Fran Berry column ahead of day three at York's Ebor Festival
Fran Berry struck again with his best bet on Thursday - get his thoughts on day three of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
The Sky Bet Handicap opens the card on Friday.
It's hard to know what to make of Gibbs Hill who was well backed antepost for the Northumberland Plate. He'll be interesting back down in trip but the one I like is Desert Wind who is quite unexposed on grass still and possibly found the rattling fast going too lively at Newmarket last time.
The rain showers that fell on the Knavesmire on Thursday afternoon won't be a bad thing for him.
I'm with the majority in thinking Stradivarius will complete the million pound bonus again in the Lonsdale Cup. He's so versatile and gets the job done.
Next year a horse like Falcon Eight might be the dour stayer to oppose Stradivarius in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot but for now he's only a potential challenger and may need more time.
The Gimcrack cut up a little bit as I was thinking Monarch Of Egypt might run here but Threat has solid form in the book which can't be crabbed really.
The one I was liking at longer odds was one of Kevin Ryan's called Abstemious who was a very impressive course and distance winner last month. It was just a novice race but the manner in which he did it was great and he could be overlooked given this leap in class.
The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes is a real blockbuster and both of the market leaders have a question against then. The main question with the race is how Battaash behaves and whether he's calm and collected in the preliminaries.
If he pitches up at his best then he could be hard to beat but the way that Ten Sovereigns did it in the July Cup makes him a worthy favourite here. He looks to be getting sharper and sharper.
I'd also mention his stable companion Fairyland at a big price. Her run in the King's Stand - dropping back from a mile - was a fantastic effort.
The Convivial Maiden is always a very informative race and I'm sure there will be plenty of winners to come out of it in the future.
Vitralite is of interest for Karl Burke in the Nationwide Accident Repair Services Handicap but I'm going back to Haggas again and his Fanaar who looks of considerable interest. The best of his efforts would put him bang there in this field.
Juddmonte International winner Japan was the star for us on Wednesday and it was almost a super day for the column with three seconds as well, but there's no time to dwell and it's onwards and upwards for days two and three of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
In the opening Sky Bet Lowther on Thursday it will be fascinating to see if Liberty Beach is as effective over six furlongs. She looked a bit of a speedball at Goodwood so it'll be interesting if this plays to her strengths.
There are several promising fillies in there but the horse I like is Celtic Beauty. If you took out that Newmarket run, when she ran too bad to be true in the Duchess of Cambridge, and focus on her second in the Albany at Royal Ascot I think that's good enough to see her figure here.
She represents good each-way value with the ground and the flat track here at York in her favour.
The next is a bit of a minefield and there could be a line on Show Me Show Me from the opening race as he was third in the Molecomb at Goodwood. It's a very open race and the likes of Latin Five would have a chance on the pick of their form but the class horse of the race would be the favourite Show Me Show Me. Although I've no strong opinion.
I was second on Kynren in the Clipper Logistics Handicap last year and he hasn't got his head in front since, creeping up the handicap without winning. You'd have to wonder if he'll be vulnerable again to progressive rivals.
I definitely think Seniority is primed to win a decent one at some stage but he's drawn 19 which might not be ideal despite the long straight giving them time to sort things out later in the race.
At a bigger price I like What's The Story - he's got very good course form, winning here at the Dante meeting and running very well in the John Smith's. He represents value in another open race.
The Darley Yorkshire Oaks is all about Enable and she's already 4-0 up on Magical. It's a fascinating clash but we've got to just enjoy Enable as it's hard to see them beating her. Given the long straight at York she should be able to overcome anything Magical throws at her.
If you're betting without Enable then Lah Ti Dar might be worth some interest back at a track that suits her well. If Magical and Enable get into a battle then she might be the one to pick up the pieces but it's a bit of a stretch so it's a 'watch and enjoy' race for me.
The Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes contains the bet of the day in my view which is Dermot Weld's filly Search For A Song who will be very hard to beat.
She's only had the three runs to date but she was an impressive winner of her maiden, was third in a Group Three that has worked out well in Naas and then fourth in the Irish Oaks. Off a slow pace she was trapped out wide there at the Curragh and did well to manage to keep going.
Back down to Listed company she looks a very good bet.
The British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Handicap closes day two and I actually rode Mubtasimah on her debut when fourth last year. I was mad about her and thought she'd be a very progressive filly. William Haggas must be happy with her mark of 95 and I suspect she's a pattern filly running in a handicap.
That said I like the look of Crafty Madam for Ken Condon and also Clon Coulis the top one who is capable of putting up a huge run on the pick of her efforts this year when just denied in the Hunt Cup. David Barron's filly is probably the one to be on at the prices on offer - anything greater than 20/1 looks too big.
Related horse racing links
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
