3:15Azure Blue (10/1) returns to racing after nearly a year off in a bid to retain last year's 12/1 Duke of York victory (video).
That followed a 1st time out winning run, so the 10/1 on offer, at the moment, of a repeat, is a decent price. It's not often I find any backable odds on the grass.
Why can't she do it again? Cheers, Sandracer.
Race Comment: Not fit enough. Broke well, good position, found nothing when asked.
Π Going: Turf - Good (Good to Firm in places)
2:15 York (Turf) (65k C2 Jorvik Handicap) (ITV)
# No Bet.
2:45 York (Turf) (50k C2 Churchill Tyres Hcp) (ITV)
# No Bet.
3:15 York (Turf) (150k Duke Of York) (ITV) 10/1 Azure Blue. (Unplaced 14/1) close up, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th.
3:45 York (Turf) (25k G3 Musidora Stakes) (ITV)
# No Bet.
4:15 York (Turf) (40k G3 Conundrum Consulting Hcp) (ITV)
# No Bet.
4:45 York (Turf)
# No Bet.
5:20 York (Turf)
# No Bet.
Stake: 1 X £1.00 Win Single = £1.00
Returns: 0.00
Total: Minus £1.00
The highlight of Wednesday's York card is the Ebor handicap, one of the biggest betting horse races of the season. Once again we will be 1/4 odds all races and will be Guaranteeing Best Odds on all races at www.betdirect.net
Purple Moon looks sure to go off favourite for the race for Luca Cumani who was successful in the race in 1999 with Vicious Circle and 2004 with Mephisto. Last year there was a 100/1 shock winner via Mudawin and the last winning favourite in the race was Tuning back in 1998 via the unexposed 3-year-old Tuning trained by Henry Cecil. The Master of Warren Place has a similar sort in Tranquil Tiger this year who is currently a 9/1 shot with www.betdirect.net
With Mahler and Macarthur likely to run in the Gt Voltigeur it looks as if Hitchcock will be the leading representative from Ballydoyle. Once again it looks a tricky puzzle to solve and it would be no surprise if we were to witness a real thriller in what looks another top-class renewal.
Hamdan Al Maktoum has purchased Heaven Knows since his last start but it remains in the care of William Haggas who suggested that the four-year-old would be targeted at the John Smiths Cup for his first start of the campaign. He has obviously had his training problems but with the stable in cracking form he is of interest in a fascinating opening race. Sir Michael Stoute has won the race in two of the last five years and looks sure to have a big-player in Great Hawk who was a good winner at Ascot last time.
The Gimcrack Stakes is one of the leading juvenile races of the season and Luck Money and Swiss Franc meet again after finishing in the frame behind Henrythenavigator in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Group 1 race on the card is the Yorkshire Oaks which sees the reappearance of the brilliant dual Classic winner Alexandrova who also landed the corresponding event last year. Connections have suggested in recent days that she may come for the run, however, and her younger stablemate Peeping Fawn has improved throughout the year and she will be a very difficult filly to pass. The Ribblesdale Stakes winner Silkwood steps up to Group 1 class for the first time, and the drying ground is in her favour, but Irish Oaks and Nassau Stakes winner Peeping Fawn is the one to beat. Click here for the latest betting.
The big stables run some of their better juveniles in the Convivial maiden the penultimate race on the card, and Mark Johnston and Aidan O'Brien are well represented, although I can pass on a very good word for the Michael Jarvis newcomer Otaared. Whatever the fate of Otaared Jarvis has a good chance of landing the finale via the progressive Marozi.
The highlight of the final day of York's Ebor meeting is the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes run over the minimum trip of 5f. Without the July Cup winner Sakhee's Secret in the field the race won't take much winning and this looks the ideal opportunity for the Irish sprinter Dandy Man to break his Group 1 duck. He is priced at 11/4 with www.betdirect.net at the time of writing and a fast 5f on good ground will suit Tracey Collins four-year-old who was a beaten favourite when the soft ground blunted his blistering early pace in the corresponding race last year. Remember, we're 1/4 the odds on all races at York at www.betdirect.net
Once again www.betdirect.net are offering Best Odds Guaranteed on all races on the final day of York. So if you take an early price and the SP is bigger you will be paid out on the bigger price. Visit www.betdirect.net for our prices at York.
