Frustrating final couple of days

The result of the Sky Bet Finale Handicap which rounded off the four day Ebor Festival at York summed up the week as far as subscribers to the Update were concerned. Astro King ended a losing run of a dozen races which dated back to April 2021 when beating the selection Oviedo in the ten furlongs event. The winner, who was bought out of Sir Michael Stoute's yard for 36,000gns in October last year, has run well in a number of major handicaps including the Royal Hunt Cup twice and beaten a nose in the John Smith's Cup in July. Well positioned by William Buick, he got first run on Ed Bethell's runner-up who is inclined to race keenly and needs holding up. A length and a half separated the pair. It crowned a frustrating week for Ed Bethell, too, who saw Point Lynas go very close in the Clipper Logistics Handicap on Thursday as well.

As regards the Sky Bet Ebor, Real Dream was bitterly disappointing. Sir Michael Stoute's runner appeared to have everything in his favour and had the ideal profile - he was unbeaten over the trip, shown form at the track and reunited with Ryan Moore. Unfortunately, the four year old's performance was in keeping with the majority of his stablemates - the yard hadn't had a winner for nearly a month until Passenger won at Windsor on Saturday evening. Taken wide from stall 22, he was in front turning for home but offered little resistance once headed three out. The other selection Live Your Dream ran a terrific race under top weight and running off a mark of 109. Saeed Bin Suroor's six year old made his challenge entering the final two furlongs only to be denied by a length in third. Conceding five and ten pounds to Absurde and Sweet William respectively, he couldn't have done much more under Oisin Murphy. 

Overall, it has been a disappointing week there is no getting away from it - plenty of seconds and third with the likes of Johannes Brahms and Bradsell running well on Friday. Likewise with Live Your Dream and Oviedo on Saturday. Time to get on and finish One Jump Ahead.

Ralph Beckett enjoyed another fantastic afternoon with a brace of Group 2 winners courtesy of Kinross (City of York Stakes) and Angel Bleu (Celebration Mile), while Lezoo captured the Listed Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket. The Kimpton trainer has sent out 29 winners from 98 runners (30%) in August and eleven Pattern winners in 2023.

Finally, well done to James Couldwell and Value Racing Club who had another winner at Newmarket with Olympicus (9/1) who produced a gutsy performance to win the ten furlongs handicap under Callum Shepherd. That's the syndicate's 20th winner of 2023.