Day 2 of York's Ebor meeting begins with the first of a number (too many?) of valuable sales' races between now and the end of the flat turf season. William Haggas has saddled the winner in each of the last three years but gives the others a chance this afternoon and BetVictor bet 7/1 the field in this 20-runner event.
The hope is that a draw in stall 14 doesn't scupper the chances of Rusamaat (1.55) who finished runner up in a decent Goodwood nursery last time although he was favoured by the draw, low numbers held an advantage, on that occasion. He is 7/1 at BetVictor and can reward each way support in a race which has only seen a double-figure price returned on the winner only once since 2009.
Fair Eva (2.30) has been described as the best horse Roger Charlton has had through his hands and this daughter of Frankel cannot be opposed in the Lowther having won the Gp 3 Princess Margaret Stakes by a long-looking 4l at Ascot last time. We won't get rich backing her this afternoon given she is ½ to maintain her unbeaten record but one interesting market is the 2/1 we have for her father Frankel to sire a UK classic winner in 2017.
The mile handicap is another 20-runner punting minefield but if he had a single-figure draw I would have been sweet on the chances of Mustashry (3.05) the only representative in the field of the classic generation who last won this valuable prize back in 2010. The selection is only 11/2 at BetVictor but I think there is more to come from the colt representing the yard of Sir Michael Stoute whose string are in good form at present.
The Yorkshire Oaks is the Gp 1 action and Aidan O'Brien saddles three in the race including the 15/8 favourite Found who looks the best of the older fillies in the race. It might be worth mentioning that O'Brien has saddled the winner of the race three times during the last decade and on each occasion it has been with a three-year-old.
Found is good and a return to 12f on fast ground will suit, remember she beat Golden Horn in the Breeders' Cup Turf back in October, but I just favour the Irish Oaks winner Seventh Heaven (3.40) despite the fact that Seamie Heffernan deserts the selection in favour of the market leader.
Seventh Heaven didn't give her running at Epsom in the Oaks but was a different proposition in the Oaks and, whilst she is no Minding, she is clearly improving and receives 10lbs from her stablemate Found – at 5/1 with BetVictor she gets the each way nod.
Only one market leader has won the Galtres Stakes in the last decade but the 2/1 favourite Abingdon is going the right way and might find this track more suitable than Newmarket's July course where she finished second last time. The vote, in a sub-standard renewal, goes to the Irish raider Glamorous Approach who won the Zetland Stakes over 12f as a juvenile and was tried over 2m in handicap company last time.
I'm a big fan of Jim Bolger and I'm sure he's not brought the filly over for the Yorkshire air; at 11/2 with BetVictor she can reward each way support.
In the last the lightly-raced Jadaayil (4.55) broke her maiden at Newmarket back in April but has not been seen on the track since that run four months ago which is a concern but the hope is that Charlie Hills' patience pays off. The filly was keen on her reappearance but the filly she beat by a comfortable length-and-a-half is now rated 87 which suggests that her own opening mark of 84 could be workable. Another solid each way chance at 11/2 with BetVictor.
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