2023 York Ebor Festival Tips: Friday Racing Tips from Architect

BAGUE D’OR (best price 9/1) remains lightly-raced for his age and although he hasn’t been seen for a long time, he goes well fresh and his new handler James Ferguson is likely to have him ready to run as well as he can on his return from his absence with four places widely available and conditions absolutely perfect for him. 

His record in handicaps on good to firm ground, which will coincidentally be the same here, reads 121112 and the last time we saw him, he chased home last year’s Ebor winner Trawlerman at Goodwood off this exact mark. He could make up for lost time and prove to be a class above these, so there’s a lot of juice in his price and he merits consideration. 

The other one I like is Kevin Ryan’s DARK MOON RISING (best price 12/1) who was given some huge targets last year, where he contested Group races between May and July and has done very well the last twice at this course to warrant a bet by continuing his improvement in the handicap ranks with the four places on offer. 

He contested a pair of high-quality Group 2 events at this course last year, which featured a solid fourth in the Dante Stakes behind Desert Crown when rated 100 and although he wasn’t able to replicate that form in subsequent starts, he has looked on great terms with himself of late, finding his form again, with a good third and a win here last month. 

He won very easily last-time-out and even a four pound rise to a mark of 86 seems fair as it is still below his peak rating of 102 last year. He has valuable good course form and is the only course-and-distance winner in the field, so there’s every chance he will continue his good work of late and get himself into the argument at the business end of the race. 

If Courage Mon Ami can get back to the form of his Ascot Gold Cup win then he will be hard to beat, while Giavellotto could go well too having impressed here two starts ago. 

However, I just find it interesting to see RIVER OF STARS (best price 16/1) pitched into this race, who could improve for the step up in trip and produce a career-best performance. 

This is obviously much tougher than the race she contested last time but Free Wind did go close yesterday, who she had in behind at Goodwood, and she could have easily run in that race instead yesterday but connections have opted for this contest instead. 

She has often been shaping like she would appreciate a test of stamina and won a Group 3 at this course back in May. At a large price, she can be played accordingly each-way, with three places available with Bet365, Skybet, Coral and Betfred. 

The Nunthorpe is the big race of the day and while Highfield Princess and Bradsell could fight out the finish, I am happy to take a chance of Henry Candy’s TWILIGHT CALLS (best price 14/1) who ran really well when fourth in the King’s Stand last-time-out behind the formerly-pair mentioned and would have been even closer with a clear passage. 

The five-year-old was only beaten around three lengths and there’s a good opportunity he has an even bigger performance in him and Frankie has been booked to ride. It’s been a controversial race for Frankie over the years but he has a really solid chance of at least making the frame on this five-year-old with four places generally available. 

SIRONA (best price 8/1), trained by Charlie Johnston, is another solid contender in this race having caught the eye when second at Newmarket last month on her handicap debut and is sure to build on that here with Ryan Moore an interesting addition to the saddle. 

A Listed winner in Germany at two, she has been highly-tried since and benefited from the drop in class and the switch to a handicap last time, hitting the line well, which indicated she would be suited to the return to a longer trip. From an unchanged mark, and her form working out well, she commands the utmost respect. 

With all due respect, Trainer John Butler might not have the star-quality in his yard in comparison to a few other handlers but he could have a very smart youngster in ZAIN BLUE (best price 17/2), an expensive son of Blue Point, who made a solid start to his career when second at Newmarket three weeks ago, chasing home the highly-regarded King’s Gamble.

The latter is one of my strongest bets of the week. This Group 2 entry has loads more to offer and by contrast, would be much shorter in the betting if he were trained by one of the bigger yards. With four places generally available, he is of serious interest, as he could improve enough to open his account by going one better over this longer trip. 

DEAR MY FRIEND (best price 14/1) has surprisingly been overlooked by firms in this particular race. He made a successful seasonal debut in a Listed event at Newcastle, beating a good field, and that form has worked out well, with various horses coming out of that race, such as the second and third, emerging with credit in defeat since in pattern-class events. 

He hasn’t threatened in three subsequent starts but has been set some lofty targets, such as the Dante at this course, the Derby and at Royal Ascot. Now venturing into a handicap for the first time, he will find this easier and the booking of James Doyle is a positive as well. Despite his big weight, he has the class to make his presence felt with four places widely factored into account. 

Andrew Balding’s GLENFINNAN (best price 9/1) has only raced twice this season and after a decent fourth on his return, he wasn’t discredited when midfield at Glorious Goodwood last time on ground that was soft, his first time on such going. 

He has proved he can handle this track having finished a neck second in the Convivial Maiden Stakes at this meeting last year. It seems like he has been aimed at this race and if that’s the case, he is also selected as an each-way bet with four places on offer.