Ebor Festival - Day 3 Thoughts

Writing this just after day 1 of the Ebor Festival and things went fairly well today. 3 bets put up on the blog with all placing whilst 1 bet put up on Twitter at 40/1 running well into 3rd. My strongest bet of the day on Twilight Calls was slightly disappointing. At one point I was thinking how far but he didn't see his race out well enough and might be a horse who needs everything to fall right and a bit of a morning glory.

1:50 York - 1m4f (1m3f188y) Sky Bet Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105)

A hard enough race to start the day off with. Plenty of exposed handicappers running, with a Haggas 3 year old coming off the back of a 4 timer winning streak who is currently a strong favourite across the board. He is obviously the right favourite but I'd prefer to take him on elsewhere with bookmakers paying extra places across the board, if you can get on that is.

The field consists another horse who ties in with the favourite in State Of Bliss, who coincidentally finished 2nd to Wink of an Eye at Goodwood on soft ground. State Of Bliss then followed that up with a win at the Shergar Cup a few days ago. A 5lb rise may not be enough and I'd say it's fairly likely both the 3 year olds mentioned will be included in the finish. I won't put them up as they won't be missed in the market especially by the firms paying extra places. Sam Cooke seems to be a punters nightmare, starting off at short prices in the betting in each race and never running any sort of race. The hood has been taken off again here and I can't trust him until he stops pulling like Rod Stewart at a blondes only disco. Another horse worth considering now the ground is fast is My Frankel who finally gets his right ground after 2 outings on soft ground, however the juice is gone in the price now.

The 2 that interest me if the ground turned soft would be Strawberry Rock and Dark Jedi, however with the ground riding quick at York, it's hard to put them up. So I have landed on HMS President of Eve Johnson-Houghton as my idea of the bet here with the extra places however I can only advise him at 14/1 or bigger with at least 5 places. A horse who seems to be improving with more racing, he was last seen finishing 2nd at the Shergar Cup. Seems to thrive on better ground, he has performed consistently in his last 3 races without getting his head infront and the jockey booking of William Buick is a positive. He is a tentative selection against the field with the 3 year olds looking likely to cement their class on the field.

Selections:

HMS President - 1pt e/w @ 14/1 or bigger (Back with bookmakers paying at least 5 places)

17:10 York - 1m (7f192y) Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Class 2) (3yo 0-105)

The strongest bet of the day comes in the last in the shape of the John Gosden trained Rifleman. I have been waiting for his reappearance since his 2nd at Newmarket last month where he got done late on by the classy Accidental Agent. Rifleman does come with a slight warning as I'm not sure what he finds in the finish, so may not suit this big field but what he will do is travel to 2 out still travelling with plenty under. The gelding operation and blinkers are a positive for this horse, and punters may remember him jinking in the Esher Cup at Sandown back in April when going upsides with Naamoos and unseating Ryan Moore. Ryan is back on board here with his Coolmore partnership, and will no doubt be settling this gelding in the pack before being delivered late. Rated 95, he looks like he has a few more pounds in hand in the handicap and I think he could be a horse who could contest decent heritage handicaps next year when perhaps maturing a little more.

It is worth seeing how Irish Admiral runs on day 2 having finished behind Rifleman at Newmarket last year. The form was backed up slightly with Overwrite winning a handicap at Bath a few days ago, whilst Finest Sound ran well enough in a trappy small field handicap at Doncaster recently.

Rifleman is not a horse who is worth trusting fully and has his faults, however the 9/1 on offer with Skybet paying 6 places looks a solid each way bet and I hope Ryan Moore can deliver him late to pick up the spoils.

Selection:

Rifleman - 2pts e/w @ 9/1 or bigger (Skybet paying 6 places).