Fran Berry column ahead of day one of the Ebor Festival at York
Gunmetal is a sprinter to follow on day one of the Ebor Festival, according to former jockey Fran Berry.
It's lining up to be a tremendous week’s racing at York with Crystal Ocean kicking off day one in the Juddmonte International and Enable running on Thursday. There's another major clash of the generations on Friday in the Coolmore Nunthorpe, while Saturday's Sky Bet Ebor is going to be rough and ready with a million pounds up for grabs in prize money.
Dakota Gold looks for a quick follow up win after the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon on Saturday in the opening Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap. If he's none the worse for the weekend then the mandatory 5lb might not be enough to stop him.
I like a couple at bigger prices and the main one - possibly the best of the day at each-way prices - would be Gunmetal. He's got some very good form including a nice fourth over the minimum trip here back in May and he's a couple of pounds lower now.
This trip might just suit him and it's good to see Joe Fanning back on him as he gets on well with David Barron's grey.
Marnie James looks worth a small bet too. He's having his first run for Jedd O'Keeffe from Iain Jardine's
Marnie James maybe one to watch first run for Jedd out of Jardine’s yard and looks on a tempting mark again now with Jamie Spencer taking the ride.
In the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes all eyes will be on Persuasion who made good debut effort to win his novice first time out at Goodwood.
Vitalogy made a good impression when winning on debut at a big price for Joseph O'Brien and the second has won since.
They are both obviously open to lots of improvement, along with the likes of Valdermoro and Yorkshire Gold as well, but preference is for the battle-hardened Harpocrates in first-time blinkers. He's not been absolutely disgraced behind the likes of Siskin and Pinatubo so far and his experience will stand him in good stead.
Harpocrates can't be judged too harshly on his Tipperary defeat when favourite last time as it was very testing ground there and York will be more to his liking with the sun shining this week.
The Sky Bet Great Voltigeur looks a fascinating renewal and there's seemingly a huge amount of expectation surrounding Logician who is by Frankel and looks to have a good temperament.
He was quite impressive at Newbury last time but he's still only rated 101 and on form alone I'm not sure he warrants being so short in the betting.
Constantinople is already on an official BHA mark of 110 and he still looked open to further progress when just denied by the reopposing Nayef Road in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. He was giving the winner 3lb there so looks the one they all have to beat in the Voltigeur off level weights.
The Juddmonte International has attracted a strong line-up again which is great to see and I remain convinced that this is Crystal Ocean's best distance. I know he's been second in a couple of King Georges but I reckon he just gets out-stayed in this race and should be right at his best here.
That said he's got younger legs taking him on at York and three-year-olds King Of Comedy and Circus Maximus both looked likely to appreciate this step up to 10 furlongs.
It'll be most interesting to see how they perform but the biggest opposition to Crystal Ocean for me comes courtesy of Japan. He was great at Royal Ascot and although not quite at that level visually when winning the Grand Prix de Paris last time, he got the job done easily enough.
Going back in distance won't be much of an issue for the strong-travelling Japan and the 7lb he gets from the favourite might just give him a squeak despite the fact connections may ultimately be working back from the Arc de Triomphe as his major autumn target.
The other one to follow on Wednesday is Michael Bell's Stone Circle, who got held up in his run over seven furlongs at Goodwood. He should get a good tow into this dropping back to six and won well over the trip at Doncaster in the middle of last month.
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