The ITV7 is giving away total prizes worth £300,000 to the winners if they can pick the winners this week at York’s Ebor meeting. For day one, we have selected our choices to try and win the £100,000 jackpot.
Race 1 – 1.50pm York – Symphony Group Handicap
This is a wide open handicap, which makes the ITV7 on Wednesday as tricky as it will be all week. Form runners Holkham Bay and Pilgrim are respected, but POCKLINGTON might prove the likeliest winner after wind surgery. Three-year-olds do not have the greatest record in this, but the son of Blue Point is dangerously unexposed, running well in Listed company at Newbury in May. The step back to 5f looks a plus, and there is enough pace in the race across the track that his high draw in stall 21 is not a negative.
Race 2 – 2.25pm York – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes
Ruling Court won very takingly at Sandown, while the big field and a decent pace to aim at could be perfect for The Lion In Winter; the pair are the two ante-post favourites for next year’s Derby. Yet, with questions about Charlie Appleby’s stable form, and whether the the Ballydoyle representative might already need a longer trip, side with DIABLO ROJO, with the market potentially underestimating him in the wake of the powerhouse stables. His maiden win was very impressive in its own right, with some of the form already working out well.
Race 3 – 3.00pm York – Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes
King’s Gambit is a big threat if able to match or better his level of form over 1m2f to this distance. However, even under a 5lb penalty, the safer play looks to be Irish Derby winner LOS ANGELES, who was supplemented for this race for £20,000, so is evidently being targeted at the St Leger, though that would be a hefty fee even for Coolmore to pay if they were not interested in scooping the pot. If this race is run at a good gallop, as it should be given there is a pacemaker in play, then he will take some denying.
Race 4 – 3.15pm Carlisle – Explosive Productions 20th Anniversary Handicap
All three runs since wind surgery have suggested INFINITY BLUE’s progression will be maintained. He ran superbly from a wide draw at Chester in June, followed that up with a less than two-length defeat behind a progressive winner on the July Course, and subsequently won at that venue with some authority. Julie Camacho’s yard have been in good form recently and a 5lb rise is manageable.
Race 5 – 3.35pm York – Juddmonte International Stakes
The race revolves around City Of Troy. This is his biggest race to date in terms of his future career prospects, especially against this deep a field and conditions may well suit him well. However, he was hardly rampant at Sandown last time, and with so many opponents queueing up to take him on, there is confidence enough that he can be beaten. AMBIENTE FRIENDLY is the selection, as this also represents what will surely prove his optimum trip. He travelled just as well through the Derby as the favourite, and found that longer trip tested him too much when only third in the Irish equivalent. Back to 1m2f and with City Of Troy in his sights, this might prove his best chance to reverse Epsom form.
Race 6 – 3.50pm Carlisle – Autism In Racing Handicap
There is not a load of recent form to be confident in, so it is worth backing LOVE YOURS to follow up her recent win at Beverley. She overcame a big enough field that day, had run well enough earlier in the season prior to encountering soft ground at Ripon, and that confidence boosting success, which was the first of her career, may well be built upon with most of her rivals far from convincing of late.
Race 7 – 4.10pm York – Sky Bet Stayers Handicap
Conversely to leg 6, there is loads of strong recent form on offer in the final ITV race at York on Wednesday. Samui is the flyer, as he could be miles too good based on what he did at Killarney, though it is difficult to know what he beat. DIVINE COMEDY is the selection instead, as she has been remarkably progressive since joining Harry Eustace. She is now 32lb higher in the weights having not finished out of the first three since the start of last season, while she won by an ever-widening margin at Haydock in May. Another 5lb rise for her game second in the Ascot Stakes at the royal meeting makes life a bit tougher, but her limitations still have not been found.
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