Wednesday afternoon sees the return of high-class racing and the 2018 Ebor Festival at York get underway. Day 1 promises to be the perfect first day for a racing festival, with the Juddmonte International Stakes being the feature race at 15:35 having the potential to be one of the best races of the year.
Here are our expert tips for the day’s racing.
13:55 Symphony Group Handicap (Class 2)
The Godolphin-owned Culturati should be starting price favourite come the start of the race tomorrow, but with a field of 20 runners, there’s plenty of value to be had. Culturati finished at the back of the pile last time out at York in July, but that was his first run in over a year. If he can return to his 2017 and 2015 form, then he should be a contender. However, recent performances suggest otherwise.
Tis Marvellous bounced back at Ascot 11 days ago to win in a field of 10 at 5 furlongs, while TANASOQ ran well at Ham last time out, only to be beaten by two lengths, but has four wins this season and is ridden by Phillip Makin, who was on board for two of those wins.
Symphony Group Handicap Tip: Tanasoq (12/1)
14:25 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3, Class 1)
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, preference here must got to Watan who ran well on debut at Goodwood to win by two lengths. Hasn’t run since, but has very good potential. Broome won in a field of five on soft ground at Galway last time out, while PERSIAN MOON has wins in the last two races, at York and at Yarmouth, both over 7 furlongs and is well suited to the distance. The Mark Johnston charge could be a serious market mover come the start of the race tomorrow.
Tattersalls Acomb Stakes Tip: Persian Moon (5/1)
15:00 Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2, Class 1)
Another Godolphin horse in CROSS COUNTER is one to most certainly look out for here. Won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last time out, setting a track record in the process and it’s hard to look beyond him in this race.
Kew Gardens, who’s currently the favourite to win the St. Leger and won the Queen’s Vase at Ascot, is once again saddled by Ryan Moore and is likely to be the main challenger, alongside Wells Farhh Go, who won the Acomb here at York last year, and The Pentagon, who returned to form last time out.
Great Voltigeur Stakes Tip: Cross Counter (15/8)
15:35 Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1, Class 1)
Even with the withdrawal of Cracksman, Wednesday’s feature race looks like it could be an absolute classic. POET’S WORD is the favourite and is this season’s top middle-distance horse and has had two top-level wins at Ascot. James Doyle rides again looking for a hat-trick of wins.
Roaring Lion will renure the rivalry with Saxon Warrior, after winning by a neck at Sandown, while Saxon Warrior is without a win since Newmarket in May. Godolphin’s Benbatl has had a wonderful season, Ascot aside, while Without Parole has also had three wins this season, before flopping at Goodwood, which casts doubt over his chances in this one.
Juddmonte International Stakes Tip: Poet’s Word (7/4)
16:15 Sky Bet Handicap (Class 2)
It’s been a case of so close, but yet so far for Hochfeld this season, who’s run well in every appearance this season, but is yet to win and hasn’t won since Newmarket last August. Others look to have an advantage.
One of the others is STORMIN TOM, who’s been very consistent all season and is still improving. He won last time out at Ripon and has been there or thereabouts all year. Natural Scenery came third here last year, but his form isn’t as strong this time around.
Sky Bet Handicap Tip: Stormin Tom (12/1)
16:50 Sky Bet Nursery (Class 2)
I Am A Dreamer has a good record at York this year, winning here twice over six furlongs in May, but that’s been it’s best this season, as the rest of the form has been modest with no real outstanding performances. Was disappointing at Goodwood last time out.
Rathbone hasn’t won in any of his three starts, but also hasn’t lost by any more than a length, He was beaten by King of Tonga by a nose at Redcar three weeks ago, while also beaten by a length on the previous two runs. One to seriously look at heading into the final race on the first day at the Ebor Festival is INDIAN SOUNDS, who won by a length and a half at Newbury in July and has shown plenty of potential recently.
Sky Bet Nursery Tip: Indian Sounds (14/1)
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