You'resothrilling is likely to put her Classic credentials on the line when trying to give weight and a beating to her rivals in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes although she faces a stiff task giving the weight to Sir Michael Stout's filly Visit who was so impressive at Ascot last time. Jeremy Noseda looks like being double handed in the race and expect a bold show from Francesca D'Gorgio although she only has a maiden win in four starts to date.
The mile handicap has not been won by a horse drawn higher than 12 in the last 10 years and the highly progressive Third Set looks sure to go off favourite for Roger Charlton. John Oxx has won the Galtres Stakes in two of the last three years (there was a time when Luca Cumani had a monopoly on the game) and the lightly-raced Hasanka looks a potential improver who may well have been targeted at the race for some time.
The Melrose is a particular favourite of mine and I am surprised that it no longer merits terrestrial television coverage. Templestern represents Henry Cecil and despite his big weight the progressive grey looks sure to give a good account in a race that brings the curtain down on what looks sure to be a wonderful three days racing.
York Ebor Meeting - Day 1 Preview, by Charlie McCann.
York's August Ebor meeting is my favourite Flat racing meeting of the season. The pomp of Royal Ascot and panamas of Glorious Goodwood are replaced by the pragmatism of the Northern race-goer and three wonderful days racing. We at www.betdirect.net are offering 1/4 odds on all 21 races at the three-day Festival and will be offering Best Odds Guaranteed on all races on the Knavesmire.
Tuesday's highlight is the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes run over an extended ten furlongs. The race is one of the most prestigious and valuable on the racing calendar and has been won by such greats of the turf as Roberto, Dahlia, Triptych and in recent years Giant's Causeway, Halling and Sahkee. This year we have the Derby winner Authorized locking horns with the brilliant King George and former Irish Derby winner Dylan Thomas, and the unfashionable yet highly proficient triple Group 1 winner Notnowcato who won the corresponding race last year.
Aidan O'Brien has three of the seven runners in the event and Song Of Hiawatha looks sure to take the field along at a good clip although I believe we shall see a much improved run from Asiatic Boy (currently 11/2 at www.betdirect.net) trained by South African legend Mike De Kock who was done for toe over the mile in the Sussex Stakes last time. He looks sure to race prominently for Jamie Spencer and his handler is confident we shall see the real Asiatic Boy over 10f.
Authorized (9/4 with www.betdirect.net ) is trying to break the hoodoo of Epsom Derby winners stretching back to High Chaparral in 2003 who was the last winner of the race to land a subsequent prize. Some have been moderate horses but the connections of both Motivator and now Authorized have been seduced by the stallion dollar in nominating suitable engagements for their wide margin winners.
Peter Chapple-Hyam insists his Epsom winner is back to the form he showed prior to his Classic success and he did win his race on the far side in the Eclipse last time, but will he be have the speed to cope with his elders Dylan Thomas (15/8 favourite with www.betdirect.net) and Notnowcato (11/4)?
The Gt Voltigeur also on the first day is widely considered the premier trial for the final Classic of the season the St Leger which returns to its spiritual home of Doncaster next month. Once again Aidan O'Brien has a very strong hand in the race with four of the nine entries in what looks an excellent renewal despite the defection of Aqaleem. Mahler was an impressive winner of the Queen's Vase although the form is nothing out of the ordinary. Connections have given the colt two months to get over his exertions and jockey bookings would suggest he is first choice from the Ballydoyle quartet.
Lucarno and Boscobel head the home challenge although Mahler's biggest dangers may come from within his own stable via Macarthur and Yellowstone. The former was very well backed for the Derby prior to flopping in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial whilst the latter was a good winner of the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last time.
Eight of the nine runners in the Acomb Stakes won their previous start and this looks a very good renewal. Barry Hills is represented by Tajdeef who created such a favourable impression at Newbury on debut. Given the plum draw in stall 1 Tajdeef will be hard to beat although Fast Company and Lucifer Sam are also both highly regarded by their respective connections.
In what could be an Aidan O'Brien benefit day Septimus is a fascinating contender stepped up to 2m for the first time in the Lonsdale Stakes in which Sergeant Cecil must give at least 5lbs away to all his rivals. Distinction looks sure to come on for his belated reappearance but the Coolmore raider will win…if he stays!
The 20 runner nursery looks a nightmare for punters but do watch out for a much improved show from Walter Swinburn's Shifting Star who had to use too much energy from his poor draw at Goodwood over 7f last time. He ought to be able to cope with the drop back in trip and Kerrin McEvoy is a significant booking.
