Kevin Blake of Sky Sports Racing shares his top three selections as the Ebor Festival at York moves into its second day on Thursday, highlighting where the most promising betting angles may lie beyond the headline races. The festival’s marquee contests will undoubtedly deliver world‑class competition, but Blake points out that the supporting card often contains the richest value for punters. He begins by focusing on the Sir Kevin Sinfield 7‑In‑7 Grand Finale Handicap scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

This race presents a classic, highly competitive handicap puzzle, yet Blake believes trainer William Haggas may have a strong contender in the form of BULLET POINT, a five‑year‑old who captured the same event last year from a rating of 100. In that winning effort, the horse benefitted from an advantageous draw and displayed authoritative finishing speed. Since that triumph, however, BULLET POINT’s trajectory has been less straightforward. A venture to Australia ended in disappointment, followed by a six‑month spell away from the track.

Upon returning, it would not be surprising if the connections have been methodically targeting this particular race as a springboard back to form. Earlier in the season, the horse showed a hint of promise in two valuable handicaps, then after another 12‑week lay‑off, produced a respectable run in the Shergar Cup, only being beaten by a rival who drifted off the lead.

Now carrying a rating of 101, BULLET POINT will start from a draw that isn’t as favorable as the one that helped him win last year, but Blake still sees genuine front‑running potential. Moving on to the next race of interest, the Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery at 4:45 p.m., Blake revisits a horse he highlighted three weeks prior: MIA FANTASIA, trained by Hugo Palmer. At Glorious Goodwood, the colt endured a chaotic trip that offered little in the way of a fair run, yet his underlying form was far better than the raw result suggested.

The circumstances that made his Goodwood performance noteworthy remain relevant. After a debut win at Carlisle, where he displayed composure and speed, he was slightly outclassed in a competitive novice race at Ascot that was ultimately claimed by Dr Rascal, the future Vintage Stakes winner.

With a rating of 79, MIA FANTASIA appears to be fairly assessed and is likely to have absorbed valuable experience from his Goodwood run. Blake anticipates that this experience will translate into a strong performance in the nursery, where a solid placing or even a win could be on the cards. The final race Blake highlights for the day is the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap at 5:20 p.m., another demanding handicap that often produces a wide array of viable selections.

While many horses could be argued for, Blake opts to back the lighter‑weight contender, SECRET HISTORY, trained by Ed Walker. This three‑year‑old filly has already secured three victories this season, the most notable being a valuable seven‑furlong handicap at Newmarket in July, where she carried an extra four pounds and still prevailed. Her connections then tested her over six furlongs in a high‑profile fillies’ handicap at Glorious Goodwood, where she finished a creditable third but appeared to be stretched by the sharper pace.

Returning to her optimal seven‑furlong distance should play to her strengths, and Blake believes she has strong winning prospects. In summary, Blake’s three picks for day two of the Ebor Festival focus on a mix of proven talent and horses that have shown improvement after setbacks or distance changes. BULLET POINT offers a chance to repeat a previous triumph despite a less favorable draw, MIA FANTASIA looks poised to capitalize on experience gained in a challenging Goodwood run, and SECRET HISTORY should benefit from a return to her preferred trip after a test over a shorter distance. Punters seeking value beyond the headline events would do well to consider these selections when placing their bets.

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