York Ebor Festival: Day Four Tips & Odds
Betting.bet will search for some value at the Knavesmire, offering tips and insights as well as the latest race odds
A superb Ebor Festival draws to a close on Saturday with seven more exciting races including two Group races as well as the highly anticipated Ebor Handicap.
For one last time this week, betting.bet will search for some value at the Knavesmire, offering tips and insights as well as the latest race odds from our horse racing online betting partners at William Hill.
1:50
Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (Group 3)
ALYANAABI - 9/2
We kick off Saturday’s card with the Group 3 Strensall Stakes. There are nine horses entered for this year’s renewal and at 3/1 the field, this looks wide-open. Sea The Fire is the market leader for trainer Andrew Balding having lost by just a neck in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes last time out. The three-year-old filly’s last five runs have all come at Group 1 level and she could return to winning ways with this step down in class.
Enfjaar has won a couple of handicaps recently, most notably the John Smith’s Cup last month and was only beaten by a neck in the Chesterfield Cup at Glorious Goodwood last time out. Progressive sort and it would not be a surprise to see him give trainer Roger Varian a second win of the week following his success on Friday with Shadow Dance.
However, we’re going to side with Alyanaabi despite a disappointing run in a Listed race last time out. Second to City Of Troy in the Dewhurst last autumn and has ran well in two Group 1 races this year. Alyanaabi is much better than his last run would suggest. Jim Crowley’s decision to ride Alyanaabi rather than Enfjaar could be telling.
3:00
Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2)
LAKE FOREST - 4/1
The final Group race of the week is the Group 2 City Of York Stakes and the market leader Audience is one of the most-backed selections of the week. The John & Thady Gosden trained five-year-old has won both the Lockinge and Lennox Stakes in convincing fashion already this year. The manner of his win at Goodwood last time out certainly proved that Lockinge success at Newbury was no fluke and he is the one to beat here.
Kinross has been below par this year but having won the last two renewals of this race, Ralph Beckett’s seven-year-old commands respect.
The interesting selection in the race is last year’s Gimcrack winner Lake Forest. The William Haggas-trained three-year-old has finished second in both the Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) and Hackwood Stakes (Group 3) this year and now tackles 7f for the first time. The extra furlong should suit and he gets the nod.
3:35
Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
HIPOP DE LOIRE - 15/2
The feature race on day four of the Ebor Festival is the hugely exciting Sky Bet Ebor Handicap. There are 22 runners confirmed for this year’s renewal with £300,000 on offer to the winner.
Queenstown is the current market leader and the lightly-raced four-year-old will certainly welcome the easing conditions over the past 24 hours. Second to Kyprios in successive races over Saturday’s 1m6f trip and there could be plenty more to come from the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite.
Epic Poet tackles 1m6f for the first time but a solid run over 1m4f at Royal Ascot offers plenty of encouragement. Trainer David O’Meara and jockey Danny Tudhope won at York on Wednesday with Star Of Lady M.
There are a couple of Irish challengers of real interest with respected National Hint trainers Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead both represented here. Henry de Bromhead’s Magical Zoe was a very capable hurdler placing twice at the Cheltenham Festival before switching to the flat this year. Easy winner of a 1m5f maiden at Down Royal in June before finishing a close third in a Group 3 contest at Fairyhouse last month.
Hipop De Loire won on the flat in both Poland and Germany before landing a maiden hurdle on his first race for Willie Mullins at Galway earlier this month. Will certainly come on for that Galway run. Mullins won this race with Absurde last year and we’re backing Hipop De Loire to give the Closutton yard a second successive win in the race.
Saturday’s York Predictions
- 1:50 - Alyanaabi (9/2)
- 2:25 - Tactician (15/2)
- 3:00 - Lake Forest (4/1)
- 3:35 - Hipop De Loire (15/2)
- 4:10 - Albasheer (14/1)
- 4:45 - Vingegaard (9/1)
- 5:20 - Sir Busker (11/1)
-
William Hill
World-famous on and offline, you know you can trust Hills. Use promo code R30 to get £30 in free bets, credited as 3 x £10 free bets.
18+. Play Safe. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook. Further terms apply.
-
NAGS Bet
Deposit and bet £10 and get a £10 free bet to use on any market. Simple!
New Players Only. Min 10 qualifying bets stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits.