Architect Tips shares his betting tips for Day 3 at York’s Ebor Festival.
13:50 York
The opening Sky Bet Handicap looks extremely competitive, with plenty to consider. However, DERRY LAD (best price 11/1) remains feasibly well-treated off a mark of 83 and could go well under Tom Marquand.
This six-year-old ran no sort of race at Galway three weeks ago, but that run came after a mini break, and the return to better ground with that run under his belt should see him in a better light.
His penultimate close-up third in a similar event at Epsom has worked out well, given the runner-up Paradias, who was only a half-length in front of the selection, subsequently won at Glorious Goodwood off a mark of 94.
The winner, Bolster, was defying a mark of 102, while the fourth-placed horse, Haunted Dream, finished second in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot before winning a hot conditions race at Glorious Goodwood.
With a clear passage, Kevin Coleman’s charge may have won at Epsom, given how strongly he finished off his race having been denied a smooth run when he was about to hit top gear.
That is a serious piece of form and he’s only 1lb higher in this contest. The first, second, and fourth are all now rated 100+, so he’s surely thrown in here off a mark of 82.
Tom Marquand is booked to ride, and this galloping track should allow him to build up a turbocharger before unleashing a late sprint. If that does transpire, he must be thereabouts with five places on offer.
14:25 York
This isn’t the strongest of editions of the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup, so despite being short enough in the betting, I’m really keen on backing the Aidan O’Brien-trained POINT LONSDALE (best price 7/4).
This five-year-old was the best juvenile in Ireland back in 2021, with his only defeat in five starts coming at the hands of Native Trail. Since then, he’s bagged a pair of Group 3 races as well as a Group 2 contest.
The son of Australia has continuously been highly tried and it was great to see him relish the step up in trip to 1m5f at Chester when slamming Arrest by six and a half lengths in the Ormonde Stakes.
He took a while to get himself into full stride, but the further he went, the better he looked, going clear of his toiling rivals and the performance alone screamed a horse who would stay much further.
His latest close-up third over an inadequate trip in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud was a perfectly respectable effort, and he’s strongly fancied to provide his handler with a first win in the race since 2007.
15:00 York
The Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes looks like an absolute cracker and I’m taking a chance on ANDESITE (best price 13/2) to potentially take the step up in grade in his stride.
Karl Burke has talked highly of this beautifully-bred son of Pinatubo, who was due to run him in the Coventry Stakes, but has saved him for this contest instead.
He looked very professional when scoring over C&D on debut, travelling into the race well before digging deep to see off Yah Mo Be There in a reasonably quick time.
The runner-up has subsequently won a Listed race to boost the form and a strongly-run contest; with course form in the book, he seems an appealing each-way proposition.
15:35 York
Asfoora and Big Evs are set for round three, with a score between them of 1-1. However, I don’t think this is a two-horse race, and, according to the likely odds, there’s plenty of value in the price of last year’s third BRADSELL (best price 5/1).
Archie Watson’s charge confirmed himself as a very high-class sprinter when seeing off a quality field in last year’s King's Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting, including Highfield Princess, who was at the peak of her powers.
The four-year-old backed that effort up with a fine third in this race twelve months ago, where he did the best of those held-up and virtually finished upsides Highfield Princess behind runway winner Live In The Dream.
He wasn’t at his best in the Flying Five Stakes next time out but returned with a bang at Deauville 19 days ago, travelling sweetly throughout before drawing clear to win by nearly two lengths.
That run should have put him spot on for this race, and as is often the case, horses who have run well in this race in the past have often come back and done well in it again. In essence, he had Big Evs well behind in this race last year.
This low-mileage sprinter is actually the highest-rated runner in the field at 116 and has more to offer after just nine career starts. He is a strong-traveller with a turn of foot, so with four places on offer, I think he’s a serious player.
16:10 York
This is wide-open; however, the one who appeals most to me is the improving daughter of Kingman, CHORUS (best price 10/1), who arrives into the contest on the back of a dominant victory at Windsor last month.
Although it wasn’t much of a race she won last time, she could hardly have been more impressive, winning by five lengths. Her three previous placed efforts behind horses rated higher than her, makes her well-treated off 83.
Hollie Doyle gets down to do the low weight of 8-3 and this filly should be well suited to a strong pace. With plenty of room for improvement and most firms paying five places, she must have serious each-way claims.
17:20 York
EBT’S GUARD (best price 11/1) is proving to be a really consistent sort for connections, and having only been hit with a 4lb rise for an unlucky second at Goodwood last time out, compensation could await him.
He might have only one win from 13 starts, but he’s a model of consistency, and he’s taken his form to a new level this year, particularly of late, and would have won with a bit to spare last time out had he encountered clear daylight.
A lot of luck will be needed to pull off hold-up tactics in such a large field at this venue, but if he can travel as well as he has done of late and has no hard luck story, there’s no reason why Lewis Edmunds mount won’t be in the mix.
Five places are available and advised.
