Mirage Dancer (right)

Ebor Festival 2017: Horse-by-horse guide and verdict for the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes on day one at York

Horse Racing

Wed August 23, 2017 · 8y ago

Check out our horse-by-horse guide to the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Wednesday August 23.

The seven-strong Group Two race on the opening day of the Ebor Festival takes place at 1500 BST, and you can watch the action from York unfold live on ITV 1 from 1330-1600 BST, with coverage presented by Sporting Life ambassador Ed Chamberlin.

Here we run through all the runners, their form and our verdict...

Click here for the full racecard and video form

Atty Persse - Form: 1-1219 Trainer: R Charlton Jockey: James Doyle

SKY BET ODDS: 20/1

Frankel colt who has progressed through the handicap ranks, winning impressively at Royal Ascot to earn a step up to Pattern company at Newmarket only to patently fail to give his running. Clearly better than that run suggests but now has a question mark hanging over him as he's asked to step up in grade once again.

Count Octave - Form: 3-152 T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

SKY BET ODDS: 12/1

20/1 for the St Leger whereas Stradivarius, who beat him by a short-head in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, is 9/2 having followed up at Goodwood. The winner undoubtedly took a big step forwards in Sussex but there's no reason why this Frankel colt can't do the same but even that may not be enough to win this. Place claims.

Cracksman - Form: 1-132 T: J H M Gosden J: L Dettori

SKY BET ODDS: EVENS

Rated three pounds clear on official ratings and it will be disappointing if the Epsom Derby third and Irish Derby second can't rate considerably higher still. Hard to pick any holes in his form and his stable has enjoyed plenty of success in this race, winning it three times in the last decade, and quite clearly the one to beat as the market suggests.

Click here to bet on the Great Voltigeur with Sky Bet.

Douglas Macarthur - Form: 54-2175 T: A P O'Brien J: TBC

SKY BET ODDS: 7/1

Wears a hood for the first time. Didn't live up to expectations at two but has gradually come into his own this season, winning the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial - beating Irish Derby winner Capri - before running a blinder from the front at Epsom. Surprising more use wasn't made of him in the Irish Derby and perhaps a return to more positive tactics will yield greater rewards.

Khalidi - Form: 131022 T: C G Cox J: A Kirby

SKY BET ODDS: 14/1

Experienced campaigner with 11 starts to his name for previous trainer John Gosden. Ran no race in the Epsom Derby but got back on an upward curve when beating all bar the ill-fated Permian at Royal Ascot before filling the same position behind ante-post Leger favourite Crystal Ocean at Goodwood. That form puts him firmly in the mix but shapes as though he's in need of a stiffer test than this 12 furlongs, something he'll get at Doncaster in the Leger.

Mirage Dancer - Form: 1-43 T: Sir Michael Stoute J: Andrea Atzeni

SKY BET ODDS: 4/1

Has always carried a big reputation but is very much a work in progress. Improved from run to run and has shaped as though he's crying out for this step up to 12 furlongs in his last two runs over 10 so there are plenty of reasons to believe that he can make the necessary progress to play a leading role. Stable has won this race a record seven times, most recently in 2013.

Spanish Steps - Form: 8-32191 T: A P O'Brien J: TBC

SKY BET ODDS: 16/1

Took four runs in maidens to get his head in front and he then cut little ice in a French Group One so his defeat of a better fancied stablemate in a Leopardstown Group Three rather came out of the blue. Like all of his stablemates he is bred to be top class so dangerous to dismiss that as a fluke with further progress perfectly possible.

Venice Beach - Form: 2-31103 T: A P O'Brien J: TBC

SKY BET ODDS: 10/1

Beat the Derby winner at Chester but struggled at Epsom. Bounced back with a solid third at Saint-Cloud (Spanish Steps behind) without suggesting that he was ready to take another step forwards. Impossible to rule out anything from Ballydoyle with complete confidence but others more likely.

Verdict

The long straight at York should allow Cracksman plenty of time to get into top gear and that alone could bring about an improved performance as that lack of an instant change of pace exposed him at both Epsom and the Curragh. The last two winners of this race placed in both Derbies and his chance is there for all to see. It's hard to quibble with his price but this isn't cut and dried with Aidan O'Brien fielding a numerically strong team and we've seen already this season that there may not be a great deal between any of his impeccably bred colts. The best option may be to side with Mirage Dancer and although many would scoff at the phrase 'an each-way bet to nothing', the 5/1 available in places about this colt who brings immense promise to the table makes that an appealing play against a deserving but not bombproof favourite.