Our Horse Racing Trader Ryan McCue stepped into Frank Hickey’s giant shoes to offer up some tips for the Ebor Festival at York in a special From The Horse’s Mouth podcast this week.
The tip-filled spectacular is available to listen below, as well as wherever you get your podcasts from, and we’ve rounded up Ryan’s tips for day one here.
14:15 Praise Of Shadows (e/w)
I think Praise Of Shadows is interesting, I don’t think he should be double the price that Gear Up is. I think Marco Botti’s horse showed a good turn of foot having travelled well in Chester and there was a good three lengths between him and the second that day. That was only nine days ago so it’s hard to know what the form is worth.
He’s double the price of Gear Up which is probably wrong and the top few in the market look beatable given the fact that Cloudbridge wasn’t overly fancied on debut, Royal Scimitar went off a big price too, along with Gear Up who won at 12/1 on debut. I’m going to give Marco Botti’s Praise Of Shadows a good mention. The eight runners in this one helps as well because I think he might need it and I’d back him each way.
14:45 Roberto Escobarr (e/w)
Darain had a big reputation before he ran, costing £3.5m, but I think he’s improved plenty on what we’ve seen so far. You can pick holes in some of his form though. The horse he beat last time at Newmarket has been beaten since. However, he wouldn’t do much for me at the price.
Mogul’s a strange one. I actually backed him in The Derby in the winter, I thought the step up in trip would actually suit him but he was beaten there and won at Goodwood. I’ve just gone off my love for him. I just question his attitude. I know he won the last race but he was off the bridle very early in that one and I just don’t know whether this track will play into his strengths so, at that price, he’s opposable too.
I came down on Roberto Escobarr in this race. He just brings a fresh line of form into the race. Highland Chief, Pyledriver, Mogul, they’ve all ran against each other. I don’t think there’s too much between them on what we’ve seen, so I think Roberto Escobarr could step up and improve to beat these.
He won over a mile and a quarter last time by four lengths which was a good, impressive win. He stayed on well to the line which suggests that step up a couple of furlongs could be perfect. With the eight runners again, I would back him each way.
15:15 Lord North
With Ghaiyyath I just feel this time he won’t get his own way in front. Magical’s obviously changed tactics this season, albeit it was much lower-class races that she’s won. She went from the front. I think she’s a different mare from the front, I think she enjoys is a lot more and they could go down that route with her.
I don’t think they’ll look to take on Ghaiyyath, but they could make William Buick think about how fast he’s going. He might not get an easy time in front, especially with Rose of Kildare in there as she’s obviously in there to make the pace.
She was quick enough to win over six as a two-year-old so you’d imagine she’ll be quick enough to stay her. For that reason, I think Ghaiyyath is venerable. He’s much better when he gets an easy lead and William Buick can dictate his own pace. I don’t think he’ll be able to do that on this occasion.
I think Kameko needs to step up from what we’ve seen of him this season. I don’t think the three year olds are up to much this season. He was obviously unlucky in the Sussex but whether he would have beat Mohaather, who was also unlucky in the race, remains to be seen.
One thing about Lord North is that the race is really going to play into his hands. If Ghaiyyath, Magical and Rose of Kildare make it a really strong test I think they could wilt late on and Lord North, as we know, is a really strong traveller.
He won his first Group 1 the last day in the Prince Of Wales and he’s around the same price as Kameko and I can’t have Kameko to beat him, so for me I’d put up Lord North but I’d be very afraid of Magical if she gets a nice toe into the race from Ghaiyyath, which she might, she’ll go very close as well.
Ryan’s tips for day one of the Ebor Festival at York
14:15 Praise Of Shadows (e/w)
14:45 Roberto Escobarr (e/w)
15:15 Lord North
Don’t Miss
- Our expert’s CHEAT SHEET for Day 1 at York
- Timeform’s 4 ‘horses for courses’ to follow at York
- 4 top handicappers to follow at York this week
- ITV’S Matt Chapman delivers his best bets for Wednesday
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