Jack Nicol's Tote Placepot picks for York on Saturday

We're off to York this Saturday for the final day of the Ebor Festival. It's been a fantastic week of action on the Knavesmire and we can look forward to further Group action as well as the feature Sky Bet Ebor.

There's more on the feature event below but I've got a perm consisting of 36 lines to consider for Saturday's card with a minimum guarantee of £200,000 in the Tote Placepot pool. 

Best of luck with whatever you are playing:

Selection: See The Fire (9)

We kick off with a sole selection in the Group Three Strensall Stakes over nine furlongs and the roll of honour over the past decade contains top-class performers such as Mondialiste, Lord Glitters, Zaaki, Real World, Alflaila and most recently, Spirit Dancer.

See The Fire bounced back to form in fine style when finishing a narrow second in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and a replication of that effort will surely see her in the frame here.

The Balding team have always held her in the highest regard, as documented by racing exclusively in Group One company so far this season, and this represents a winnable opportunity for the filly despite taking on the colts and geldings once again

Interestingly, there has been no three-year-old filly win this race since 2004 but this look an ideal spot for this daughter of Sea The Stars.

Watch: Andrew Blair-White and Jack Nicol preview every runner in the Sky Bet Ebor 

Selections: Wild Waves (5) and Dramatic Star (11) 

William Haggas has won the Melrose Handicap twice in the past five years and Dramatic Star is his sole representative in this year's renewal.

The colt is one of the least exposed runners in the field with just four starts to date but had shown progression on each outing prior to being virtually pulled-up at Haydock last time out, a card which was later abandoned. He was one of several horses who slipped on the bend during the afternoon's racing and all chance was gone from there.

He is better judged on his easy Hamilton win on his penultimate start and looks to have a bit in hand from his rating of 87.

A similar case can be made for Wild Waves, who also slipped in the aforementioned Haydock race. 

He, too, was immediately eased and is better judged on his winning form from earlier in the season, when scoring at Kempton and Doncaster respectively. Proven at the trip already, his trainer has won this twice in the last four years.

Selection: Audience (2) 

Kinross and Audience were first and second in this race last year respectively but have enjoyed contrasting fortunes so far this season. Kinross has looked a shadow of his former self without Frankie Dettori on his back, whereas Audience has been thriving, winning two of his three starts including the  Lockinge Stakes.

With that in mind, it's hard to ignore Audience's claims here on this pace-favouring track. Art Power should give him a nice tow like he did at Goodwood last time out and he will be tough to peg back on the front end. Additionally, he has no Group One penalty to concede and this looks set up for him to put in another bold showing.

Selections: Wise Eagle (3), Naqeeb (4) & Epic Poet (13)

With one selection taken in legs one and three it gives scope to take few in the handicaps later on the card and the feature Sky Bet Ebor  is set to be contested by 22 runners.

At the time of writing, Epic Poet is challenging for favouritism and his claims are clear. The son of Lope De Vega had shown a smart level of form in France but had disappointed for a new trainer last year, although he has subsequently rediscovered his form since moving again, now in the care of David O'Meara. Excellent efforts in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot and the John Smith's Cup, here at York, mark him out as a horse with a bit in hand and it'll be interesting to see how he fares over this longer trip for the first time.

William Haggas' Naqeeb has proven frustrating to follow so far this season but showed a lot more when unlucky not to win at Newbury last time out. He was set an enormous task but only just failed to get up close home but that marked a definite return to form having previously looked a progressive stayer throughout 2023. The cheekpieces go back on here and while it is hoped they might eke out further improvement, his hold-up style means he will need a touch of good fortune in-running.

Wise Eagle is another hold-up performer who will also need some luck in-running but he was an excellent third over this course-and-distance behind Alsakib in a Group 3 event last time out and he is one who looks to be underestimated in the betting and likely the Placepot, too. The gelding is a strong traveller who will relish passing rivals in the straight. It will be no surprise to see him belie his outsider odds.

Selections: Apollo One (2), Cover Up (5) and Ballymount Boy (6)

Another three selections are taken in the Constantine Handicap in leg five, with 19 runners in line for this six furlong cavalry charge.

Cover Up goes in first and I think this test will be ideally suited to the four-year-old. He showed up well for a long way in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood last time out and this easier, flatter track should help him see it out on the front end and I can envisage him trying to make all under Rab Havlin from his favoured low draw.

Again, a similar case is made for Apollo One. Like Cover Up, he was on the speed throughout in the Stewards' Cup and toughed it out to take second position. He finds winning quite tricky but is a remarkably consistent performer and should be in the mix once again on a track which is tailormade for the gelding.

At a bigger price, I think the classy Ballymount Boy is worth another go, particularly on his first start since being gelded. He was always up against it having missed the kick at Goodwood last time out but had previously caught the eye at Newcastle and is definitely well-handicapped on his best form and gets in here from a revised mark of 100. He could be a nice differential for Placepot purposes.

Selections: Tropical Storm (11) and Vingegaard (6)

Placepot punters will have done well to reach the final leg and only have the small task of navigating this 17-runner contest for juveniles to see a return on their money.

The pace looks to be spread out across the track but I think it is always best to favour those drawn low-middle at York and with that in mind, Tropical Storm looks a solid play over on the far-rail. The colt is still a maiden after four starts but had previously bumped into the likes of The Actor and Shareholder before failing to stay the trip over six furlongs at Goodwood last time out. Back over the minimum trip here, I can see him returning to form.

Vingegaard was another who disappointed at Goodwood last time out, failing to get involved having previously dominated on the front end. With his sights lowered, you can expect to him to try and force the pace once again and he may be tough to peg back if able to poach a decisive lead on the front end.