Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle offers her seasoned perspective on the highlights of Saturday's meetings at York and Chester, with a particular focus on the prestigious £500,000 Ebor Handicap. If you can look past Klassleader's lackluster performance in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month, he should definitely be on your radar for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York (3.35). My husband Tom Marquand suggested that the horse struggled with the undulating terrain that day, but the way Klassleader justified his favoritism in a mile-and-a-half handicap at the same venue back in May indicates that a rating of 98 is well deserved.
Alan King's Daiquiri Bay, fresh from a brilliant run in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot, appears well‑suited to the extra quarter‑mile this race adds. He knows the Knavesmire well, having produced a gallant third in last season's Melrose Stakes over the same course and distance, and he has drawn a favorable low stall. Another contender worth watching is the Willie Mullins‑trained Love Me Tender, a German import who has shown a liking for soft ground.
Though William Buick will be making his handicap debut on this horse, the colt still has something to prove over a distance he has never tackled before. I would also love to see Eve Johnson‑Houghton's Zavateri capture the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes (3.00).
Zavateri is a proven Group‑level performer and remains relatively fresh after a promising run behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes. He previously secured a Group One victory in the National Stakes at two, beating Gstaad on yielding ground, making him a more attractive option than Godolphin’s brilliant miler Notable Speech. The faster the pace, the better for Zavateri on his first attempt at seven furlongs, but despite his high rating, he still needs to demonstrate his class after a disappointing effort on the firmer surface at Ascot in the Queen Anne, where he was beaten by Ten Bob Tony. Ed Walker’s colt should thrive in the softer conditions and could confirm the form.
Japan’s elegant Satono Reve is another intriguing prospect after narrowly missing out in the Group One Jubilee at Royal Ascot. This will be his first run over the Ebor distance, and while his pedigree suggests he can handle it, the soft ground may be a concern as he has not yet faced such testing conditions.
The Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (1.50) at York could be won by the reliable Irish‑trained Geryon, who already possesses a win at this level. Ger Lyons’s grey was dominant in the Meld Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown this summer and then went on to charge in the Gordon Stakes at the Goodwood Festival.
Dropping back in distance suits him, and he has shown no aversion to soft ground, as demonstrated when he chased down Hawk Mountain in the Group Two Beresford Stakes as a two‑year‑old. Market favourite Damysus, who likes to stay in the mix, also ran well in the Group Two York Stakes last month, finishing behind this week’s Juddmonte International winner Item. The addition of cheekpieces could give him a tactical edge, though he will have to concede seven pounds to my top pick. It was a thrill to watch my husband Tom and trainer William Haggas claim the Great Voltigeur on Wednesday with the elegant Maltese Cross, and I am hopeful they can add another major staying prize with Infraad.
Infraad impressed in a Class Two handicap at the Goodwood Festival, suggesting he will relish the stamina test presented by the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (2.25) at York. A seven‑pound increase to a rating of 97 should not hinder a colt who appears to be a pattern performer in the making. I can see him out‑classing the drop‑in‑class Limestone, a proven Group winner who has stepped down to handicap level after his Queen’s Vase triumph. Handicapping progressive types like Infraad requires a strong hand from jockey Joseph O’Brien, though the testing conditions should not trouble him.
The same can be said for Andrew Balding’s Newbury winner Mythical Bay, who prefers easy ground. Air Force One is aiming for a memorable Ebor Festival double by targeting the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (4.10) after a commanding straight‑track victory on Wednesday. Even with a five‑pound penalty, he looks capable of handling the slower ground. I am also a fan of Tim Easterby’s Red Spells Danger, who arrives at the Knavesmire after an impressive win in the Shergar Cup Sprint two weeks ago.
He will need to overcome a six‑pound penalty on softer ground, but his progressive form suggests he can find the answer. David O’Meara’s Toca Madera, who finished third behind Air Force One on Day Two, is a quick‑turning sprinter.
He may not be hitting the mark in every race, but he could still secure a place‑money share. Godolphin’s By The Book and Charlie Johnston’s Classic‑placed Lazy Griff are set to clash in the Listed Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (2.40), one of seven races at the Roodee that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday. Championship leader Billy Loughnane will be aboard a Meydan handicap winner who has performed well in Group races this year but has yet to lead from the front. He is a solid choice, though he will need to give his all to keep Lazy Griff at bay.
Charlie’s colt was placed in both the English and Irish Derbies last year, finishing just a length and a half behind Epsom hero Lambourn in the Chester Vase. Although he faded in the Goodwood Cup after a Listed win at Sandown in July, he could prove a tough nut to crack from an attacking draw in stall three. George Boughey’s exciting Asuka has drawn an unfavourable stall in the Class Two Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (2.05) at Chester on Saturday. Billy Loughnane will need a bit of luck from stall 12 if the talented colt hopes to complete a hat‑trick on ground that will be slower than his previous outings.
A more promising alternative might be Richard Hughes’s five‑year‑old Whip Cracker, who enjoys a better draw in stall four and performed well at Chester in the spring. The conditions should suit him on his first attempt at this type of trip since his novice win three years ago. On a personal note, it felt wonderful to be back on a horse this week, even if it was a mechanical one at Oaksey House in Lambourn. I spent time on the Equicizer as part of my ongoing rehabilitation from the injuries I sustained in that fall at Bath back in May.
The team at Oaksey House continues to provide invaluable support in my quest to regain full fitness, although it remains too early to predict when I will be back in the saddle for real races.