Dave Nevison's York Ebor Day One racing tips

One thing I always know at the start of the York Ebor meeting is that I won’t be level on the punting front by the end of Saturday. The handicaps at this meeting are hellishly difficult but if it does happen to click then it will be very good week indeed. I am certainly coming into the meeting in decent form so hopefully that will hold. Even if it doesn’t it will still be great watching some of the best horses around at one of the best tracks in the world.

I have watched endless replays of the Goodwood race this one won last time, with a view originally to seeing how unlucky Twilight Falls had been in the race. I had backed the Candy runner last time and was convinced he was a big sufferer on the day, but having licked my financial wounds I am now of the view that it was simply the case that Whenthedealinsdone was the best on the day - and by some way at the line.

Roger Teal’s exciting three-year-old had previously been second home on the wrong side at Newmarket and won in good style the time before so he is firmly on the upgrade. I don’t think weight turnarounds in five-furlong races are anything like as important as in longer-distance events and and if he gets a good run through I think he will confirm the Goodwood form.

Looks to be improving rapidly judged on his recent win over hurdles in a valuable prize at the Galway Festival, a big race that has already produced a winner from in behind. He seems to relish a strong pace in a big field, so this looks a good bit of placing by his trainer and the booking of Jamie Spencer certainly takes the eye, as does his British handicap mark.

John Queally will be better known to many racing fans for his exploits with jumpers like Al Eile, but he is a canny operator under both codes and his recent runners in Ireland have been in excellent form. As long as there is a good pace on - which seems very likely - I am confident of a very big run.

Rattled off a hat-trick earlier in the year, but probably wasn’t ready for the step up to Listed class when she went up to Ayr afterwards. She ran quite well but may well have been ready for an extended break in any case.

She came back earlier this month and showed that she is back in strong form with a very good second at Thirsk and if she has come on for that she could be spot-on for this competitive event. A draw in stall nine is pretty much perfect for a big-field sprint handicap at York and I expect her to be towards the tip of an arrowhead formation as they sprint down the Knavesmire. Hopefully she will stay there!