Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle offers her seasoned perspective on Saturday's highlights at York and Chester, with a particular focus on the prestigious £500,000 Ebor Handicap. She begins by suggesting that, provided you can overlook the horse's less impressive showing in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month, Klassleader deserves serious consideration for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (3.35) at York.
Doyle notes that her husband Tom Marquand felt the runner struggled with the undulating terrain on that day, yet she points out that the horse proved its class earlier in the season, winning a mile-and-a-half handicap at York in May while carrying a respectable 98-pound rating. That past performance, she argues, indicates that Klassleader is well‑handicapped and could thrive over the same distance again.
Turning to the field, Doyle highlights Alan King’s Daiquiri Bay, who recently shone in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot. She believes the horse will stay on strongly over the extra quarter‑mile at York, especially after a gallant third‑place finish in last season’s Melrose Stakes on the same track. A favourable inside draw should further enhance Daiquiri Bay’s chances. Another intriguing contender, according to Doyle, is the Willie Mullins entry Love Me Tender.
This German‑bred youngster has demonstrated a knack for soft ground, but she stresses that the horse is making its handicap debut over a distance it has never attempted before. With William Buick aboard, Love Me Tender will be eager to prove its versatility and earn a respectable placing. Doyle also expresses enthusiasm for Eve Johnson‑Houghton's Zavateri, who is targeting the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes (3.00).
Zavateri has already shown he can compete at the highest level, most recently finishing a strong second behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes. The colt’s earlier victory in the Group One National Stakes at two, where he beat Gstaad on yielding ground, makes him a compelling alternative to Godolphin’s highly regarded miler Notable Speech.
Discussing the seven‑furlong division, Doyle points out that the faster the pace, the better for the horse making its first attempt at that distance. Although the colt carries a high rating, he still needs to prove himself after a disappointing run on a firmer surface at Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes, where he was beaten by Ten Bob Tony. Ed Walker’s runner, she believes, will relish the softer York conditions and could confirm the form.
From abroad, Japan’s classy Satono Reve is another horse to watch. After a near‑miss in the Group One Jubilee at Royal Ascot, the horse will tackle the Ebor distance for the first time. Doyle cautions that the soft ground could be a test, as Satono Reve has never faced such demanding conditions.
In the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (1.50) at York, Doyle backs the reliable Irish‑trained Geryon. The grey, trained by Ger Lyons, captured the Meld Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown this summer and then displayed a powerful finish in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. Dropping back in distance and handling slower ground appear to suit him perfectly, as evidenced by his earlier victory over Hawk Mountain in the Group Two Beresford Stakes as a two‑year‑old. Damysus, a market favourite, is also mentioned.
The horse likes to lead and was competitive in the Group Two York Stakes last month, finishing just behind this week’s Juddmonte International winner Item. Adding cheekpieces could give him a tactical edge, though he will have to concede seven pounds to Doyle’s preferred pick. Doyle reflects on a recent personal triumph: her husband Tom and trainer William Haggas secured the Great Voltigeur on Wednesday with the elegant Maltese Cross.
She hopes they can repeat the success in another staying contest, this time with Infraad. The colt’s recent Class Two handicap win at the Goodwood Festival suggests he will relish the stamina test offered by the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (2.25) at York. A seven‑pound rating rise to 97 should not deter Infraad, who appears to be developing into a pattern‑making performer.
Doyle believes he can out‑class the seasoned Limestone, a proven Group winner who has stepped down to handicap level after his Queen’s Vase triumph. She also notes that giving weight to progressive types like Infraad often rewards the skill of jockey Joseph O'Brien, while the softer ground should suit Andrew Balding’s Newbury victor Mythical Bay. In the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (4.10), Air Force One aims to complete a memorable Ebor Festival double after a dominant straight‑track win on Wednesday. Even with a five‑pound penalty, the horse looks likely to stay on strongly.
However, Doyle is equally impressed by Tim Easterby’s Red Spells Danger, who arrives on the back of a convincing Shergar Cup Sprint victory. Despite a six‑pound penalty and softer going, the horse’s progressive form could see it overcome the added weight. David O’Meara’s Toca Madera, who finished third behind Air Force One on Day Two, is another sprinter in good form.
While he may not be at his absolute best, he could still secure a place finish. Godolphin’s By The Book and Charlie Johnston’s Classic‑placed Lazy Griff are slated to clash in the Listed Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (2.40), one of seven races at The Roodee broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Championship leader Billy Loughnane will ride the Meydan‑handicap winner, a horse that has performed well in Group races this season but has yet to win a major contest.
He will need to give his all to beat Lazy Griff. Johnston’s colt, placed in both the English and Irish Derbies last year, fell short in the Goodwood Cup after a solid Listed win at Sandown in July. Yet a strong draw from stall three could make him a tough competitor.
George Boughey’s promising Asuka faces a challenging draw in the Class Two Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (2.05) at Chester. If jockey Billy Loughnane can navigate a wide stall twelve, the colt could complete a hat‑trick on ground slower than it has previously encountered.
Alternatively, Richard Hughes’ five‑year‑old Whip Cracker enjoys a more advantageous stall four position and performed well at Chester in the spring. The softer conditions should not pose a problem as he attempts this trip for the first time since his novice win three years ago.
Doyle concludes on a personal note, describing the satisfaction of returning to the saddle, even if only on a mechanical horse at Oaksey House in Lambourn. She has been using an Equicizer as part of her rehabilitation after the injuries sustained in a fall at Bath in May.
The staff at Oaksey House continue to provide essential support as she works toward full fitness, though she acknowledges that it is still too early to predict when she will be back racing under her own power.