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Dave Nevison's York tips: three best bets on day one

Last Updated: Wed 19 Aug 2026

Top tipster Dave Nevison marks your card for day one of the 2026 Sky Bet Ebor Festival on Wednesday, all live on Racing TV!

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1.50 York: Air Force One (e/w)

Finished: 1stSP: 13/2

This is possibly the tightest sprint handicap of the season so far, but I doubt whether many tipsters are going to select anything drawn out of single-figure stalls.

All the contenders with strong recent form have been drawn in a cluster in what are nearly always the favoured low number stalls, and while I may not get the winner, I will be very disappointed if Air Force One does not fill one of the (extra) places.

Geoff Oldroyd's sprinter was third in this race last year when beaten just over half a length, and won a similar big-field handicap over course and distance earlier last season.

He possibly didn’t settle early on when finishing a good third over six furlongs here on his latest start, and while he definitely showed that he stayed the trip, I think the drop back to five furlongs will be ideal.

There has always been an indication that better is still to come from the selection, and Air Force One has the perfect opportunity to show that here.

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3.35 York: Item (e/w)

Finished: 1stSP: 10/1

This contest is not my usual betting vehicle, and it's certainly an enthralling event even without financial interest.

However, I do believe the course and distance performances of Item may have been underrated, and he looks to be clear third best, plus could possibly shake-up the two superstars in front of him in the market.

The Aidan O’Brien pacemakers could well help Item at least as much as Constitution River, and with the course clearly suiting him very well, I don’t anticipate losing money backing him each-way.

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4.10 York: Boatswain (e/w)

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Finished: 8thSP: 11/2

Any punters who backed Small Fry at Goodwood will rightly be wanting to get their money back in this race, and if he gets any sort of decent run through, he must go very close this time as he endured a nightmare last time out.

However, bookies are taking no chances at all with that five-year-old, and I am happy to look elsewhere at much bigger odds than 3-1.

The Crisford team have their string in good form (four of their past ten runners have won, at the time of writing) and I think Boatswain might still be leniently treated, despite having been raised 6lb for his recent win.

The four-year-old won a non event by 13 lengths at Southwell when last seen, but the handicapper was still entitled to be more severe, and Boatswain has definitely proved that two miles is well within his compass.

I believe connections have waited too long to step Boatswain up to this sort of trip, and I think he could be highly competitive over this distance.

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