Tuesday's finale is another 20 runner sprint handicap. Dandy Nicholls saddles three including the frustrating Buachaill Dona who is certainly capable of better than he showed so far this season. His last win came at the corresponding meeting last year. Watch out for a much improved show on Tuesday.
01 (02) Fongs Gazelle 02 (06) Danish Rebel (IRE) 03 (13) Filios (IRE) 04 (01) Eglevski (IRE) 05 (10) Clarricien (IRE) 06 (03) Persian Peril 07 (07) Letham Island (IRE) 08 (14) Love Brothers 09 (05) Act Sirius (IRE) 10 (16) Lemon Silk (IRE) 11 (09) Moonwalking 12 (12) Serpentaria 13 (11) Sivota (IRE) 14 (08) Force Group (IRE) 15 (15) Its Moon (IRE) 16 (04) Smugglers Bay (IRE)
Sporting Life Early Betting Odds Forecast: 3/1 Fongs Gazelle, 7/1 Letham Island (IRE), 8/1 Danish Rebel (IRE), 8/1 Eglevski (IRE), 8/1 Serpentaria, 10/1 Filios (IRE), 10/1 Act Sirius (IRE), 12/1 Clarricien (IRE), 16/1 Persian Peril, 20/1 Love Brothers, 20/1 Lemon Silk (IRE), 20/1 Moonwalking, 25/1 Force Group (IRE), 25/1 Smugglers Bay (IRE), 33/1 Sivota (IRE), 50/1 Its Moon (IRE)
Racing Post Early Betting Odds Forecast: 4/1 Filios, 9/2 Fongs Gazelle, 7/1 Serpentaria, 10/1 Force Group, 11/1 Persian Peril, 12/1 Eglevski, Its Moon, 14/1 Danish Rebel, Love Brothers, Sivota, 16/1 Act Sirius, Clarricien, Letham Island, Moonwalking, 20/1 Smugglers Bay, 33/1 Lemon Silk.
3.50 York (turf) Axis Intermodal Handicap 5f Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
01 (07) Danum Dancer 02 (10) Avertuoso 03 (11) Just Joey (Non Runner) 04 (03) Tombi (USA) 05 (05) Top Bid 06 (09) Fool Me (IRE) 07 (02) Frisky Talk (IRE) 08 (12) Morinqua (IRE) 09 (06) The Nifty Fox 10 (04) All You Need (IRE) 11 (08) Grange Lili (IRE) 12 (01) Sea Rover (IRE)
Sporting Life Early Betting Odds Forecast: 7/2 Tombi (USA), 4/1 Morinqua (IRE), 6/1 Frisky Talk (IRE), 7/1 Avertuoso, 10/1 Top Bid, 10/1 Fool Me (IRE), 10/1 The Nifty Fox, 12/1 Sea Rover (IRE), 16/1 Danum Dancer, 20/1 Just Joey, 25/1 All You Need (IRE), 25/1 Grange Lili (IRE)
Racing Post Early Betting Odds Forecast: 7/2 Sea Rover, 5/1 Morinqua, 7/1 Frisky Talk, Tombi, 9/1 Top Bid, 10/1 All You Need, Avertuoso, 11/1 The Nifty Fox, 12/1 Danum Dancer, 14/1 Fool Me, Just Joey, 20/1 Grange Lili.
2.15 York (turf) £50000.00 Reland Jorvik Heritage Handicap 1m 4f Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
01 (08) Nakheel 02 (10) All The Good (IRE) 03 (13) Halla San 04 (05) Strategic Mount (Doubtful) (Non Runner) 05 (14) Motive (FR) 06 (16) Kings Quay (Non Runner) 07 (18) Bauer (IRE) 08 (04) Dont Call Me Derek 09 (11) Macorville (USA) 10 (03) Simondiun 11 (06) Kyoto Summit 12 (01) Mutawaffer 13 (12) Ballinteni 14 (15) Luna Landing (Non Runner) 15 (09) High Treason (USA) 16 (02) Fort Churchill (IRE) 17 (7) Kilimandscharo (USA) 18 (17) Amwell Brave
Sporting Life Early Betting Odds Forecast: 5/1 Nakheel, 6/1 Halla San, 6/1 High Treason (USA), 8/1 Simondiun, 10/1 Bauer (IRE), 10/1 Ballinteni, 12/1 Strategic Mount, 12/1 Kings Quay, 12/1 Macorville (USA), 14/1 All The Good (IRE), 14/1 Mutawaffer, 14/1 Kilimandscharo (USA), 16/1 Fort Churchill (IRE), 20/1 Kyoto Summit, 25/1 Dont Call Me Derek, 25/1 Luna Landing, 33/1 Motive (FR), 66/1 Amwell Brave
Racing Post Early Betting Odds Forecast: 6/1 Halla San, 7/1 Bauer, Macorville, 8/1 Ballinteni, High Treason, Nakheel, 12/1 Simondiun, 14/1 All The Good, Fort Churchill, Kings Quay, 16/1 Kilimandscharo, Mutawaffer, 20/1 Kyoto Summit, 33/1 Dont Call Me Derek, Motive, 66/1 Luna Landing, 100/1 Amwell Brave.
