Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
The going remains good-to-firm on the Knavesmire ahead of the third afternoon of the Ebor Festival, but it would not be Yorkshire if it did not rain at some stage during the meeting, and showers are forecast to arrive at the track from midday on Friday.
The ground is unlikely to change significantly, however, and the key question for many punters in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes will still be whether Limato, the July Cup winner, will be as effective when he drops to the minimum trip for the first time in his career.
Henry Candy’s gelding had raced at seven furlongs and a mile for more than a year before returning to six furlongs for the July Cup, and while he recorded a clear-cut victory there, he is unlikely to be able to dominate this field with pure speed.
Several of his opponents, including Profitable, the King’s Stand Stakes winner, will be much more at home back at the minimum trip, but at the prices, it is the juvenile Yalta (3.40) who makes most appeal. Mark Johnston’s runner gets 24lb from the older horses and looked a natural at the trip when he took the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last month by three lengths, a performance that was backed up by the time.
Nemoralia (3.05) was deeply impressive at the Dante meeting here back in May and can return to the winner’s enclosure after the City Of York Stakes, having had her sights lowered a little from Group One company. Clever Cookie (2.30) is another previous course winner who will take plenty of beating in the Lonsdale Cup, while Arcanada (4.55) has a good draw in stall two and can follow up his recent win at Chester in the eight-furlong handicap.
Tipping competition - final day
Our winners so far:
Monday
Stanghow 10-1
Hiorne Tower 5-1
Sovereign Bounty 10-1
Tuesday
Loaded 3-1
Venutius 9-1
La Fritillaire 9-2
Wednesday
Book The Groom 11-1
Postponed 15-8
Oceane 7-1
Thursday
Stormy Clouds 13-2
Firmament 8-1
Seventh Heaven 100-30
And our leaders are:
23skidoo +22.5
yasmin11 +16.38
Diegoisgod +12
… after the new leader, 23skidoo, found two of the three winners on Thursday (and in honour of that here’s a bonus tune by the band of that name).
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 1.55 York; 3.40 York and 4.55 York.
This week’s prize, generously offered by BetVictor, is a £50 bet, this being a special week of horse racing, with the Ebor meeting on until Saturday.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today but you will start on -12.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day, which is today.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
