York Ebor Update winners 3/1, 6/1 & 8/1

It was an excellent afternoon for followers of the York Ebor Update on Friday with the first two home selected in the Nunthorpe Stakes (both advised @ 8/1) and Shadow Dance (6/1) produced a gutsy display to win the opening twelve furlongs handicap. Shadow of Light ran a cracker when finishing second in the Gimcrack Stakes and, with a more favourable draw, may have prevailed, while Al Anoud travelled strongly in the ten furlongs fillies' handicap until getting outstayed late on. The two winners came on the back of Content's (3/1) victory in the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday - Aidan O'Brien's filly did remarkably well to win having pulled hard early on. Day two could and should have been even better because Elim (7/1) came from a long way back to finish fourth in the seven furlongs fillies' handicap. Under a more positive ride, I think Ed Bethell's filly would have won. Beaten a short head and two necks, it was frustrating to say the least. 

Ballydoyle dominated day one with a treble which was headlined by City of Troy in the Juddmonte International. The Epsom Derby and Coral Eclipse winner produced an even better performance to beat Royal Ascot winner Calandagan by a length with a further three and a half lengths back to the third. In a race dominated by the Classic generation, Ryan Moore's mount made virtually all and keep finding when challenged by the French raider in the closing stages. Indeed, the runner-up is a top-class horse himself and it is unfortunate he won't be able to run in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp because the return to twelve furlongs will suit. He could become a modern day Cirrus Des Aigles in years to come. City of Troy has been touted as the best horse ever trained by Aidan O'Brien for some time now and, while there in no doubt he is a top performer, the Justify colt still has a long way to go before he can be considered in the same league as either Frankel or Sea The Stars. 

Stablemate The Lion In Winter looked another high-class colt when maintaining his unbeaten record in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes earlier on the card on Wednesday. The only Ballydoyle juvenile by Sea The Stars, he needed every yard of the seven furlongs when winning on his debut at the Curragh. However, he was much sharper on this occasion and was handy throughout before staying on strongly to score comfortably. Bred to stay middle distances, he is out of a twelve furlongs winner and is a most exciting prospect for the Autumn and beyond. 

Despite the withdrawals of last year's winner Live In The Dream and another Group 1 winner Regional, the Nunthorpe Stakes didn't disappoint with Bradsell (advised @ 8/1 in the Update) gaining his second victory at the highest level. Last year's King's Stand Stakes winner had finished third in the race twelve months ago and returned from a potential career ending injury to win in France on his belated reappearance 19 days earlier. The race couldn't have worked out any better for Archie Watson's runner as he sat on the tail of pace setter Ponntos. Taking on at the two pole, Hollie Doyle's mount kept on well to repel the late challenges of Believing and Starlust. A three parts of a length winner, it was a tremendous training performance by Watson and his team in Lambourn. The runner-up could go one better in the Group 1 Flying Five at the Curragh next September. George Boughey has had his eye on that prize all year. 

The valuable Convivial Maiden Stakes is likely to prove an informative affair - the winner Angelo Buonarroti was having his first run for Ralph Beckett having finished a very respectable ninth in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on his debut in June. A colt by Justify, who cost €1,000,000, he was never far away and appreciated the step up to seven furlongs. Entered in the National, Royal Lodge and Dewhurst Stakes, expect him to be tackling Pattern company next time. Of those in behind, Realign travelled as well as anything before his effort flattened out inside the final furlong. Look out for him when dropping back to six furlongs next time, while Richard Fahey's debutant Bambalam wasn't disgraced in seventh. Don't be surprised if he heads to Ayr's Western meeting for the seven furlongs novice stakes (19th September) on the opening day. I asked Richard about the son of Persian King at the preview night on Tuesday and he likes him a lot but wasn't expecting him to be sharp enough to win here. He could be a different proposition next time.

It has been a good week for the Update with 3 winners - at 3/1, 6/1 and 8/1 - and fingers crossed we can finish with a flourish on Saturday. I am working for Racing TV at the Knavesmire and it promises to be a terrific day. An odd shower is forecast during the afternoon but otherwise conditions ought to dry out. I will be back to update the Diary over the weekend. 

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