The weather forecast is distinctly better for York over the next couple of afternoons, after an opening morning at the Ebor Festival which included a hailstorm and torrential rain for several hours before racing. The racing surface on the Knavesmire takes water a good deal better now than it did nine years ago – when the entire meeting was washed away by an August monsoon – but there is still sure to be some cut in the ground as the second day’s card gets underway at 1.55.
Soft ground was not an issue for Enable (3.35) in the King George at Ascot last month, however, and York’s former reputation as something of a graveyard for short-priced favourites is unlikely to be revived in Thursday’s Yorkshire Oaks. John Gosden’s filly is already the 5-4 favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and while the stats over the last decade suggest that fillies are less reliable overall than colts when favourite for Group One events, Enable looks as bankable as they come.
Madeline (2.25) was drawn on the wrong side in the Albany at Royal Ascot but still ran well to finish fifth and resumed her progress with a comfortable win at Newbury last time out. She showed a good turn of foot there to put the race to bed and makes plenty of appeal at around 7-2 for the Lowther Stakes, while Flaming Spear (3.00) ran well last time out after a layoff and has a decent chance at the prices in the one-mile handicap.
The best bet on the card, though, could be Whispered Kiss (4.50) in the final race. Mike Murphy’s filly started the season racing off 51 but has already won five of her seven starts this year to move to a mark of 85. That is a 9lb hike after a five-length success at Yarmouth last time out, but the time of that race was very solid given the extended margin and there is a strong chance that even now, Whispered Kiss remains ahead of the handicapper.
Thursday’s tips, by Greg Wood
Chepstow 2.05 Time For Wine 2.35 Whiteley 3.10 Here’s Two 3.40 Pitch High 4.10 Ludaumf 4.40 Oxford Blu 5.15 Star Of The East 5.45 Tallulah’s Quest
Fontwell Park 4.45 Prince Khurram 5.20 Mercian King 5.50 Jackblack 6.20 Novis Adventus 6.50 Midnight Gypsy 7.20 Royal Battalion 7.50 King Vince
Hamilton Park 5.10 Bigbadboy 5.40 Queen Penn 6.10 Dark Forest 6.40 Whatsthemessage 7.10 White Rosa 7.40 Star Cracker 8.10 Highway Robber
Stratford-on-Avon 1.40 Wade Harper 2.15 Mister Universum 2.45 Cut The Corner 3.20 Mr Mafia 3.55 Nachi Falls 4.25 Going For Broke 4.55 Kublai
York 1.55 Great Prospector 2.25 Madeline (nb) 3.00 Flaming Spear 3.35 Enable 4.15 Curlew River 4.50 Whispered Kiss (nap)
