Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Ebor Festival Day 2 Tips

THURSDAY RACING TIPS

York 1.50 – Lowther Stakes

It’s Leovanni (2/1 fav) for me.

She is two from two so far and steps up to six furlongs, which I don’t think will be a problem. She was an impressive winner in the Queen Mary at Ascot back in June last time out too.

Leovanni’s pedigree suggests the increased distance won’t be a problem at all and, watching her run, I don’t think it will be.

It’s a positive that she’s drawn next to her market rival Heaven’s Gate (11/4). I think these two are very much the standouts in this field. James Doyle can be confident on Leovanni and use that turn of foot that she has.

Her trainer, Karl Burke, has done well in this race the last couple of seasons as well. She could be pretty smart and I think she’ll take all the beating.

Megan’s Selection: Leovanni WIN

York 3.00 – Clipper Handicap

I am a big fan of New Image (13/2), who managed to somehow get up on the line at Ascot in the Shergar Cup Mile having been carried right across the track.

He would have won more convincingly had that not happened and there could be further improvement with him at the mile, which he has only tried once.

Trainer David O’Meara does unbelievably well in these handicaps. He has plenty of runners in the field, as you would expect, but New Image is the best of those.

Oisin Murphy is a positive jockey booking as well so New Image could take some stopping off a workable mark.

Megan’s Selection: New Image WIN

York 3.35 – Yorkshire Oaks

I’m going to go with You Got To Me (4/1) here.

I was really impressed with how much manageable she was in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh back in July.

The track here at York will suit her and the ground looks like it will be on the quicker side, which she enjoys, while it seems the more she’s racing the easier she’s becoming.

Jockey Hector Crouch is getting to know her more, too, which is important.

I know there are a couple of others in the field that are improving but You Got To Me’s got solid form at the top level. I just think conditions could suit her.

Trainer Ralph Beckett has been really positive about her in the build up to this race. He thinks an awful lot of her and has been really happy with her training between her last run and coming into this one. There are plenty of positives and she’s the proven filly who, providing she does settle, warrants an awful lot of respect.

Megan’s Selection: You Got To Me WIN

York 4.10 – Galtres Stakes

At quite a big price, I’m going for Nakheel (10/1) each way here.

I just think this is an open race and I couldn’t be betting to try and find a winner. It’s wide open.

Ultimately, I don’t think the form of Sea Just In Time (5/4) is strong enough. She could be open to progression, though, and is back up in grade having been beaten in a higher grade previously.

Nakheel has been competing in Listed company. She was fourth in the Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket last time. She was never really that involved, having got a bit squeezed up coming into the last couple of furlongs.

But trainer Owen Burrows is flying at the moment, operating off a 50% strike rate. The yard are in amazing form and Jim Crowley is on board, which is a positive as he gets on really well with Owen’s horses.

This filly deserves another try at the Listed level. She’s still lightly raced and I think she is overpriced at 10/1.

Megan’s Selection: Nakheel EW

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation