Disappointing final couple of days

The York Ebor Update made a good start to the meeting with a couple of winners and big priced placed runners on the first two days. Unfortunately, things deteriorated over the final two days with some poor selections. The Sky Bet Ebor itself proved an anti-climax with Emit fading tamely in the final two furlongs, while Klassleader never got into a position where he looked like winning. Hankelow sat far too close to a strong pace in the opening Group 3 Strensall Stakes and probably wants to drop back in trip, while Dance In The Storm ran creditably in fourth in the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap. Drawn in stall 11, Oisin Murphy took a while to decide which side of the track to race on and may have benefited from joining those runners towards the far side. Heavily supported beforehand, she is capable of winning something similar. 

As regards Friday's action, Rayevka was too far back in the Nunthorpe Stakes and was never going to be able to make up the ground on Bacio who showed blistering speed from the outset, while Cover Up may not have been ideally drawn but wasn't quick enough on such a track in any case. The selections in the opening one mile handicap for three year olds both ran well from poor draws. Eklleem (stall 15) and Outback Heat (18) finished second and fourth respectively but couldn't get to grips with Blue Courvoisier who was berthed in stall five and made all the running. I spoke to William Buick whilst queuing to get out of the car park on Saturday and he described Eklleem as nice horse who enjoyed the slow ground. He feels he will improve again when tackling a mile and a quarter. Keep a note of William Haggas' runner. In the Gimcrack Stakes, I don't think either Marco Polo or Never Enough handled the tacky ground failing to pick up once coming under pressure. 

Whilst I was disappointed with the Update results overall, the Top 40 Prospects in AOTF had an excellent week with three winners. Infraad and Raammee are two progressive young horses who both produced excellent performances to win the Melrose Stakes and Sky Finale Handicap respectively. The former was raised seven pounds for winning at Goodwood last time and overcame that with a gutsy display over two extra furlongs off a mark of 97. William Haggas has earmarked the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot (2nd October) as the three year old's next target. The latter is unbeaten over a mile and a quarter having defied top weight of 9st 12lb and an official rating of 103 to win the concluding event. Upped eight pounds for his victory in the John Smith's Cup over the same C&D last month, Roger Varian's lightly raced four year old ran on strongly to beat nineteen rivals by upwards of half a length. A Pattern race is likely to be next with the Listed Doonside Cup at Ayr (19th September) a possibility - the stable won it with Royal Champion four years ago. 

A few facts and figures from the four days at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival. Andrew Balding topped the trainers' title with 6 winners from 25 runners. William Haggas (3 from 17), Joseph O'Brien (2 from 7) and John & Thady Gosden (0 from 13). In terms of the local handler, Karl Burke (1 from 16) and Michael Dods got on the scoreboard with a winner apiece. However, it was a blank week for northern powerhouses Ed Bethell, Tim Easterby, Richard Fahey, Charlie Johnston, David O'Meara and Kevin Ryan (from 57 runners between them). It shows how tough it is to get winners on the Knavesmire.