Day One Yorkshire Ebor Meeting Preview 2021

The first event of the afternoon is the extended five furlong Class 2 Handicap and with such a big field heading to post we have gone for two each way selections.

The first is the highly consistent Adam West trained Live In the Moment, who since June 2020 has won five out of his seven races and has placed in the other two events.

This term the four year old gelding made a winning start to the season over course and distance at York on good ground in taking style.

He was upped in class over the same C&D and again won nicely, this time on soft ground showing how versatile he can be when it comes to ground.

Off the back of that he landed a hat-trick of wins at Newmarket and then managed the four timer at Chelmsford in a decent handicap event.

Live In the Moment was last seen back at Chelmsford finishing a narrow third behind the talented Raeeb and off the same mark in this event he should not be far away.

Unbeaten at York in his career.

Another each way player in the event is the Antony Brittain trained Mondammej, who has been hit and miss of late, but on the best of his form at this course can get involved.

Having won in April off a mark of 79, he then went up the handicap having placed in some big fielded sprint events, with on his best runs coming on the Knavesmire when third of 17 behind Copper Knight.

Having ran well into fourth of 16 at Epsom, he then went to Newcastle and was a good second behind the talented Ejtilaab for Ian Williams.

He was another smart third two starts ago at Ascot over five furlongs behind the smart Significantly and Hurricane Ivor for William Haggas.

Up to a mark of 91, he was midfield at York last time out, but now down 1lb he should bounce back to form and give his running at a track he usually runs well at.

The first big race of the day at York is the Group Three Acomb Stakes over six furlongs and we are siding with the Shadwell owned Ehraz.

The son of Showcasing made an very eye-catching debut behind Noble Truth when making up plenty of ground in the final furlong to finish second.

He dropped down to six furlongs in a Maiden at get off the mark by close to five lengths and stepping back up to seven on Wednesday is a positive.

Although not being short of pace, he seemed to do his best work late on debut to suggest he is worth another go at this trip and he could be the value in the race.

Superb sectionals last time out.

The Group Two Great Voltigeur over 1m4f is always a fans favourite race at this meeting and we think the value lies with Aidan O'Brien trained Sir Lucan.

The three year old started his term in the Group Three race that featured Yibir at Sandown but only managed a remote eighth of 10 runners.

The trip of 10 furlongs looking far too sharp for him on reflection, moving up in trip brought out the best in him and he managed to overhaul Wordsworth at Navan in a Listed event over 1m5f.

Having not been seen since May he returned at Goodwood in the Group Three Gordon Stakes when finishing 1/2 a length second to Ottoman Emperor for Johnny Murtagh.

He looked the winner 2f out and it was a surprise to not see him take the race, but he now has the added addition of cheekpieces which could make all the difference on Wednesday.

Seems to have been saved for an Autumn campaign and over staying trips this term he has been nothing short of progressive.Big player and he wouldn't mind any rain if it came.

The feature race of the afternoon and arguably the meeting is the Group One Juddmonte International and we can't look past the superstar Mishriff.

The four year old exceeded expectations last term being unbeaten on all three of his starts to date, starting in the Listed Newmarket Stakes where he saw off his highly touted stablemate Waldkonig.

He then stepped up to the French Derby at Chantilly and he landed the event in fine style, pulling away from a talented field to take the first Group One of his career.

Gosden went with the approach that if its not broke, don't fix it and he sent him back to France for the Group Two Prix Guillaume daEUR and although only a small field took to post, he landed the spoils nicely.

Having swerved the Arc the colt was in flying form and headed for the Champion Stakes at Ascot for his final run of the season and unfortunately ran no sort of race and was outclassed on the day.

However, having been given a break and fine tuned for his run in the Saudi Cup he stayed on best of the rest in the final stages to see off American challenger Charlatan to land the second renewal of the race.

His international exploits didn't stop there and last time out he was seen landing the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic in the final strides at Meydan to cap off a superb few months in Asia.

The son of Make Believe was given a break and returned in the four runner Coral Eclipse and was outclassed by both St Mark's Basilica and Addeybb.

However, he seemed to need the run that day and it bought him on a fair bit last time out when chasing home Derby winner Adayar in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

1m2f has said to be the preferred trip for this colt and with no St Mark's Basilica to contend with he looks the obvious one to beat.

The Sky Bet Class 2 Handicap over two miles comes next and the Sir Mark Prescott trained Bodyline looks a big each way player.

The four year old last season was a smart stayer in the making winning at Yarmouth over 1m6f off a mark of 87 to round off the seeason.

Having been waited on before his return this term, he made his seasonal at Musselburgh over 1m6f at the start of this month and was an eye-catching second behind the highly consistent Wise Eagle.

He runs off a mark of 95, which is 3lb higher than his last run, but now having fitness on his side and stepping up to two miles, he is worth taking a chance on.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon comes in the Class 2 five furlong Handicap for Fillies' and Tanaya Canyon has hopefully not stopped improving.

The three year old for Ed Walker has been very smart this term getting off the mark in June at Haydock over five furlongs and then backed that up at Doncaster behind Mid Winster.

She was last seen back at Town Moor getting back to wining ways, when seeing off veteran Copper Knight to take out a Class 3 Handicap.

She looked to have won the race with a bit in hand meaning the 5lb rise should not be enough to stop her progress.

Superb claimer Saffie Osbourne takes the ride, having won on him last time out.

The final event on day one is the Nursery Handicap over six furlongs and we are siding with the favourite Bosh that looks to be a horse that should not be in handicaps.

Richard Hannon has been superb with his two year olds this season and this youngster has been extremely consistent not finishing outside the top two on all four of his appearances.

The son of Profitable made his debut this term at Salisbury on good to soft ground and finished a good second behind the likeable Second Wind for William Haggas.

Bosh then franked the form of that race by getting off the mark over course and distance at York, seeing off some likeable youngsters in a Maiden.

He then went to Newbury in another smart Novice event and he managed to make it back to back wins, seeing off a very good field that has seen the second, third and fifth since go on and win.

Last time out Bosh stayed on his upward curve to finish a narrow second over in Ireland at Naas in the expensive Ballyhane Stakes behind the unbeaten Sacred Bridge, giving away weight.

He makes his handicap debut in this event, where he could have gone onto Listed or group company in our eyes and we think he looks a good bet.