Six horses who caught the eye at the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival

The 2019 Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival once again did not disappoint and we witnessed some incredible performances over the four days.

The performance of the week would have to be Battaash who stormed to success in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes to break the long-standing track record, closely followed by Mums Tipple who looked a two-year-old out of the top drawer with his demolition job in the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes.

Our experts analysed all the key races from the Ebor Festival in The Verdict which you can watch again here.

There were also a number of horses who caught the eye in defeat and below are six who it could pay to follow over the coming weeks.

It is hard to say if Elarqam was an unlucky loser in the feature race on the opening day, but he would have certainly finished closer had he not suffered interference in running.

The four-year-old was denied a clear run when trying to mount his challenge and was also short of room before eventually finishing a close third behind Japan and Crystal Ocean.

Mark Johnston’s son of Frankel had started to prove a shade disappointing given his lofty reputation and promise he showed in his early career.

However, he had produced a much-improved effort to defeat Addeybb in a Group Two at York in July and backed that effort up with a career best here.

Connections seem to have found the key to him now and he will hopefully be able to fulfil his potential for the remainder of his career.

The Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown is a potential target, although he would have to be supplemented for that Group One contest on September 14.

Mums Tipple produced one of the performances of the season to win this contest by 11 lengths, but Klopp Of The Kop stayed on encouragingly to finish third on his first start after a break and is another to take out of the race.

The two-year-old had clearly learnt plenty from his debut run where he ran green before eventually finishing fourth in a 5f maiden at Newbury in April.

Clive Cox’s youngster must be held in high regard to be pitched into this company on just his second start and shaped as though an extra furlong or two will be beneficial to him having struggled to go the pace early on.

The son of Excelebration’s breeding also suggests he will be seen to best effect over further.

He is also likely to strip fitter with this run under his belt and it should not be long before he is in the winners’ enclosure.

Having landed a 1m2f handicap at Windsor in good style this month, Caradoc was sent off favourite for this twelve-furlong contest under a 5lb penalty and almost rewarded favourite backers.

Ed Walker’s four-year-old made a strong challenge up the home straight but could not quite get past the first two and it’s possible this trip stretched his stamina slightly, although he did keep finding under pressure.

This was a career best from a horse who has proved consistent this season and, although the handicapper has nudged him up a 1lb for this run, he should be capable of remaining competitive in similar handicaps for the remainder of the season given he is still relatively lightly raced.

Connections will surely have been pleased with Malotru’s return to action in Britain after their two-year-old flew home to finish a never-nearer fourth behind Threat.

Successful in a Group Three in Italy on his previous start, the Casmento colt shaped as though a step up to seven furlongs, or even a mile, would be beneficial and he may also prefer some cut in the ground.

It will be interesting to see where connections send Malotru now, but he is almost certain to step up in trip.

He has bundles of potential and it will be no surprise if he is contesting Group One contests sooner rather than later.

Pot Of Paint made a hugely encouraging debut in Britain’s richest maiden which should turn out to be a useful contest.

Green and in rear early, the son of 2008 Derby winner New Approach stormed home inside the final furlong and, although he was a few lengths adrift of the first three home, he was staying on all the way to the line.

Weak in the market beforehand, he should improve bundles for this run and it would be a surprise if he cannot get off the mark next time out with a step up in trip certain to suit.

Think Big failed to land a blow behind Siskin in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last time out but fared much better in this Listed contest and ought to be capable of winning a race at a similar level this season.

The two-year-old was in last place with a furlong to go before finishing with a flourish to finish fourth behind Alligator Alley who looks destined for bigger things.

Think Big got off the mark in a race over the minimum trip, although six furlongs will probably be his ideal trip, and he is related to plenty of 7f winners.

It is worth following John Joseph Murphy’s youngster who clearly has plenty of ability.