York Ebor meeting: fourth and final day

the big York meeting concludes today, and despite the fact that there have been 3 Group One races here this Teek, the Ebor Handicap over 1 3/4 miles at 16.50 is the top race of the week. It is Europe´s richest handicap and with 20 runners is fiercely competitive. The lightly-raced 5yo Pallasator (Sir Mark Prescott/ Luke Morris) has been favourite for this ever since betting opened, partly on account of his trainer´s excellent record in big handicaps, but also because of his own smart form. He has gone up 4 lbs for his latest win at Ascot, but that form has worked out extremely well; but he cannot be said to be leniently handicapped and with his outside draw, we would rather leave him alone at a price around 4-1, much too short for a race of this nature. In fact he is held on earlier form by De Rigueur (Marco Botti/ Andrea Atzeni) and he is our main hope here. Lady cecil won this last year and now saddles two libvely candidates, the Monsun colt retirement Plan (Paul Mulrennan), penalised 4 lbs for winning at the Shergar Cup, and Mighty Yar (Frankie Dettori), who Looks very well trazted off bottom weight. He could be the main danger, although it should not be forgotten that Ted Veale (Tony Martin/ Sean Corby), one of two Irish runners, actually started favourite here last year; he won over fences (!) recently at Galway, an unconventional preparation, biut is still a threat.

The best class race at York today is the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes für 2yo´s over 6 furlongs at 16.15, and the winning owner has the honour of delivering a speech on the state of the racing industry at the Gimcrack Dinner in the autumn. It could well be an UAE owner, as most of the leading fancies run in Dubai or Qatar colours. Richard Hannon has two possibles here, of which we prefer Royal Ascot winner Baitha Alga (Frankie Dettori). Irish raider Accepted (Tommy Stack/ Wayne Lordan) looks the best of the 3 unbeaten runners, but Muhaarar (Charlie Hills/ Paul Hanagan), whose trainer has had a good week, is another big danger.

Andrea Atzeni is another one on the crest of the wave, and his appointment announced yesterday as first jockey to Qatar Racing as the successor to Jamie Spencer was expected and thoroughly deserved. We think that he could have a highly successful afternoon, as quite apart from the Ebor, he has good chances with Roger Varian´s Farraaj in the Group Three Strensall Stakes at 15.05, with Connecticut, who has top-weight on the Melrose handicap at 15.40 and Ajman Bridge in the 10 furlongs handicap at 18.00, both for Luca Cumani, and also with Richard Hannon´s Cool Strutter in the listed race for 2yo´s at 17.25, even though he is wearing his new employer´s second colours here.

Tipps für die Rennen:
1. Rennen: Farraaj - Graphic - Trade Storm
2. Rennen: Connecticut - Rocket Ship - Uradel
3. Rennen: Baitha Alga - Beacon - Jungle Cat
4. Rennen: Pallasator - Clever Cookie - Mighty Yar
5. Rennen: Showing Character - Mind Of Madness - Al Fareej
6. Rennen: Ajman Bridge - Raskova - Whispering Warrior
7. Rennen: Online Alexander - Full Steam Ahead - Innocently