rest of York Ebor Meeting: day three

The Group Two Gimcrack Stakes for 2yo´s over 6 furlongs at 15.30 CET is the main suppporting feature at York today, and the owner of the winner of this prestigious event will have the doubtful honour of making a speech at the famous Gimcrack dinner later in the year. It seems likely that the winner´s owner will come from the Gulf, as the favourites are Heavy Metal (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), Morawij (Roger Varian/ Neil Callan) and Odooj (William Haggas/ Paul Hanagan), all owned by members of the Maktoum family, as well as Pearl Acclaim (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes), owned by the Qatari Pearl Bloodstock. We have slight preference for Pearl Acclaim on what could be a big day for the Qataris.
Side Glance (Andrew Balding/ Jimmy Fortune) also carries the Pearl Bloodstock colours in the 9 furlongs Group Three Strensall Stakes at 16.05 and we think he also has a winning chance in an open race. Dubai Prince (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Frankie Dettori), who found 1 1/2 miles too far at Goodwood last time, is an obvious danger back at this distance, while Tazahum (Sir Michael Stoute/ Hanagan), runner-up here last year, could also go close.
Hannon and Hughes can also pick up the 2yo maiden at 17.15 with Wentworth, while the 2yo handicap which closes the card at 17.50 looks almost impossible, even with 3 non-runners. Possibly Burning Blaze (Kevin Ryan/ Jamie Spencer), also Qatari-owned, could be the answer here. The opening 1 1/2 miles handicap at 15.00 is another very tricky puzzle. Our 3 against the field are John Biscuit (Balding/ Fortune), Expert Fighter (Saeed bin Suroor/ Dettori) and Martin Chuzzlewit (Stoute/ Callan).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Expert Fighter - Silver Lime - Kirthill
2. Race: Morawij - Pearl Acclaim - Heavy Metal
3. Race: Stipulate - Side Glance - Tazahum
4. Race: Bated Breath - Ortensia - Pearl Secret
5. Race: Wentworth - Bright Strike - Brave Command
6. Race: Burning Blaze - Royal Aspiration - Majestic Moon