Horses who caught the eye in defeat at York's Ebor Festival

The Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival was as good as ever last week, with some sparkling performances witnessed over the four days.

The highlight was undoubtedly Mishriff’s domination in the Juddmonte International, though the rapid front-running success of Winter Power would also be high on the list of impressive performances.

My focus was very much on the Knavesmire last week, so this week’s racingtv.com tracker additions are largely from York, though there is also one from an excellent Sky Bet Sunday Series card at Sandown that I expect to be winning soon.

The Horse Watchers Syndicate also have one to keep on side after a winning start at Ripon on Monday.

Trainer: Mick Channon.

The closing nursery at York on Wednesday looked extremely competitive beforehand, with eight of the twenty-strong field arriving on the back of a win, and the time of the race suggests it should work out.

However, those that raced more towards the far side looked to be at an advantage and in faring best of those to race more towards the stands side, despite meeting some interference just over 2f out, Wonderful World is one to keep an eye on.

He holds some lofty entries, so much will depend on where he turns up, but if it is in a handicap off a mark of 82, he will be an interesting contender.

Trainer: Ralph Beckett.

Cruyff Turn made every yard to take the Clipper Logistics Handicap on Thursday, and all those who fought out the finish were somewhere close to the pace.

One or two in behind are worth marking up, including David O’Meara’s duo Orbaan and Escobar, but the one I would suggest putting into the tracker is the fourth home Fox Champion.

It is a while since he won and the excuses are starting to mount up, but they have been valid excuses of late and he is in better form than he’s been able to show.

All of his recent form has been in very competitive handicaps and his connections might well find something not quite so tough soon. If they do, he is ready to win.

Trainer: Grant Tuer.

Grant Tuer has enjoyed an excellent campaign, particularly with horses that have joined his yard from elsewhere and new recruit King Triton won’t be long in winning, if his encouraging stable debut is anything to go by.

Well positioned close to a steady pace, he was caught out for tactical speed when the tempo lifted but ran on nicely having briefly looked in danger of dropping away, and crossed the line with more to give.

A step up to ten furlongs will suit and with this run, and the form of his win at Thirsk on his final start for Roger Varian (boosted twice since by the runner-up), suggesting he’s well-handicapped, he is one to have on the radar for the remainder of the season.

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute.

Wahraan’s winning run came to an end in the 10f handicap on Saturday following a 10lb rise in the weights, but it was a steadily run race and the traffic problems he met that caused him issues, rather than his new rating, and he remains ahead of his mark.

Dropped out early in a race where the pace wasn’t especially strong, he met significant trouble on his way through and the race didn’t get to the bottom of him. There’s a good handicap in him when things drop right again.

Trainer: Andrew Balding.

The opening race on the Sky Bet Sunday Series card at Sandown was confined to newcomers, but it looked a strong race on paper, which was no surprise given the prize money on offer, and it looks likely to prove a strong heat.

The pace played a significant part and those from off the pace were disadvantaged. The one I would mark up most is Andrew Balding’s Aztec Empire who kept on well from too far back, and could make significant progress next time, especially if stepped up to a mile.

Trainer: Mick Appleby.

Given he runs in The Horse Watchers colours, Liberation Point is a horse I know very well and one we are very much looking forward to running through the backend of the season.

Picked up for 16,000gns at the horses-in-training sale last autumn, he could not be kept sound when initially sent into training but has benefitted hugely from a break and had been working nicely prior to winning at Ripon on Monday.

That success was recorded on a track he did not handle especially well over a trip that will be the bare minimum for him. As long as the handicapper is fair, I expect him to progress this autumn when easy ground, and a longer trip, on a flat track should all suit.

Blind Beggar has had a couple of mentions in this column of late, initially when nominated as an eyecatcher when third here last month, and then as one to be interested in ahead of the Ebor meeting.

He’s well worth another chance after his effort in the apprentice handicap. Caught out by the drop to 5f on good ground, he was staying on nicely at the finish and will be suited by a return to 6f, or softer ground which he won well on in May.

I am convinced he is well handicapped and will prove that soon.