2023 Friday York Ebor Meeting Preview – DS
2023 Friday York Ebor Meeting Tips
We got back into the black on Day 2 at York. Ropey Guest won at 40s, Tregony placed at 28s and Pilgrim also placed at 40s. Balon D’Or just missed a place in 6th and Rosscarbery ran flat. Our NAP Coco Jamboo ran a massive race in the last to finish 2nd at 28s, just bumping into one. We go again on Day 3, check out Dave Stevos’ 2023 Friday York Ebor meeting tips below.
1.50 – Sky Bet Handicap (Heritage)
One that looks a shade overpriced in this valuable 12f handicap is Ravenscraig Castle. Trained by Iain Jardine, Jason Hart will take the ride. He’s been on board twice before and finished second on both occasions.
This 5yo son of Nathaniel has been ultra consistent on soft ground this season. His last four runs have returned form figures of 2223 and his mark has risen from 79 to 84. He was beat a neck off 79 in the Cumberland Plate in June (11f sft) and he was defeated by the same margin by Geremia off 83 two weeks later at Ayr (13f sft).
Last Time Out
Last time out at Hamilton (13f hvy) he was beat 3.75L into third by Two Auld Pals. He was only 1.5L behind Forza Orta, a winner at this meeting on Day 1. The 5th, Citizen General, also won next time out.
On his last visit to York, Ravenscraig Castle was beat 4.5L off 80 (14f gd/fm). He travelled into the race extremely well, he probably just didn’t quite see it out. A strongly run race over 12f on fast ground should suit as both his wins have come on good/good to firm. If he can repeat the form he has shown on his last three runs, Ravenscraig Castle is capable of sneaking a place at odds of 28/1.
2023 Friday York Ebor Meeting Tips: Ravenscraig Castle e/w @ 28/1 (5 places) NB
2.25 – Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Class 2)
Just seven run in this 16f G2 but it is a stacked race. Three of them are rated 118, one of them is 117 and then we have Yorkshire Cup winner Giavoletto, rated 113. All five of them are single figure odds and it would be a surprise if the winner didn’t come from that quintet.
River Of Stars is only rated 106 but he is an improving type who should rate higher in time. He ran a respectable race in the mud at Goodwood last time and he is a 14f course winner on fast ground. If any horse is going to upset the top ones here it will be him. However, the market leaders look to have it between them and I’m happy to leave this race alone. No bet.
2023 Friday York Ebor Meeting Tips: No Bet
3.00 – Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2)
We have already backed Jehangeer for this race ante-post and I am happy to stick with him. You can read more about why I like him here. I’m delighted to see James Doyle on board (3/17 with 6 top 4s for Jaber Abdullah) and he shouldn’t have any issues with his draw in stall 7. Fingers crossed for a massive run.
2023 Friday York Ebor Meeting Tips: Jehangeer already advised e/w @ 33/1
3.35 – Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)
It was good to see Clive Cox get a big winner here on Thursday. His horses are in form and that bodes well for the chances of our ante-post bet, Get Ahead. She gets her favoured fast ground, Rossa Ryan is a good booking and she has a decent draw in stall 15. My full reasoning for backing her is here.
With a big field of 16, it makes sense to have a cover bet here. Yesterday, Ropey Guest proved the value of previous course form and Queen Me ran a huge race on her sole visit to York. We were on that day at big odds when she ran in the Lowther (6f gd) and she only missed out by a neck.
This season she has finished sixth on both starts. However, she had excuses for her comeback run in the Guineas. It was always going to be a big ask on her seasonal return and soft ground/8f are not her optimal conditions. It was much more like it back in trip and on faster ground in the Commonwealth where she managed to get to within 3l of Shaquille, even after pulling hard throughout the race.
That effort proved she has plenty of speed and she is also a strong traveller. A fast run race at 5f, which this will be, could really suit her and Ryan has enlisted the services of James Doyle for the ride. She is drawn in stall 1 and with Live In The Dream in 4 and Highfield Princess in 6, she should get a good tow into the race. Kevin Ryan’s horses are hitting form so at 50/1, back Queen Me e/w.
2023 Friday York Ebor Meeting Tips: Get Ahead already advised @ 40/1; Queen Me e/w @ 50/1 (4 places)
4.10 – EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage)
The interesting one at a price here is the Grant Tuer trained Real Terms. She gets in off a mark of 75 today, effectively the same rating she was when she met all sorts of trouble in running over 12f here three runs ago. Held up by Ollie Stammers, she was full of running at the 3f pole but she had a wall of horses in front of her. The leaders had flown by the time she found daylight but she ran on very nicely to finish 5th, 6L behind the winner Kihavah.
Last time out at Ayr (10f gd/sft) she probably should have won. She missed the break badly, then she was denied a clear run up the inner until a furlong out. She finished with a wet sail for third, just 1.5l behind the winner. That run came off 75 and she races off the same mark today.
Jimmy Sullivan now takes over in the plate. His mount is now 2lbs below her last winning mark and she is sure to be doing her best to win a pot of this size. Given her run style, she is going to need luck but if she does manage to get the gaps at the right times, Real Terms is capable of running into a place at least at odds of 20/1 for her local yard.
2023 Friday York Ebor Meeting Tips: Real Terms e/w @ 20/1 (4 places) NAP
4.45 – Convivial Maiden Stakes (Class 2)
I’ve finally learned my lesson about tipping horses in maidens after the Curragh last weekend. I did hear a bit of talk about Richard Hannon’s Dimsons earlier this week but my general outlook when it comes to racing is to believe 10% of what you see and 0% of what you hear. No opinion on this and no bet.
2023 Friday York Ebor Meeting Tips: No bet
5.15 – Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Heritage)
In the hope that the return to rattling ground sparks a revival, Power Of Gold is the e/w bet here. Trained by Hugo Palmer, this son of Golden Horn has got fast ground once in his career. That came three runs ago at Doncaster (8f gd/fm) and it resulted in a comfortable victory off a mark of 78. The 3rd and 7th have both gone on to win since.
This 3yo’s two best maiden runs came on good ground at Ayr and Leicester, both at a mile. He has run well off his revised mark of 82 in minor events at Ayr (gd/sft) and Newcastle the last twice and he was only beat 1.75L the last day.
Seemingly this horse can get worked up in the prelims, so it will be important that he handles this big occasion. We won’t know how he has behaved until shortly before the race so there is risk involved with this bet but he has a nice draw in stall 2, Balon D’or ran a huge race for Hugo Palmer yesterday and Harry Davies is a quality pilot. At odds of 25/1, Power Of Gold is worth chancing e/w for small stakes.
