Ebor Festival eye-catchers: ten beaten runners at York to follow

Race: Third in the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap (1.50, Wednesday).

This four-year-old flew home to finish a never-nearer third in the opener on Wednesday, which looked a strong race on paper beforehand, and I expect the form to work out well. 

Held up towards the rear after a sluggish start, Geoff Oldroyd’s charge was forced to switch a couple of times as he weaved his way through rivals, while travelling powerfully, and was quicker than the first two home through the final furlong (according to the RaceiQ data). 

You could argue he was slightly unfortunate not to score in his bid to defy a 6lb higher mark for his York win two starts ago, and on this evidence, he should remain competitive in similar handicaps, despite a further 3lb rise. 

He also appears an improved performer this season having returned from a lengthy absence, and Oldroyd has found the key to him. 

This effort, and his breeding, suggests he should stay six furlongs, and that may help him improve further. However, the Betfred Portland Handicap at Doncaster on September 13, over an extended five furlongs, looks an ideal target. 

Race: Fifth in the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (4.10, Wednesday).

Alphonse Le Grande was reinstated as the winner of the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap on appeal last year, and another tilt at that £175,000 contest is surely on the cards now following this eye-catching effort. 

The Irish raider raced enthusiastically in last and suffered an interrupted run at a crucial stage as the pace quickened before he was forced to challenge wide. 

That left Tony Martin’s stayer with too much to do, and the RaceiQ data shows he clocked the highest FSP, despite not being given the hardest time once his chance had gone inside the final furlong. 

He also suffered traffic problems when eighth at Royal Ascot on his penultimate start following a pipe opener, and it would be a surprise if the Cesarewitch has not been his aim for some time. 

Alphonse Le Grande is a best-priced 12-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral for a repeat win at Newmarket on October 11, and I have backed him ante-post as his past two outings suggest he will go close, despite a 6lb higher mark this year. 

Race: Seventh in the Sky Bet Nursery (5.20, Wednesday).

This 500,000gns breeze-up purchase arrived with a lofty reputation when winning a class 2 novice stakes over six furlongs on debut at York in May where he was strong at the finish, so it was a slight surprise he raced over the minimum trip on his next three outings. 

He fared creditably in those contests at a higher level and looked on a fair mark for his nursery handicap debut off a rating of 94. 

Richard Hannon’s charge travelled strongly towards the rear and was full of running when continuously denied a clear run in the final two furlongs. You will have to watch the replay above to see the extent of his traffic problems, and he would have gone a lot closer with a clear run. 

The handicapper was probably fair raising him a pound for this effort and, on this evidence, a rating of 95 underestimates the Mehmas colt. 

He’s certainly one for your Racing TV Tracker, especially as he remains unexposed over six furlongs, and deserves to gain compensation for this luckless effort. 

Race: Third in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (1.50, Thursday).

Staya has proved a consistent performer this season in some hot races, despite showcasing her greenness at times, and was not seen to best effect in Thursday’s Sky Bet Lowther Stakes. 

George Scott’s filly was last and looking for daylight as the pace quickened plus was forced to switch multiple times before clocking the highest finishing speed percentage (RaceiQ data). 

Her demeanour suggests she will improve with age - that appears to have been the case so far - and Staya should therefore have more to offer this season, and next year. 

Providing she endures better luck, the youngster would have an each-way squeak if lining up in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 27. I’ve had a small wager on her at the general 16-1 on offer for that Group One contest, and those odds look generous considering the Sky Bet Lowther winner, Royal Fixation, is chalked up at 11-4 for the same contest. 

Staya also has the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury on September 20 as another option.

Race: Tenth in the Clipper Handicap (3.00, Thursday).

I tipped Apiarist ante-post at 40-1 for this contest, and I promise this isn’t pocket talk, but he shaped much better than the result suggests, and his two eye-catching efforts in strong handicaps prior to this means he remains of interest. 

Amy Ryan admitted on Racing TV ahead of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival that the ground may be too lively for Apiarist, and while that may have been the case, he pulled hard throughout, and those exertions took a toll late on in a race where it paid to race prominently. He was also involved in a barging match with Blue For You turning for home as Tom Eaves struggled to settle him. 

He probably did well to be beaten just over four lengths, and has been dropped two pounds by the handicapper, which leaves him on a potentially lenient mark. 

The 7f BetMGM Challenge Cup at Ascot on October 4 is a potential target, with the likelihood of easier ground sure to suit. He also has the option of the £80,000 bet365 Handicap at the same venue on September 6, while connections may have one eye on the Balmoral Handicap on QIPCO British Champions Day. I’ll be backing him wherever he runs next. 

Race: Second in the British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (4.10, Thursday).

A rating of 80 meant Crepe Suzette had plenty to find with her rivals in this Listed contest, especially considering she was defeated in handicaps off ratings in the high-70s on her previous two outings. 

This effort was therefore a huge improvement, and she would have collared the 103-rated Charlotte’s Web in another stride or two. 

She was given a patient ride by Rab Havlin, and his mount settled better than she did at Ascot on her penultimate start, while she again appeared to become slightly outpaced before staying on strongly. It would therefore be no surprise if connections opted for another step up in trip, and the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster on September 11 appears an obvious target for the daughter of Saxon Warrior. 

The Gosden team have won three of the past six renewals of that Group Two contest, and I suspect Crepe Suzette will relish a stamina test. 

Race: Third in the British EBF Fillies' Handicap (5.20, Thursday).

Dance In The Storm has a quirk or two, and wears a hood for a reason, but there’s no doubting she is well handicapped based on her past two efforts. 

The three-year-old was hampered by the winner when narrowly denied in a valuable handicap at Goodwood this month where, rather surprisingly, she was not awarded the race in the stewards’ room and was caught too far back before staying on strongly here. 

A wall of rivals meant she was stuck at a crucial stage, with the winner and runner-up both gaining first run on her. Admittedly, her effort did flatten out towards the finish, but her early exuberance did not help her cause. 

She has been raised a pound for this effort and is surely capable of scoring off a rating of 91 when things fall right. Six furlongs may also be worth a try as she’s a half-sister to a Stewards’ Cup winner, and may settle better sprinting. 

Race: Fifth in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes (4.45, Friday).

The betting suggested Night Wolf was unfancied for his debut here, which was unsurprising given the nature of the race, and with most rivals having the benefit of experience. 

John and Sean Quinn’s son of Kodi Bear was a 160,000gns purchase as a yearling and is a half-brother to a couple of smart performers (who both stayed further than seven furlongs), including Group Three winner Galen, so did make some appeal on paper, and this effort was full of promise. 

He was carried markedly right leaving the stalls by another rival and lost several lengths, which left him on the backfoot and in last entering the straight. It was to his credit he finished as close as he did, and he was not given the hardest time under pressure. 

Given the amount of ground he forfeited at the start, the result may have been different without that interference, and Night Wolf can only improve for this effort. He should prove hard to beat when next seen. 

Another eye-catcher here was fellow debutant Spyce who ran a huge race to finish second and also has a bright future. “He looks a surefire winner next time out,” Chris Dixon said on Racing TV afterwards. It’s hard to disagree with that. 

Race: Third in the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (1.50, Saturday).

Ed Dunlop has clearly found the key to Skukuza given his four-year-old began the season on a rating of 96 and is now rated 113 having landed a valuable handicap and a Listed contest this year. 

His only blip was at Goodwood two starts ago, where soft ground was possibly against him, and he quickly bounced back to form here with a luckless effort in defeat. 

Ryan Moore’s mount took a while to settle and was left in an unfavourable position having lost his pitch. He also had to wait for daylight before powering home and was unfortunate not to score. 

This was his first start over 1m1f, which he stayed well, so further options are now open for this improving colt who is closely related to a 1m3f winner. 

He does hold an entry in the Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown on September 13, so that mile contest could be the aim. This effort suggests he should be competitive in Group Two company, especially with the likelihood of further progress. 

Race: Third (dead-heat) in the Sky Bet Steve Birch Finale Handicap (5.20, Saturday).

Castle Stuart looked a handicapper going places when landing a 0-100 contest, form which has been franked multiple times since, on his final start for Karl Burke in July, and the three-year-old was purchased for 165,000gns by his new connections ahead of this outing. 

A wide draw was never going to make life easy here, and he was inevitably caught out wide plus raced keenly with no cover. Despite his early exertions, he still managed to stay on strongly under pressure, and was in front a couple of strides after the line. Unsurprisingly, the RaceiQ data shows he clocked the fastest FSP, and he fared best of those held up. 

This effort must be upgraded, and a pound rise is rather lenient. With just seven runs under his belt, Castle Stuart surely has more to offer for his new connections who may target another valuable handicap before a potential step up in grade, and further options are open now he has proved he stays 1m2f-plus.

As a side note, I'm not sure if Castle Stuart is named after the golf course in Inverness, but if you do enjoy a round of golf, I'd highly recommend a visit to the picturesque venue having been lucky enough to play (rather badly) there a few years ago.