We take a closer look at the movers in the ante-post market in the lead up to the Ebor Festival.
In the Juddmonte International on the opening day of the festival, CRYSTAL OCEAN was 10/3 at the start of the month and is now a best price of 6/5. It is hard not to be drawn towards the Sir Michael Stoute horse. The best horse on official ratings put in a monumental effort to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes in the pouring rain at Royal Ascot in June. That was followed up by an enthralling race on Champions Day to lose by just a neck to the superstar Enable. He is now being heavily backed to dispatch his rivals this week and land another Group 1 success. It will be no easy task with some very smart types lining up alongside the five-year-old but his two stunning performances at Ascot this year are clearly enough for punters to believe he will take the Juddmonte in his stride at York this week.
Also on the Wednesday, LOGICIAN, who runs in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, was 7/2 just two days ago and is now a best price of 6/4 and as short as 5/4 in places. This son of Frankel has blown away all the opposition he has faced so far this season and punters think he is going to do the same again this week. With Frankie Dettori on board last time out he made light work of the race, and confirmed he could be special. He was heavily fancied that day but winning by almost 5L and in the manner in which he did, he is clearly still at the front of a lot of punters minds. He has won on both good to soft and good to firm as well, showing he is versatile. He stays at 1m4f this week which looks to suit him perfectly. It is his toughest task to date but punters still think the John Godsen trained horse will have too much for the opposition in the Great Voltigeur Stakes.
3/1 a week ago, TEN SOVEREIGNS in the Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday is now a best price of 7/4. This speedster was back to his scintillating best at Newmarket last month where he destroyed the rest of the field with Ryan Moore on board. He disappointed at Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup but put any doubt about him to bed next time out. He promised to be one of the best horses in training during his two-year-old campaign and he is now living up to the hype this season. Aidan O’Brien will be hoping his three-year-old sprinter can back up his showing last time out and dispose of some tough opposition. It won’t be easy with the likes of Battaash and Mabs Cross lining up, but punters have lapped up the odds on offer earlier in the week and will be hoping Ten Sovereigns can repay their faith come Friday.