Race Selection: Kilimandscharo. (3rd 16/1)
Betting Shop Odds Shows Archive 15 High Treason 6/1 11/2 5/1 03 Halla San 11/2 6/1 13/2 02 All The Good 9/1 17/2 8/1 15/2 7/1 15/2 01 Nakheel 7/1 15/2 16 Fort Churchill 9/1 10/1 9/1 15/2 07 Bauer 8/1 17/2 10/1 09 Macorville 8/1 9/1 10/1 13 Ballinteni 9/1 10/1 10 Simondiun 20/1 16/1 14/1 12/1 12 Mutawaffer 20/1 16/1 14/1 17 Kilimandscharo 16/1 11 Kyoto Summit 25/1 08 Dont Call Me Derek 33/1 28/1 05 Motive 66/1 18 Amwell Brave 100/1 04 Strategic Mount (Non Runner) 06 Kings Quay (Non Runner) 14 Luna Landing (Non Runner)
5.00 York (turf) Toteexacta Handicap 1m 6f Going: Good To Soft
01 (10) Inchnadamph 02 (06) Power of Future (GER) 03 (11) Mighty Moon 04 (02) Sphinx (FR) 05 (13) Dundry 06 (03) Gala Evening 07 (04) Bollin Derek 08 (01) Augustus John (IRE) (Non Runner) 09 (07) Mister Arjay (USA) 10 (12) Lady Romanov (IRE) 11 (09) Maneki Neko (IRE) 12 (08) Bronze Dancer (IRE) 13 (05) Ha'penny Beacon
Sporting Life Early Betting Odds Forecast: 7/2 Power of Future (GER), 11/2 Inchnadamph, 6/1 Dundry, 7/1 Gala Evening, 7/1 Bronze Dancer (IRE), 8/1 Augustus John (IRE), 16/1 Mighty Moon, 16/1 Bollin Derek, 16/1 Mister Arjay (USA), 16/1 Ha'penny Beacon, 20/1 Sphinx (FR), 20/1 Lady Romanov (IRE), 25/1 Maneki Neko (IRE)
Racing Post Early Betting Odds Forecast: 9/2 Power Of Future, 5/1 Bollin Derek, Dundry, 6/1 Gala Evening, 9/1 Bronze Dancer, 10/1 Augustus John, Mister Arjay, 12/1 Mighty Moon, 14/1 Maneki Neko, 20/1 Inchnadamph, Sphinx, 25/1 Ha'Penny Beacon, Lady Romanov.
4.25 York (turf) Robert Pratt Memorial Handicap 2m 2f Going: Good To Soft
01 (11) Sworn In (USA) 02 (07) Trance (IRE) 03 (15) Kristensen 04 (04) Mind How You Go (FR) 05 (03) Nimra (USA) 06 (13) High Point (IRE) (Non Runner) 07 (06) Kayf Aramis 08 (10) Mr Mischief 09 (09) Salut Saint Cloud 10 (02) Riodan (IRE) 11 (14) Alrida (IRE) 12 (17) Great As Gold (IRE) 13 (18) Dhehdaah 14 (08) Follow On 15 (16) At The Money 16 (01) Global Strategy 17 (12) Rose Bien 18 (05) Grey Outlook
Sporting Life Early Betting Odds Forecast: 4/1 Dhehdaah, 5/1 Follow On, 6/1 Great As Gold (IRE), 10/1 Trance (IRE), 10/1 Kristensen, 10/1 At The Money, 12/1 Mind How You Go (FR), 14/1 Alrida (IRE), 16/1 High Point (IRE), 16/1 Salut Saint Cloud, 20/1 Nimra (USA), 20/1 Global Strategy, 25/1 Kayf Aramis, 25/1 Riodan (IRE), 33/1 Sworn In (USA), 33/1 Mr Mischief, 33/1 Rose Bien, 33/1 Grey Outlook
Racing Post Early Betting Odds Forecast: 9/2 Dhehdaah, 6/1 Alrida, 8/1 Follow On, 10/1 Kayf Aramis, Kristensen, Salut Saint Cloud, 12/1 At The Money, Global Strategy, Great As Gold, Trance, 14/1 High Point, Mind How You Go, 20/1 Mr Mischief, Riodan, 25/1 Grey Outlook, Nimra, Rose Bien, 66/1 Sworn In.
