Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Ebor Festival Day 4 Tips

SATURDAY RACING TIPS

York 1.50 – Strensall Stakes

Alyanaabi (10/3) is a bit of a headache horse but I’m not quite giving up on him just yet.

He ran to a very high level at two, returned with a good effort in the Guineas at Newmarket and he wasn’t disgraced in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot — but I was hoping he could win the Steventon Stakes at Newbury last month to be honest.

I don’t know what the excuse was that day but he just wasn’t at his best.

The team decided to drop him back slightly in trip. Maybe it was because he had to make his own running, which might not have been ideal.

I think it’s interesting that Jim Crowley sticks with Alyanaabi rather than Enfjaar (7/2), who has very good form here.

This is a fascinating and open race but I am sticking with Alyanaabi, who I do think has loads of ability and wasn’t quite at his best when we saw him last.

Megan’s Selection: Alyanaabi WIN

York 2.25 – Melrose Handicap

The Melrose is a race I love.

We have another talented bunch here and I have followed plenty of these throughout the season.

At an each-way price, Too Bossy For Us (10/1) is a horse I absolutely rate. He’s by Golden Horn and has been very solid in handicaps this year.

He was beaten by Align The Stars at Haydock last time in a bit of a missy race where horses were slipping on the bend but still managed to keep his composure and run very respectably.

Align The Stars went right up in grade afterwards — and ran in the Lonsdale Cup on Friday which was probably a step too far for him — so I’m not going to look into that form too much.

Too Bossy For Us is progressive and there is plenty of decent or solid form in and among his races this year.

I don't think he’s quite done with yet so I’m going with Too Bossy For Us each way in what is a red-hot handicap.

Megan’s Selection: Too Bossy For Us E/W

York 3.00 – City Of York Stakes

I will keep this fairly simple and go with Audience (5/4 fav). He’s a good bet before he potentially goes odds-on.

Seven furlongs is his optimum trip, he’s a strong traveller and, at his best, he’s exceptional.

He was very good again at Goodwood when he didn’t get an uncontested lead as we’ve seen with him before.

Audience does like a bit of racing room and a bit of space. He’s drawn in six of eight, so he should get that as he’s slightly on the wing. He’ll be quick out the stalls as he always is; he’ll be sharper out than Shouldvebeenaring (15/2).

He’s next to Art Power (11/1), who has that tactical speed early on which should allow jockey Robert Havlin to use him as a little bit of a pacemaker.

Audience is going to be hard to beat. He’s a horse that’s been a bit of a star this season for Rob and the yard.

Megan’s Selection: Audience WIN

York 3.35 – Ebor Handicap

How attractive is Queenstown (11/2 fav) coming back into a handicap? Very, in my view.

He’s going to be a pretty short price for an Ebor favourite but he’s lightly raced in comparison to a lot.

He’s been in-behind Kyprios the last couple of times, and that form is right at the top level. This season, Kyprios has been better than ever and finishing behind him is no disgrace at all.

I totally understand why he’s the favourite and he could take a lot of beating.

Normally you would want a low draw but, for whatever reason, the high draw has been favourable in this race over recent times.

In the last four years, we’ve had winners coming from stalls 24, 20, 14 and 12 so I am not too worried about him being drawn out wide.

It’s one of the most competitive handicaps of the year. It’s certainly difficult to find a winner but I think it’s sensible to stick with Queenstown here.

At a bigger price, I am going to look at Naqeeb (11/1) each way.

I know Jim Crowley really felt as if this horse could progress nicely this season and become one of the better stayers around. Although he’s probably disappointed connections a little bit, it was much more like it when finishing runner-up in a handicap at Newbury last time.

That was a much more likeable performance and if he can back that up, he might just run into a place.

Megan’s Selection: Queenstown WIN; Naqeeb E/W

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation