ITV's coverage of the York Ebor Festival gets underway on Wednesday, 19th August, with the feature coming in the form of the star-studded Group One Juddmonte International.
We have gone through all televised races on Day One of the Ebor Festival, picking out ITV horse racing tips, and an accumulator for ITV racing.
ITV’s coverage of the York Ebor Festival gets underway with the World Pool Handicap.
Favorites have won just one of the last 12 editions, while the trends indicate looking for horses that finished in the first four on their last start (8/12), those rated between 92 and 104 (10/12), and runners that have had at least five starts this season (11/12).
The Man could be of serious interest for the Richard Spencer yard after being drawn low.
The four-year-old has been well-beaten on successive starts this season, but he looked a different beat at York last season, winning a 22-runner handicap in May and finishing within a head of Trefor in this race 12 months ago.
Is rated 3lb lower on Wednesday, and he ticks plenty of the right boxes with the headgear retained.
It is easy to make a case for Aidan O’Brien-trained Haffner in the Group Three Acomb Stakes on Wednesday, but the yard has only won this race on one occasion since 2012.
Contrastingly, Andrew Balding typically sends one of his better juveniles to this race, winning two of the last four editions. Therefore, Gentle Hurricane should be respected with Oisin Murphy booked to take the ride.
The Invincible Spirit colt made no mistake on debut to open his account at the first attempt at Salisbury, easing clear of the field to beat Soldier Of The Sea by just under two lengths.
Breeding suggests that he will stay further in time, with the Sire producing notable juvenile group-winners such as Vale of York, Magne Grecia, and Royal Meeting.
Next up is the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes, run over a mile and four furlongs. Favourites have a weak record in the race, winning just three of the last 12 editions.
Therefore, questions could be asked of Maltese Cross’ form, including a narrow win over the recently well-beaten Ancient Egypt. Therefore, it could pay to follow the strength of the Epsom Derby form on face value.
Christmas Day was an impressive winner of the Classic at Epsom, and he showed that he isn’t dependent on slower ground when running a stormer to finish second in the Group One Irish Derby (beaten under two lengths) behind Benvenuto Cellini.
That form has been well-represented since, with the O’Brien runner claiming a career-best third in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The feature on Day One of the York Ebor Festival comes in the form of the prestigious Group One Juddmonte International. Reigning champion Ombudsman and Constitution River dominate the betting, but Item could be an interesting each-way price for the in-form Andrew Balding team.
The three-year-old colt gets weight from Ombudsman, and he looks like a different animal at York; posting his best efforts at York this year. Was an excellent winner on rattling fast ground at York last time out when finishing nearly three lengths clear of Pride of Arras in the Group Two City of York Stakes.
Only blip this season came when underperforming on ground too soft in the Derby, and he is firmly back on track based on his previous effort. Sire Frankel won the Juddmonte International in 2012 and produced the subsequent winner Mostahdaf,
The final race of the ITV coverage on Wednesday is the Stayers’ Handicap, run over an extended two miles. Valedictory ticks plenty of the desired trends this week, including being rated 95 (10 of the last 12 have been rated between 85 and 97).
The John and Thady Gosden runner was excellent when stepped up to a mile and six on back-to-back starts at Goodwood and Newmarket, before being ridden too cold in the Summer Handicap at Goodwood when finishing fifth.
Small Fry was five lengths ahead on that day, but the selection gets a healthy 4lb pull at the weights in his favour this week. The application of first-time blinkers is also notable, and William Buick is booked aboard.
