York Ebor Festival Day 3 Tips: A trio of selections on the Knavesmire
It's the penultimate day of racing at York in the 2024 Ebor Festival and the highlight on the card is the Nunthorpe Stakes. There are some thrilling races sandwiching the big one, however, and Billy Grimshaw has a few worth your consideration in the supporting races...
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13:50 York - Sky Bet Handicap
It's tricky tipping on this card at this time with such scattered showers forecast all around Yorkshire. The ground as I type on Thursday is still good to firm but who knows what it'll be come 13:50 on Friday. With that in mind, I can't recommend backing the favourite in here Wafei for William Haggas at sub 3/1 given the Wathnan racing inmate does not look the type who wants any kind of give in the ground.
If the track miraculously avoids the rain he must have a big shout on his Goodwood run last time out, but it could pay to look for a bigger priced runner and one with more proven performances on a variety of grounds. Shadow Dance the second favourite fits the bill, although he has given off the vibe of a tricky customer both times this season for all Roger Varian does often bring his horses along slowly.
The one I like at a double figure price to at least hit the frame is Alan King's INSANITY, with Rossa Ryan in the saddle. He has soft ground form just in case the heavens do open and while he has to contend with a four pound rise for his win last time out at the Shergar Cup, he did that snugly enough so should be able to handle the hike in the weights. He seems to have finally hit his stride after looking a bit of a Goldilocks horse earlier in his career and he can trouble the market leaders here.
14:25 York - Lonsdale Cup
One thing is for sure in this race in 2024, we will have a right pace on. Quickthorn only knows one way of going and that is like a bat out hell, while Vauban on his now frequent and plunder filled visits to the flat racing sphere has also liked to get on with things. The former has not looked the force of old this season and although he did win this race with ease in 2022, it's hard to imagine the other riders will allow him to do that again here, while for all Vauban has shown his quality on multiple occassions he looks artificially short due to the Mullins factor.
The horses I was debating putting up both finished third in better races than this last time out, and I'll go with GREGORY to get the better of Point Lonsdale at more than double the price. I'm still convinced we've not seen the best of the Gosden runner, while the Ballydoyle representative has been more highly tried.
Gregory's third behind the mighty Kyprios at Goodwood last time out is - in my view - better than Point Lonsdale's third in the Grand Prix Saint Cloud so while the Irish runner would be an appropriate winner given his name, I'll back the home team to snaffle this one with a horse who still may have a Group 1 pot in him someday.
15:00 York - Gimcrack Stakes
This could be a huge hour or so once more for the Mick Appleby operation if their surprise winner last time out at Goodwood Big Mojo can win before Big Evs attempts to back it up once again in the following Group 1, however as much as it pains me to be a party pooper I don't really fancy leg one of the double here at York.
He did very well indeed to win at Goodwood but this step up in trip - with the ground potentially turning - would be a question mark for me over one who looked all speed when we've seen him the twice he has ran.
The one for me is course winner and second favourite THE STRIKIN VIKING for Wathnan Racing, who will be deighted if I'm correct and Gregory is followed in by this lad. He was another expensive purchase to be snared from Kevin Ryan's yard after winning here on debut before a fine second next time out. On his first start for Hamad Al Jehani he was the best horse in the race yet lost out at Glorious Goodwood in the Richmond. With another run under his belt, more time to acclimatise to his new stable and the promise of further improvement to come he rates the one to beat.
An outsider I was half interested in was Cool Hoof Luke for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy. The horse ran well to be placed in the Coventry and now stepping back down in trip after somewhat disappointing last time out over seven at Chelmsford, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the mix. He shouldn't have the class to beat The Strikin Viking though, who can defy his high draw.