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Ebor Festival: Day 4 Betting Tips
The ITV cameras are in town for five races at York on Saturday as the Ebor meeting draws to a close, and we provide a selection in all of them plus two in the concluding contests.
1.50 York - Strensall Stakes (Group 3, 1m1f)
Enfjaar was one of the eye-catchers of the entire meeting at Glorious Goodwood, running the quickest finishing speed of any horse across the five days when closing hard and fast to get within a neck of a more prominently ridden winner in the 1m2f handicap on the first day. He was given too much to do, but that performance, off top weight, proves he remains in top form after he landed the John Smith’s Cup here two starts back. With a penchant for the course and plenty of boot, he should go close in the Strensall.
Selection: Enfjaar
2.25 York - Melrose Handicap (1m6f)
Champagne Prince was an unlucky loser at the Shergar Cup in a 1m4f handicap two weeks ago and can be marked up significantly after meeting a wall of traffic at a crucial stage. That was a big improvement on his previous efforts and proved his future belongs over middle distances and beyond. With his finishing effort at Ascot in mind, Champagne Prince will have no worries about an extra two furlongs at York and the one-time Classic prospect is open to significant further improvement.
Selection: Champagne Prince
3.00 York - City of York Stakes (Group 2, 7f)
The City of York Stakes looks an outstanding chance for Audience to do the business. He is 12lb clear of his closest rival on BHA ratings and is a Group 1 winner running without a penalty. Superb in the Lockinge on his return, Audience has been better than ever at five, and has undoubtedly improved bundles since he finished second to Kinross in the 2023 running of this. Conversely, Kinross appears to be on the downgrade and has work to do to uphold that form.
Selection: Audience
3.35 York - Ebor Handicap (1m6f)
Crystal Delight looks to have been underestimated in the Ebor market. That is because he finished well beaten in the Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket when last seen, but he was pestered for the lead and the pair set an unforgiving gallop. A reproduction of his Jorvik Handicap success in May over 1m4f, a race in which he made all and notched a good time, would see him be competitive and there is little reason to think he won’t handle an extra two furlongs.
Selection: Crystal Delight
4.10 York - Constantine Handicap (6f)
A distinct draw bias emerged in the Stewards’ Cup and Billyjoh deserves upgrading for his third-placed finish from stall four. The other five in the first six were drawn in stalls 20 or higher, and Billjoh is a certainty to be competitive off a 1lb higher mark if arriving in the same heart. He has been a standing dish in many of the top 6f and 7f handicaps this term and will go close if the cards fall right.
Selection: Billyjoh
4.45 York - Julia Graves Stakes (Listed, 5f)
Tropical Storm contributed towards a pace meltdown in the Richmond Stakes last time and can be forgiven his eighth-placed finish when well fancied at Glorious Goodwood. He is better judged on his fine second in the Norfolk Stakes on his previous run. The return to 5f will help this speedy son of Eqtidaar, whose racing style will suit this course, while Andrew Balding’s runners on the Knavesmire are always worth respecting.
Selection: Tropical Storm
17:20 - Finale Handicap (1m2½f)
Oviedo was a cracking second in this contest last season and can go one place better. That form worked out strongly with the winner, Astro King, going on to land the 34-runner Cambridgeshire next time. Oviedo is feasibly treated off 1lb higher. It was no surprise he dropped out tamely in the Huxley Stakes on his return. He sat prominently and raced too keenly in a contest run in a course record time. Clearly not right on his previous start here, Oviedo can bounce back after a break.
Selection: Oviedo