Poor two days

The York Ebor Update has endured a poor start with two disappointing days of results. Plenty of horses have run well and being placed but Ghaiyyath has been the only winner so far. The rain which fell on Wednesday hasn't done the selections any favours - the likes of Cloudbridge, True Destiny and Churchill Bay (I spoke to Clive Cox before the race and he was worried by the slow ground) on Wednesday failed to handle it, while it was dead on Thursday and that didn't suit Sacred in the Lowther Stakes. 

The Godolphin owned five year old produced another top-class performance to win the Group 1 Juddmonte International on Wednesday. Charlie Appleby's charge raced enthusiastically throughout before galloping his opponents into the ground once again. Unbeaten in four races this year, he has now the Coronation Cup, Eclipse and International in 2020 and is likely to have another crack at the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. Disappointing at Longchamp last Autumn, he almost certainly found the ground too soft and is a much more robust horse this year. Howver, he will face some formidable opposition in Enable, Love and co.

The last named made it three from three this year with a facile success in the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday. The 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner strolled to a five lengths success and never looked in the slightest danger at any stage. The Arc is next for Aidan O'Brien's three year old and, given her healthy age and sex allowance, it is no surprise to see her ante-post favourite.

The Top 40 Prospects had a belated winner on Thursday with Gold Wand (6/1) winning the Listed Galtres Stakes. Roger Varian's three year old had run in the Listed Lyric Stakes at the track last time but had her stamina to prove here. However, it wasn't a problem as she stayed on strongly to win by a length and three quarters. I was disappointed Top Rank couldn't win in the Clipper Logisics Handicap earlier on the card. James Tate's grey was drawn wide compared to the winner Montatham but had every chance and couldn't get past William Haggas' winner. He remains a promising sort but it was still frustrating to see him lose his unbeaten record. 

Fingers crossed the final couple of days prove to be a good deal more profitable.