Day Four Yorkshire Ebor Meeting Preview 2021

York - August 20 2021
York 12:50
2(3)
Tom Marquand

My Oberon

J:
 
Tom Marquand
T:
 
William Haggas
Age: 4
Weight: 9-8
OR: 114
Days: 66

The first race of the day is the Group Three Strensall Stakes over 1m 1/2f and we are siding with the William Haggas trained My Oberon.

The four year old colt remains low mileage and looks to be continuously improving, signified by his Group Three win at Newmarket on his seasonal debut, where he kept on well to the line. 

That race was his first run in six months and really showed the improvements made and the race sharpness possessed by the runner after a break.

He dropped to a mile for the Group One Lockinge and it did not work getting beaten very easily, but next time out he stepped back up to 9.5f for the Group One Prix d'Ispahan and finished a very close third only losing out in a photo-finish.

Off the back of that he went to Royal Ascot for the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes and he finished a fair fourth behind some superstars.

This event is much easier and dropping back slightly in trip could be the making of him.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
28/10/23MOO10Gd9-410
14/10/23RAN8Gd9-43
30/09/23RAN8Gd8-117
16/09/23RAN8Gd9-44
02/09/23RAN7GS9-06
York - August 20 2021
York 13:25
12(1)
Robert Havlin

Imperial Sun

J:
 
Robert Havlin
T:
 
John & Thady Gosden
Age: 3
Weight: 8-12
OR: 87
Days: 46

We move onto the Melrose Handicap over 1m5f 1/2f and with such a big field heading to post we have two selections at each way prices.

The first is the John & Thady Gosden trained Imperial Sun who is a three year old son of Sea The Stars that has been seen five times to date.

Needing his first two starts as a juvenile the colt made a much more pleasing seasonal debut at Windsor when finishing third of eight in a Novice Stakes.

He went close next time out on his handicap debut over 1m2f and then last time out when stepped up tom 1m4f it was the making of him, seeing him getting off the mark at Wolves.

Up again in trip the Gosden's are hoping it brings more improvement and after how well he won last time out big things are expected, still only on a mark of 87.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
25/03/23NBY16.5Sft11-07
08/03/23FON17.5Sft11-6PU
10/01/22LUD16Sft10-125
16/10/21WOL12St9-03
18/09/21NBY12Gd9-310
York - August 20 2021
York 13:25
3(5)
Kieran Shoemark

Pleasant Man

J:
 
Kieran Shoemark
T:
 
Roger Charlton
Age: 3
Weight: 9-5
OR: 94
Days: 24

At an even bigger price is the Roger Charlton trained Pleasant Man who is looking for the step up trip to make him more competitive.

The son of Galileo needed his first run of the season in the Chester Vase, but dropped into handicap company off the back of it at Salisbury and won nicely.

Up 3lb he has been seen twice more, finishing a close fourth at Ascot in a smart Class 2 Handicap and off the same market Goodwood the soft ground scuppered his chances.

Getting quicker ground and going down a lb are all positives and the new trip is something that could work for him.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/01/24NCS16.5St8-87
15/12/23STH16.5St10-23
11/11/23NCS12.5St9-44
19/10/23WCN21.5Gd11-123
20/06/23ASC20Gd9-717
York - August 20 2021
York 14:00
6(1)
William Buick

Space Blues

J:
 
William Buick
T:
 
Charlie Appleby
Age: 5
Weight: 9-6
OR: 117
Days: 25

One of the feature events of the day at York is the Group Two City Of York Stakes over seven furlongs and Space Blues looks to be one of our best bets on the card.

The four year old was one of the most progressive horses in training last season winning his last four races in fine style including the Group Two Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Group One Prix Maurice De Gheest.

The son of Dubawi started last season at Haydock in the Listed Spring Trophy Stakes and was then sent over to ParisLongchamp for the Prix le Porte Malliot, where he again improved to beat stablemate D'bai.

His progressive nature then saw him land the Group Two at Goodwood but his Group One win at Deauville topped off his season.

Back this term in February he picked up from where he left off landing a Sprint event in Saudi Arabia, but he then gave one of the worst runs of his career for a while at Meydan after that.

Given a break, he returned at Goodwood last month in the Group Two Lennox Stakes and despite hating the bad ground he ran on well to finish fourth in a bunched finish.

That run should have put him spot on for this event and he looks hard to oppose on the best of his form.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
03/10/21LON7Hy9-21
21/08/21YOR7Gd9-61
27/07/21GOO7Sft9-34
27/03/21MEY6Gd9-59
20/02/21JAN7GF9-01
York - August 20 2021
York 14:35
6(15)
Tom Marquand

Hamish

J:
 
Tom Marquand
T:
 
William Haggas
Age: 5
Weight: 9-8
OR: 108
Days: 428

The big contest of the afternoon is the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap and with so many horses set to head to post we have two selections.

The first is the William Haggas trained Hamish who has been off the track for 14 months but has undergone some support in the market.

Hamish was hugely impressive when bolting up in a handicap at York in October 2019 but failed to back that up at Newbury when just beaten, by Group One winner Trueshan.

Only seen once last season the gelding went Royal Ascot for the Hardwick Stakes and ran credibly to finish a close up fourth in soft ground.

He is very lightly raced for his age and having been aimed towards the race last year, he could potentially do what was planned last term.

