Ebor Festival 2020 Tips - Day Four

We've reached the fourth and final day of the Ebor Festival at York, and the racing so far has been spectacular.

Battaash became the third horse to complete a seasonal hat-trick this week when defending his crown in the Nunthorpe, albeit in stark contrast to his record-breaking effort 12 months ago.

He had to battle hard to land yet another Group 1, and in doing so completed a four-timer for Jim Crowley and Hamdan Al Maktoum, who also found the winner's enclosure with Alfaatik, Enbihaar and Minzaal on Friday.

Battaash made it three wins on the bounce with a gutsy victory in the Nunthorpe.

On the final day of the festival a handicap takes centre stage, as the £250,000 Sky Bet Ebor headlines a seven race card, which also features two Group contests.

Harry Reynolds and Ben Wignall provide their thoughts on the final seven races of a marvellous week on the Knavesmire.

13.50 - Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

Harry Reynolds – If you’ve been following the form of Montatham and DARK VISION this season you’ll be a fair few quid up. The former went in again earlier in the week, and Dark Vision landed a Listed race at Pontefract having been narrowly denied by his old adversary at Sandown. The Godolphin horse has really got his act together this year, and he can get the better of Lord Glitters, who won this contest two years ago.

Ben Wignall – Pogo’s last couple of races means he brings in some nice form to this, but LORD GLITTERS has been a model of consistency for David O’Meara. He’s not won since his Group 1-winning performance in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in 2019, but he wasn’t beaten far in the York Stakes recently, and should go well again.

14.25 - Sky Bet Melrose Handicap

HR – Favorite Moon looks dangerously well handicapped and is a worthy favourite, but I’ll take him on with MAMBO NIGHTS. This horse has won all three of his starts this season and is now 13lbs higher than the first of those successes, but he had some seriously smart juvenile form behind the likes of Quadrilateral and may still prove better than a rating of 99.

BW – Despite disappointing in a Class 4 at Newmarket last time, BODYLINE steps up to 14 furlongs for the first time, and Sir Mark Prescott tends to do well with these staying types. Favorite Moon is probably a worthy favourite having form that ties in with Gordon Stakes third Subjectivist, but I’m willing to take him on here.

15.00 - Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 2)

HR – Although she did magnificently to win at Goodwood in a Group 3, the form of One Master’s victory against her own sex doesn’t look all that. SAFE VOYAGE broke the track record at Epsom in a Listed contest on Derby Day, and was only a neck behind subsequent Group 1 winner Space Blues at Haydock before that. He was seriously unlucky in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time when again behind Space Blues, but he’s got the best form in here and looks a great price.

Safe Voyage broke the track record at Epsom in the Surrey Stakes.

BW – This is a competitive seven furlong race, and the four-year-old San Donato interests me here on the basis of his second place in the Summer Mile to the monster that is Mohaather. But my money is on ONE MASTER, who came from nowhere to win at Glorious Goodwood in a Group 3. She’s a two-time Group 1 winner in France and if getting a clear run she will definitely be the one to beat.

15.40 - Sky Bet Ebor Handicap

HR – Quite simply, FUJAIRA PRINCE could be the proverbial Group horse in a handicap. The six-year-old has only had seven career starts, and bolted up over this trip at Royal Ascot in the Copper Horse Handicap. He’s gone up 9lbs for that, but in truth he looks significantly better than that rise. He’s run well at York in the past too, so he’s proven on the Knavesmire.

BW – I’ve been sweet on FUJAIRA PRINCE for this race ever since he won the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot. He’s a lightly-raced six-year-old and from stall 12 he can hopefully get a nice break and slot in between the front and midfield. There are a few interesting raiders both from Ireland and dual-purpose yards, but Fujaira Prince definitely has the class to be running in better races than this in the future.

16.10 - Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed)

HR – BEN MACDUI is the highest rated horse in the field, and was only just denied by the smart-looking Steel Bull in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. He drops down in class for this, and Kevin Ryan is supremely good at this track.

BW – Kevin Ryan normally has a few winners in this meeting, and BEN MACDUI could provide him with another one. A great second to Steel Bull in the Molecomb at Goodwood, he provides the best form line along with Lauded, who was third to Supremacy in the Richmond Stakes.

16.40 - Sky Bet Handicap

HR – This looks a two-horse race between MAYDANNY and Sinjaari, both mightily impressive winners on their most recent starts. However, Maydanny is a half-brother to Elarqam and has more untapped potential, so I’ll take this supremely bred gelding to win for a third time this season, as I would be surprised if he doesn’t end up being rated a lot higher than a mark of 101.

BW – Maydanny got his own way from the front in a Goodwood handicap in his most recent run and looked very impressive. Sinjaari would’ve been my pick but he’s had an 8lb hike in the weights so I’ll go for DEREVO, who finished in fourth behind Maydanny at Goodwood. He should get a better run in this and should go close.

17.10 - Sky Bet Apprentice Handicap

HR – Despite having to give a lot of weight to the field, MERAAS looks the class act in this race, dropping back to the minimum trip after a fine effort in the Stewards’ Cup. He showed loads of pace that day and led until the final furlong, so this looks a decent opportunity for him.

BW – Sunday Sovereign is very interesting for this as he drops into handicap company for the first time. SAMPERS SEVEN though was impressive over course and distance last time out and with Cieren Fallon on his back, I fancy him to steer this filly to victory to close out the Ebor festival.

Selections

Harry Reynolds

13.50 Dark Vision 9/2

14.25 Mambo Nights 11/1

15.00 Safe Voyage 7/2

15.40 Fujaira Prince 13/2

16.10 Ben Macdui 5/2

16.40 Maydanny 7/2

17.10 Meraas 5/2

Ben Wignall

13.50 Lord Glitters 7/2

14.25 Bodyline 15/2

15.00 One Master 15/8

15.40 Fujaira Prince 13/2

16.10 Ben Macdui 5/2

16.40 Derevo 8/1

17.10 Sampers Seven 11/2