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Saturday marks the final day of the York Ebor Festival. We’ve already had three days of premier flat racing action from the North Yorkshire track, and there are still seven top-class races left to be run. Ahead of the final day, it’s time to see if we can find a winner and end the meeting on a high note.
There are some fine races to get stuck into on day four, including two group races and some ultra competitive handicaps, though is there value to be had anywhere, that’s the burning question as always. Let’s get into it.
Betting tips ahead of the day four of the York Ebor Festival
Contents
For the first time at this meeting, yesterday was a luckless day as both bets flattered to deceive when push came to shove. On we go to Saturday:
13:50 – Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes
The opening race on Saturday is an interesting little Group 3 affair. Nostrum is hotly fancied to go one better than he did at Glorious Goodwood, where he came unstuck against Epictetus, though for my money, this is a slightly hotter race, so early odds of 10/11 look somewhat short.
I really like the look of Jimi Hendrix ahead of this contest. Ralph Beckett’s runner arrives here off the back of a solid third in a Group 2 last time out, which rates to me as the best recent form on offer. On that occasion, he was beaten by a pair of horses who are both better than this level, while the horses that he did beat home would largely rate right at the top of this contest.
In what can only be described as a lesser race, the four-year-old is a leading contender, who one warrants a shade more respect than early odds of 9/2 suggest. I’d have him much closer to the current favourite, that’s for sure.
Best bet – Jimi Hendrix @ 9/2
14:25 – Sky Bet Melrose Handicap
In the first handicap of the day, Lordship is bound to be hugely popular with punters having recently landed a hat-trick of wins at Haydock. However, he has been slapped with a rather sizable amount of extra weight up, going up 9 lbs in the handicap, which could be enough to put an end to his current winning run.
For my money, the unexposed True Legend stands out as a great each-way bet here. This horse looked very progressive when winning nicely at Salisbury back in August, while he took a sizable step forward when finishing second (of 15) from a long way off the pace at Goodwood. To get as close as he did on that occasion was positive, and that was certainly a performance that pointed towards better things to come.
In a not too dissimilar contest here, the mount of Hollie Doyle, who should relish this extra distance, can certainly make his presence felt, and for my money, he’s got a better chance of doing so than early quotes of 8/1 suggest. He’ll do for me each-way.
Best bet – True Legend (each-way) @ 8/1
15:35 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap
The Ebor Handicap is the feature race of the day and what a cracking renewal of this handicap contest we have. 22 runners are due to go to post, which means that there are several with claims.
For me, though, I can’t quite believe Real Dream isn’t more popular in the early betting for Ryan Moore and Michael Stoute.
This lightly-raced and unexposed gelding has hardly put a foot wrong since winning at the third time of asking at Doncaster last season. In three runs this year, he’s won at Kempton, before stepping forward to run a big race in third (of 15) at York in May. That form is hard to ignore if you ask me.
Moreover, after a 59-day mini-break, the gelding looked to be some way in front of the handicapper when bolting up over this new trip at Ascot last time out. He’s up in the weights since, but he created a very positive impression on that occasion and should have more to give now in the hands of Ryan Moore. Don’t be surprised to see him in the premises, as I certainly won’t be.
Best bet – Real Dream (each-way) @ 9/1
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