Ebor Festival Day Four – CopyBet
It’s the final day of the York Ebor Festival on Saturday and the Ebor itself, a mouthwatering race in prospect for the 1m6f heritage handicap, which has prize money of £300,000 to the winner.
There is quality throughout the afternoon, including the opening Group 3 Strensall Stakes and the Group 1 City Of York Stakes - with Rosallion bidding to gain his revenge on Qirat after last month’s Sussex Stakes upset.
There are seven races in all from the Kavensmire, the opener at 13:50 before the curtain comes down a spectacular four days at 17:20.
King’s Gambit – York
Harry Charlton’s KING’S GAMBIT was unable to justify favouritism in the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, but it was very much a step back in the right direction for the talented son of Saxon Warrior, who has plenty going for him on these terms.
An impressive winner of the London Gold Cup at Newbury off a mark of 93 on last season’s reappearance, he quickly established himself in Pattern company, finishing runner-up in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 2 York Stakes prior to chasing home Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles and Illinois in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes.
He ran well behind Rebel’s Romance in the Middle East in February, but was much too keen in first-time blinkers following a gelding operation at Newbury in May. However, with the headgear left off and back in trip, he settled much better at Royal Ascot last time and ran to a Racing Post Rating matching his official mark of 113.
A further drop back to 1m1f is a bit of a question mark, but he has won over a mile in the past and should have something close to his optimum underfoot conditions.
Golden Handshake – York
William Haggas knows exactly what it takes to win the Melrose Handicap, having struck with Hamish and Soulcombe in recent years, and he looks to have a likely candidate in his midst once again courtesy of the hat-trick seeking GOLDEN HANDSHAKE.
The son of Zarak has made steady progress throughout this first season, building on a promising Nottingham second with victories in a Lingfield maiden and a Newbury handicap.
The latter doesn’t look anything out of the ordinary on paper, but the relatively narrow margin of victory was key and ensured only a 4lb rise.
Shadow Dance – York
The Roger Varian-trained SHADOW DANCE looks a fascinating contender in the feature Ebor Handicap, the lightly-raced five-year-old having shaped well on his belated seasonal reappearance at Glorious Goodwood last month over an inadequate trip.
A two-time winner from 10 starts, the selection would be vulnerable on a lightning quick surface, but he’s run several good races on good ground, none more so than at this meeting last season when he won a handicap over 1m4f off a mark of 95.
An excellent third on his first try at this longer distance in the Mallard at Doncaster on his final outing of last term, he didn’t reappear for 319 days and did so over 1m2f. However, he was unfortunate not to better his ninth of 18, finding trouble at a vital stage, and that run, combined with this today’s additional half-mile, puts him firmly in the picture of the same mark of 100.