Big player if retaining all of his ability after so long off.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
03/11/23NMK12Hy9-91
04/08/23GOO12GS9-61
15/07/23YOR14GS9-31
11/05/23CHS13.5Sft9-51
22/10/22NBY12Hy9-92
York - August 20 2021
York 14:35
19(6)
Adam Kirby

Mirann

J:
 
Adam Kirby
T:
 
J P Murtagh
Age: 5
Weight: 9-3
OR: 103
Days: 44

At a bigger price is the Johnny Murtagh trained Mirann who this season when being stepped up in trip has looked like a very smart horse, with bags of potential.

At The Curragh in May over 1m2f he finished a close second behind Baby Zeus in a good handicap event and then went to Royal Ascot over 1m4f.

He seemed to enjoy going up a further 2lb when finishing a good sixth in tricky conditions behind some well handicapped runners.

Last time out he was seen back at 1m2f for another credible handicap in Ireland and again he was just knocking on the door in fourth.

Off a mark of 103 stepping up to this trip, he looks extremely well handicapped and could be the value play in the race.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
21/08/21YOR14Gd9-315
08/07/21LEO10Gd9-04
18/06/21ASC12Hy9-84
23/05/21CUR10Sft/Hy9-112
03/04/21COR10Y10-07
York - August 20 2021
York 15:10
5(8)
Shane Gray

Anadora

J:
 
Shane Gray
T:
 
Kevin Ryan
Age: 2
Weight: 8-9
OR: 92
Days: 24

Next up is the Listed Roses Stakes over five furlongs and the horse that takes the eye is the Kevin Ryan trained Anadora.

Although looking to be his second string in the race at an each way price of 15/2, the daughter of Havana Gold has been seen four times to good effect to date and we think she has a big chance if putting it all together.

The filly made her debut over five furlongs at Newcastle in April and got off the mark in nice style, and then backed that up at Newmarket when third over 6f.

She was sent to Royal Ascot for the Group Three Albany Stakes and could only finish mid-field on heavy ground, but last time out bounced back to form on soft ground at Goodwood when second behind the smart Illuatrating.

The more rain the better for this horse and she still looks to be improving.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
15/09/22PON6Gd8-133
17/08/22YOR5Gd9-015
07/07/22NMK6GF8-614
18/06/22AYR5Gd9-08
30/04/22NMK6Gd9-03
York - August 20 2021
York 15:45
15(11)
Kieran Shoemark

Wahraan

J:
 
Kieran Shoemark
T:
 
Sir Michael Stoute
Age: 3
Weight: 8-8
OR: 96
Days: 28

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Sky Bet Class 2 Handicap over 1m2f and with a big field heading to post we have two each way selections.

The first and best chance of the two looks to be Wahraan for Sir Michael Stoute, who this season has just kept improving and heads into the event chasing a hat-trick.

This season the son of Le Havre went to Windsor and finished a good second to a nice type and then next time out at Salisbury on soft ground went down to the same rival.

The colt was then seen at Pontefract getting off the mark for the season in a Maiden and he backed that up at Newmarket over the same trip of 1m2f when landing his first handicap event by close to six lengths.

Although going up 10lb for that win he still looks to be able to improve on this mark and handling both good and soft ground makes him a solid pick.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
09/12/23WOL12St9-77
03/10/22WDR11.5Gd9-127
26/08/22NMK12Sft9-133
04/09/21ASC12GF9-56
21/08/21YOR10.5Gd8-85
York - August 20 2021
York 15:45
12(4)
Hector Crouch

Lucander

J:
 
Hector Crouch
T:
 
Ralph Beckett
Age: 4
Weight: 9-0
OR: 95
Days: 25

At a bigger price in the race is the Ralph Beckett trained Lucander who won this race back in 2020 and now just 1lb higher than that winning mark.

He has big red flags around him at the moment, with his current form being below par, but rapidly dropping down the handicap makes him an attractive bet again, especially at this track where he handles it well.

Each way player.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
16/02/24BHR11GF9-03
02/02/24BHR10GF9-03
29/12/23BHR10Gd9-111
08/12/23BHR10Gd9-113
15/07/23ASC12GS10-04
York - August 20 2021
York 16:20
6(2)
Ella McCain

Showalong

J:
 
Ella McCain
T:
 
Tim Easterby
Age: 3
Weight: 8-7
OR: 89
Days: 23

The final pick of the Ebor meeting comes in the five furlong Apprentice Handicap and the Tim Easterby trained Showalong looks a cracking bet at 10/1.

The three year old as a juvenile landed the first win of his career on his fourth start at York over course and distance, handling the soft ground and track well.

This season the sprinter has been seen five times, finishing a good fourth at Thirsk on seasonal debut, before winning nicely at Chester.

He headed back to York in a big fielded sprint handicap and was a close up fifth of 17, with the form of the race working out very well..

The colt was below par at Ascot not beating many home and then at Goodwood was only slightly better.

However, now back at a track he likes, potential soft conditions and a drop in the handicap to a mark of 89 are all factors that could see him go close.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
03/11/23NMK5Hy9-27
29/07/23YOR5Gd11-212
19/07/23CAT6GS9-96
09/07/23AYR5GS10-135
24/06/23AYR5Gd9-56