Shutter Speed

Ebor Festival 2017: Horse-by-horse guide and verdict for the Juddmonte International on day one at York

15:25 · WED August 23, 2017

It's a fascinating renewal of the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday August 23 and we have a horse-by-horse guide to the race.

The feature race on the opening day of the Ebor Festival takes place at 1535 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

Decorated Knight - Form: 116126 Trainer: Roger Charlton Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

SKY BET ODDS: 8/1

Beat Ulysses by a short-head when second to Highland Reel in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and on that line of form he’s a big price considering what Sir Michael Stoute’s horse has done since. Had excuses when sixth in the Eclipse as was involved in the early scrimmaging that more seriously affected Cliffs Of Moher. No forlorn hope, but even if he upholds Royal Ascot form with Ulysses giving 7lb to some top-notch three-year-olds is a whole different ball game.

My Dream Boat - Form: 4-3247 Trainer: Clive Cox Jockey: Adam Kirby

SKY BET ODDS: 40/1

A Grade One winner over this trip having won the 2016 Prince Of Wales’s but hasn’t replicated that level of form in seven subsequent starts. Dropping back in trip after three runs over a mile and a half could help, as could the first-time visor, but probably needs significant rainfall if he’s to cause a shock here.

Ulysses - Form: 4-1312 Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute Jockey: Jim Crowley

SKY BET ODDS: 7/2

Sets the standard over this trip following his Coral-Eclipse win over Barney Roy and the weight-for-age allowance narrows a little for this test as he has to give that rival 7lb now rather than the 10lb he did at Sandown. Showed himself to still be in top-notch form when second to brilliant filly Enable in the King George, giving her a stone, and, considering his high cruising speed, dropping back to this trip on a flatter track should pose no issues. The one they all have to beat.

Barney Roy - Form: 1-1212 Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: James Doyle

SKY BET ODDS: 5/2

One of the top three-year-olds this season after his St James’s Palace Stakes success at Royal Ascot and fantastic run in the Eclipse when beaten just a nose by Ulysses. 3lb worse off with that rival now but has another six weeks under his belt and remains hugely unexposed after just five career starts. His long stride has been much publicised but he really should relish the galloping nature of the Knavesmire and no surprise to see him chalked up as favourite.

Churchill - Form: 11-114 Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore

SKY BET ODDS: 3/1

Dual Classic winner after his two Guineas in the spring and there’s nothing wrong with the form of either considering the exploits of the beaten horses. Took a step backwards at Royal Ascot, though, when beaten into fourth in the St James’s Palace, and on a recovery mission after that with no obvious excuses coming forward. The ground was rattling quick that day which could be one reason for his below-par effort, but was then withdrawn from the Sussex Stakes due to the very testing ground. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see him bounce back and the trip isn’t likely to be a problem being by Galileo, even if it is all speed on his dam’s side.

2012 Juddmonte International Stakes - Frankel

Cliffs Of Moher - Form: 51-124 Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Seamie Heffernan

SKY BET ODDS: 11/2

Has to step up at least a little bit on even his best form but that’s not out of the question after just five career starts that include a second in the Derby. Looked to have mounted a winning challenge that day when taking it up inside the final furlong (traded at 1.12 in-running on Betfair) only to be pipped by stablemate Wings Of Eagles. Hugely impeded early on in the Eclipse and can’t be judged on that run. Looked like a 10-furlong horse in the Derby and interesting at a price here.

Shutter Speed - Form: 1-114 Trainer: John Gosden Jockey: Frankie Dettori

SKY BET ODDS: 8/1

The Juddmonte representative as they bid to win their own race for the first time since Frankel’s spine-tingling performance in the 2012 renewal. The only filly in the race, she gets 3lb from the three-year-old colts and 10lb from the older horses and that weight allowance helped Arabian Queen spring a 50/1 shock at the expense of Golden Horn a couple of years ago. Didn’t run badly at all from a wide draw in the Prix de Diane, has winning York form after her Musidora win and hugely interesting at a price for the in-form John Gosden-Frankie Dettori axis. Wears a first-time tongue-tie.

Verdict

The smooth-travelling Ulysses and Barney Roy are understandably towards the head of the betting for this after their Eclipse ding-dong and Guineas winner Churchill has to be respected despite being on a retrieval mission. Stablemate Cliffs Of Moher could be asked to go forward with no obvious pace setter in the field and he has the potential to improve further. Tactics look sure to play a huge part and whatever Cliffs Of Moher is asked to do it could be worth chancing a Frankie Dettori masterclass aboard SHUTTER SPEED. She looked a filly out of the top drawer when beating Enable at Newbury back in April and though her stablemate has improved dramatically since then the runner-up Raheen House hasn’t done the form any harm either. Shutter Speed has appeared just twice since, including when fourth in the French Oaks, but she was better than the bare result from her wide draw that day and shouldn’t be underestimated getting all the allowances in this, especially if Frankie manages to get the run of the race from a prominent position.