of better ground at York. He must have fast ground, we think, so he runs here instead. He ran very well at Goodwood, I thought. A faster pace would have suited him there, but he stayed on and proved that he's on his way back.I think he's probably as effective over a mile as seven furlongs and we'll be looking at race like the Prix du Moulin and the Prix de la Foret if all goes well."
David O'Meara - Suedois and So Beloved, who were both in action at Glorious Goodwood: "Suedois ran well at Goodwood. He got beat by Sir Dancealot, who's gone on to win the Newbury race (Hungerford Stakes) with a penalty. Expert Eye obviously could be hard to beat, but he's in good form. So Beloved is very consistent. He's always there or thereabouts in these races and I'm sure he will be again."
Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum - Tabarrak: "Poor old Tabarrak, we'd missed a few engagements to wait for this and then he comes up against a horse like Expert Eye. That caught us out a bit, but somebody has to take him on. You won't catch us saying we think we will beat him, though. He's fantastically tough and brave, but he faces a tough task."
David Barron - Above The Rest: "He owes us absolutely nothing and has been brilliant this season. It will be very tough indeed with a penalty, but we had nowhere else to take him, really. It's good prize-money and hopefully he can pick some of it up."
Andrew Balding - Donjuan Triumphant: "His Lennox run was a smashing run. He is a better horse with cut in the ground. He has got bits of form on quicker ground, but any rain would help him. Trip-wise he is effective over both six and seven furlongs."
The whole field has won over this trip but a number have been earning place money this term without reaching the winner's circle. Most are exposed whereas EXPERT EYE continues to give the impression he's more to offer having been brought back to form by the patient skills of Sir Michael Stoute. An excellent second in the Sussex Stakes confirmed his ability at the highest level and this drop back to 7f should prove ideal as it was over this trip that he routed rivals in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. He holds Arbalet on that running but the latter is still expected to go well whilst members of the established older brigade likely to be in the mix are the O'Meara pair of Suedois and So Beloved, preferred in that order, the consistent Tabarrak and Tom Hogan's wonderful servant Gordon Lord Byron. Above The Rest must concede weight all round but is on the improve despite his age.
1540 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap
Patrick Mullins - Stratum and Whiskey Sour: "We're very pleased, firstly that he [Stratum] got into the race. It's obviously been the aim since Newbury and he's been in great form since then. He gets in at the bottom of the weights and he has a nice draw (four). He seems to tick a lot of the boxes. He looks to have a fantastic chance. You have to have luck in running, but we're more than happy with him and we're really looking forward to the race. I think Whiskey Sour is still open to improvement. He had two good victories in Galway last year. He ran very well in Ascot with a lot of weight. This time instead of having top-weight, he gets in at the bottom and he's not a big horse so I think that will help him. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he is better than his mark."
Iain Jardine - Nakeeta: "He had a break when he came back [from Australia] as he'd had a long season and then started training him at the end of January. He probably needed the run at Chester and things didn't work out in the Northumberland Plate, but the Newbury race was good, he showed signs that he was bouncing back and I feel he's better for this weekend as well."
Marco Botti - Dylan Mouth and Crowned Eagle: "Dylan Mouth is in good form. He won at York and definitely likes the track. He's drawn in the middle. That's fine. The other horse is a bit wider in 19, which is probably not great, but at the same time I'm hoping it's not a big disadvantage. Crowned Eagle has some good form. He steps up an extra two furlongs, which I don't think is an issue, but you never know. Both horses have been in good form and the ground won't hopefully change much. Both need good ground. I couldn't split the two, I'm really looking forward to it."
Jarlath Fahey - Sea The Lion: "Everything's going grand. He's in good form so we're hoping for a big run. It's been on the cards since he won at the Curragh. He was high enough for it so we thought we'd have a go. I'm hoping the step up in trip will be no problem."
Only 10lb separates the whole field but STRATUM is taken to land what has been a major gamble for owner, Tony Bloom. The fancy prices have gone about the Mullins gelding but he was mightily impressive when landing a classy 2m handicap at Newbury last time and an 8lb rise seems within his compass. Weekender is a classy sort who should deliver a sound account despite topweight, whilst the form achieved by Teodoro this season makes him of real interest. However, he's never gone further than 1m4f which makes him hard to assess accurately. Suffice to say he should be in the firing line if his stamina holds out. Last year's winner Nakeeta is running nicely into form and is nominated as the main threat to the selection off just a 4lb higher mark than when victorious in this last year. Blakeney Point is also worthy of shortlist inclusion for Roger Charlton who's already proved his ability to prepare one for high-class staying handicaps with Withhold, whilst Saunter and Whiskey Sour are also respected.
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