York Ebor Tips: Architect’s Five Best Bets for the Festival

Loose Cannon (1pt Win @ 6/1) 

The Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes has attracted only six runners but it certainly has plenty of depth. It would be foolish to rule out any of these but I was really taken with the way Loose Cannon won over course-and-distance on debut despite only winning by a short-head and he could easily make his mark at this level with improvement on the cards. 

Backed off the boards before the off, he tanked his way through the race like a horse with raw ability, travelling sweetly, possibly too sweetly, as he got to the front plenty soon enough. Despite a fellow newcomer challenging him a furlong out, he battled on very bravely to get his nose in front within the shadows of the post and is sure to improve a lot with that experience under his belt. 

The form has yet to be fully tested but the third has come out of that race and won since and I haven’t seen many horses handle York’s course as well as he did for a debutant. His trainer has won this twice since 2011, so this has definitely been the plan since that debut success and to add to that, he is the only one of these with course form let alone course-winning form. 

Pillow Talk (0.5 pts E/W @ 10/1)

Quite a good Handicap for the Fillies and I really like the credentials of Pillow Talk, whose two best performances have been over course-and-distance, winning a Listed race last year, as well as finishing second in a Listed event back in May this year on her seasonal return. 

She wasn’t disgraced in her next couple of starts, including when midfield in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes, and ran well when third at Pontefract last time. She is down in grade from her two previous starts at this course and a mark of 91 is well within her capacity.

King’s Gamble (0.5 pts E/W @ 10/1)

The market for the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes is dominated by Kylian and Johannes Brahms but at an even bigger price, Ralph Beckett’s King’s Gamble is the one I want to side with, who brings considerable potential to the table after a smooth success on debut at Newmarket. 

Although the form is only modest, the manner in which he cruised into contention before sealing the deal within a few strides marked him down as a very nice prospect going forward. His performance can be flagged up further too, given he had no cover in the race either, as he was forced to race out-wide.

Even that didn’t stop him looming up large to the pacesetter before displaying a sharp turn of foot to go clear of the field. He was eased down in the closing stages and Danny Tudhope, who rode him on debut, will keep the ride. I think the market has massively underestimated 

Flight Plan (0.5 pts E/W @ 14/1)

In the opening race on the final day of York’s Ebor Festival, the Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes, Karl Burke’s Flight Plan is an appealing bet at double-figure odds, who has been highly-tried so far in his career and might be able to raise his game again here. 

This three-year-old has had just the six starts and has achieved quite a bit already, finishing second in a pair of Listed events over a mile, beaten under a length in each of those, and the only other time he ran over a mile was when down the field in the 2,000 Guineas. 

That latest run at Newmarket can be excused as it was his first time on soft ground and it was apparent he didn’t enjoy the surface. He made a brave bid from the front at Pontefract when last seen, going down by only three parts of a length to Poker Face and that form has been positively advertised since. 

The fourth, Witch Hunter, was last seen winning the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes, so the form is solid and he has much more to come on just his fourth start over this distance, which is probably his optimum trip, given he is a son of Night Of Thunder who was a brilliant miler. His form entitles him to be right in the mix. 

Chillingham (0.5 pts E/W @ 16/1)

The big race of the week is the Ebor itself and I wouldn’t rule out a good showing from Chillingham, who could improve for the step up in trip and at least reach the frame. 

This four-year-old has won three of his seven starts and ran really well at Royal Ascot when fourth of 16 in the Copper Horse Handicap behind Vauban. 

He was beaten about 10 lengths but had some good horses in behind and raced keenly throughout that race, so his performance can be upgraded. 

He was marginally denied at Ripon last time under a big weight and whilst that form wouldn’t be enough to win this, he will be better suited to the bigger field and his mark remains the same on 97. 

He also holds an entry at Hamilton on Friday but if connections do take up this option, I can see him outrunning his odds, so he is a reasonable bet at the odds.