York Racing Tips: 4 horses for courses at the Ebor Festival from Timeform

Copper Knight – 13:45 on Wednesday

Copper Knight is a regular on the Knavesmire, winning three handicaps and a listed race from 11 starts at York. That is a fine record when you consider how competitive the racing is at York – his handicap wins were achieved in field sizes of 18 or above – and Copper Knight is now back down to his last winning mark. The speedy Copper Knight is clearly on a fair mark and is extremely effective at York, with the flat course playing to his strengths. However, he is an out-and-out five-furlong horse, so the extra 89 yards here is not in his favour.

What’s The Story – 14:45 on Thursday

What’s The Story has won two big handicaps at York, including this race last season. Big-field events at York really play to his strengths as he is a strong traveller and he certainly impressed with how he went through the race in this last year, making smooth headway before showing a determined attitude to narrowly prevail. What’s The Story is an established handicapper and isn’t hiding anything from the assessor, so he might find a couple of the more unexposed types too good, but he should run his race at a course where he thrives.

Moss Gill – 15:15 on Friday

Moss Gill is taking a big step up in class in the Nunthorpe Stakes and should not be good enough to trouble an on-song Battaash. However, Moss Gill has compiled a fine record at York and has yet to finish outside the first two in four starts at the course, so he should give a good account of himself. The progressive sprinter won a handicap at the course last season and showed he belongs at pattern level when winning a listed contest last month.

Pivoine -16:40 on Saturday

Pivoine has been struggling for form this season and ran poorly in the John Smith’s Cup over course and distance on his penultimate start, but he is on a dangerous mark if bouncing back. He is back down to his last winning mark, a victory which was achieved over this track and trip in the 2019 John Smith’s Cup. That was a second course-and-distance success for Pivoine, who also won this race in 2018 and is clearly effective here.