York Ebor Festival: Day One Tips & Odds
Wednesday’s seven-race card includes three Group races
Horse racing returns to York on Wednesday for day one of the Ebor Festival. Four days of top-class racing awaits and Wednesday’s seven-race card includes three Group races. The day’s feature race is the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes and here at betting.bet we’ll study this as well as the day’s other six races, delivering exclusive race insights, betting tips and horse racing odds from our partners at bet365.
1:50
Symphony Group Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
SHAGRAAN - 15/2
There are plenty of entries in with a chance in the opening race of the afternoon with 22 confirmed runners for this 5½f handicap. Holkham Bay is the current market leader for trainer William Knight just eleven days on from his comprehensive win in the Shergar Cup. Eyeing a hat-trick of wins having also landed a 6f contest here at York in June. However, he has a big weight hike to contend with, has been handed an unfavourable draw in stall 22 and was well-beaten on his only previous run on good to firm ground.
One horse that won’t mind the firm ground on Wednesday is Shagraan. The form of trainer Michael Appleby is perhaps a concern but there is plenty to like about this three-year-old. Has not been disgraced in any of his five runs for his current yard and holds a Group 1 entry at the Curragh next month. Shagraan looked really impressive when winning at Goodwood last time out. Tom Marquad remains in the saddle following that Goodwood win and he should go well from stall 8.
Another in-form sort that ticks a lot of boxes is Jordan Electrics. Had an off day at Ascot last time out, coming home 7th/10 however he is capable of bouncing back based on the form shown already this year. Figures of 110121111 prior to that underwhelming run at Ascot make him a real danger here. Odds of 25/1 offer solid each-claims at least from a useful stall 7 draw.
3:00
Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)
LOS ANGELES - 6/4
Harry Charlton’s King’s Gambit takes on leading Aidan O’Brien pair Los Angeles and Illinois in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes on Wednesday and all three entries have an excellent chance in this 1m4f contest. Los Angeles is the current market leader having landed the Irish Derby at the Curragh last time out. Third in the Derby at Epsom prior to that but perhaps didn’t handle the softer ground. Ryan Moore rides Los Angeles and he is undoubtedly the one to beat.
Illinois looks on paper to be the stable’s second string but he is not to be underestimated if handling the step back in trip. Won the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot over 1m6f but was beaten by 2l in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over 1m4f at Longchamp last time out.
King’s Gambit is the big danger to the Ballydoyle pair as he steps up to 1m4f for the first time. Winner of the London Gold Cup in May before successive second place finishes to a couple of useful rivals in both the Hampton Court Stakes and York Stakes. Has to be respected but the manner of Los Angeles’ Irish Derby win makes him the standout selection.
3:35
Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
CALANDAGAN - 6/1
The feature race on day one of the Ebor Festival features one of the stars of this year’s flat racing season as City Of Troy looks to add Juddmonte glory to his Derby and Eclipse wins. Aidan O’Brien’s superstar was the stand-out two-year-old last year and after flopping in the 2000 Guineas he has bounced back emphatically. Has already beaten several of Wednesday’s rivals this year and is the one to beat.
Leading the challenge to the red-hot favourite is the French-trained Calandagan. Winner of successive Group 3 races at Longchamp before charging to a six-length win in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out. Calandagan will be well-suited to York’s galloping track, he possesses huge potential and could upset the odds here.
Ambiente Friendly was well-held by City Of Troy in the Derby and was only third in the Irish Derby last time out. Will appreciate the drop back in trip but may have to settle for minor places once again on Wednesday. Alflaila is not completely out of the reckoning having won the York Stakes last time out but if any outsider is to upset the odds it could be the filly Bluestocking. Second behind shock King George winner Goliath last time out but has been in excellent form in a couple top fillies races this year. Landed the Group 2 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes before holding off Emily Upjohn to land the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes last time out.
Wednesday’s York Predictions
- 1:50 - Shagraan (15/2)
- 2:25 - Ruling Court (5/6)
- 3:00 - Los Angeles (6/4)
- 3:35 - Calandagan (6/1)
- 4:10 - Extensio (8/1)
- 4:45 - Designer (10/1)
- 5:20 - Managing Director (10/1)
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