Race Selection: Global Strategy. (Unplaced 10/1)
Betting Shop Odds Shows Archive 14 Follow On 8/1 15/2 7/1 13/2 6/1 11/2 5/1 9/2 4/1 15 At The Money 8/1 15/2 7/1 13/2 11 Alrida 5/1 11/2 6/1 13/2 13 Dhehdaah 13/2 7/1 13/2 7/1 07 Kayf Aramis 7/1 04 Mind How You Go 10/1 11/1 10/1 9/1 16 Global Strategy 11/1 10/1 12 Great As Gold 12/1 11/1 02 Trance 16/1 14/1 16/1 09 Salut Saint Cloud 14/1 16/1 03 Kristensen 25/1 22/1 20/1 22/1 20/1 08 Mr Mischief 25/1 28/1 25/1 05 Nimra 33/1 17 Rose Bien 33/1 10 Riodan 28/1 25/1 28/1 33/1 28/1 33/1 18 Grey Outlook 50/1 01 Sworn In 66/1 80/1 06 High Point (Non Runner)
Race Result 4.25 York
1st Kayf Aramis 7/1 2nd Great As Gold 11/1 3rd Trance 16/1 4th Rose Bien 33/1
3.15 York (turf) Bank Of Scotland Corporate Hambleton Handicap Listed 1m Going: Good To Soft
01 (09) Mine (IRE) 02 (08) Chicken Soup 03 (12) Babodana 04 (01) Kew Green (USA) 05 (02) Zero Tolerance (IRE) 06 (11) Wise Dennis 07 (03) Very Wise 08 (07) Pride of Nation (IRE) 09 (04) Blythe Knight (IRE) 10 (13) Kings Point (IRE) 11 (06) Waterside (IRE) 12 (05) Black Charmer (IRE) 13 (10) Kingsholm
The Hambleton Sporting Life Early Betting Odds Forecast: 3/1 Wise Dennis, 9/2 Blythe Knight (IRE), 11/2 Pride of Nation (IRE), 7/1 Very Wise, 10/1 Mine (IRE), 10/1 Babodana, 14/1 Waterside (IRE), 16/1 Kew Green (USA), 16/1 Zero Tolerance (IRE), 16/1 Kings Point (IRE), 20/1 Chicken Soup, 33/1 Black Charmer (IRE), 33/1 Kingsholm
The Hambleton Racing Post Early Betting Odds Forecast: 5/2 Wise Dennis, 9/2 Pride Of Nation, 11/2 Very Wise, Zero Tolerance, 10/1 Blythe Knight, 12/1 Kings Point, 14/1 Babodana, 16/1 Mine, Waterside, 25/1 Kew Green, 33/1 Black Charmer, Chicken Soup, 50/1 Kingsholm.
The Hambleton Race Selection: Very Wise. (Unplaced 11/2)
The Hambleton Betting Shop Odds Shows Archive 06 Wise Dennis 9/4 2/1 9/4 2/1 08 Pride of Nation 5/1 9/2 4/1 7/2 07 Very Wise 11/2 05 Zero Tolerance 13/2 7/1 15/2 7/1 09 Blythe Knight 17/2 8/1 17/2 9/1 03 Babodana 12/1 10 Kings Point 18/1 20/1 11 Waterside 25/1 01 Mine 25/1 22/1 25/1 22/1 25/1 04 Kew Green 33/1 12 Black Charmer 33/1 40/1 13 Kingsholm 100/1 02 Chicken Soup (Non Runner)
The Hambleton Race Result 3.15 York
1st Blythe Knight 9/1 2nd Wise Dennis 2/1 Favourite 3rd Pride of Nation 7/2
UK RACE COMMENTARY