2023 York Ebor Festival Tips: Saturday Racing Tips from Architect

I will take on the favourite with course specialist SPIRIT DANCER (best price 17/2) who has been in superb form this season and has won his last two starts in the manner of a progressive horse with more to come. This will be his toughest challenge to date but he is getting better and better and has everything in his favour today as well, including conditions and the distance. I am optimistic he will do very well in his first pattern-class event and is trading at a very tasty price. 
 

TRUE LEGEND (best price 8/1) has won three of his six starts this year and only found one too good at Goodwood when last spotted. His mark has been hit with a huge rise on the back of that display but he surely has more to offer and Hollie Doyle has interestingly been booked to ride. He is one to be interested in with the potential for better. Four places available.  

I also like the Aidan O’Brien-trained DENMARK (best price 8/1) who should be at about peak-fitness after his seasonal return when fifth in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes in April. This is a major drop in class from that race as he will make his handicap debut off a nice mark of 97 and is bred to be suited to this longer distance. The first-time blinkers should perk him up a bit and with this race looking like it has been the plan this season, he could easily make his mark in this contest, so is recommended as a win-bet only at the odds. Four places available.

Charlie Hills’ MUTASAABEQ (best price 8/1) returned an impressive winner of a Group 2 on his return at Newmarket over a mile but I strongly believe he is a better horse over seven furlongs, with his form over the trip reading 11012. He ran well from the front when fifth in the Group 1 Lockinge and will be suited to a similar ride around this venue. Ryan Moore has been booked to ride and he could be hard to pass if he can keep up his relentless pace, which is his vital asset. He is a very nice price for a horse capable of winning this contest.  
 

The Milton Harris-trained SCRIPTWRITER (best price 14/1) ran a cracker when pushing the classy Hamish close when last seen at this course over this exact distance in a Group 3 and that is smart form. A repeat of that latest run, with even more to come in this sphere, could be enough to see this talented four-year-old extremely competitive with six places available. Plenty to like about his chances in a race that has been the plan. 

I also like SUNCHART (best price 50/1) who despite only having one win to his name, has placed on multiple occasions at pattern-class level, notably when an unlucky short-head second to the 110 rated Duke De Sessa back in November, as well as other good efforts in defeat. He would have needed his latest run after the break and this will be his first start in a handicap for a while. The expected bit of rain will certainly increase his chances and his natural class and solid form make him of interest with six places on offer. 

GAASSEE (best price 11/2) travelled like the best horse in the race last time but could only finish fourth in the end which was a disappointment. That said, he is back over his best distance and his unlucky fourth in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock on his penultimate start is quality form in context. He beat subsequent course winner Forza Orta here last year with plenty to spare and, with a lot more to come, the five-year-old can put it all together and hopefully take the finale. Five places widely on offer.