Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle offers her seasoned perspective on the Saturday action at York and Chester, with particular focus on the prestigious £500,000 Ebor Handicap. She begins by noting that, if you can overlook Klassleader’s less‑than‑ideal performance in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month, the horse deserves serious consideration for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (3.35) at York.
Doyle explains that her husband Tom Marquand felt the horse struggled with the undulating terrain that day, yet his dominant mile‑and‑a‑half handicap win at York in May suggests he is comfortably rated at 98 and should be well‑handled on the course. Next, Doyle turns her attention to Alan King’s Daiquiri Bay, fresh from a brilliant showing in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot. She believes the colt will stay the extra quarter‑mile with ease, especially given his prior experience at The Knavesmire, where he finished a gallant third in last season’s Melrose Stakes. A favourable low draw further enhances his prospects.
She also highlights the Willie Mullins‑trained Love Me Tender, a German‑bred who has shown a liking for soft ground. Although the horse is making his handicap debut over a distance he has never contested, Doyle feels that jockey William Buick will be eager to prove himself and the colt could improve markedly. When discussing the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes (3.00), Doyle backs Eve Johnson‑Houghton’s Zavateri.
The filly has already proven herself at the highest level and returned a promising effort behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes. Zavateri’s pedigree includes a Group One National Stakes win on yielding ground as a two‑year‑old, beating Gstaad, and she appears a more attractive option than Godolphin’s Notable Speech, a brilliant miler who has yet to show the same versatility. Doyle then evaluates the seven‑furlong specialist who will try the distance for the first time. Despite a disappointing run on a firmer track at Ascot in the Queen Anne, where he was beaten by Ten Bob Tony, the horse’s high rating suggests he can still set a strong standard.
Ed Walker’s colt should relish the softer conditions and may confirm the form. The Japanese runner Satono Reve also catches her eye after a near‑miss in the Group One Jubilee at Royal Ascot. Although this will be his first attempt at the York distance, Doyle worries about his lack of experience on soft ground, a factor that could prove decisive. In the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (1.50) at York, Doyle predicts a win for the reliable Irish‑trained Geryon.
The grey, trained by Ger Lyons, displayed decisive form in the Meld Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown and followed it up with a powerful performance in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. Dropping back in distance suits him, and his previous success on soft ground, as shown when he chased Hawk Mountain home in the Group Two Beresford Stakes as a juvenile, makes him a strong contender. Another potential threat is Damysus, who likes to be among the leaders and showed that quality when he finished behind this week’s Juddmonte International winner Item in the Group Two York Stakes. The addition of cheekpieces could give him a tactical edge, but he will have to concede seven pounds to Doyle’s preferred pick.
Doyle also celebrates the recent success of her husband Tom Marquand and trainer William Haggas, who claimed the Great Voltigeur on Maltese Cross. She hopes they can add another staying triumph with Infraad in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (2.25) at York.
Infraad’s recent Class Two handicap win at Goodwood suggests he will relish the longer test of stamina, and a seven‑pound rise to a 97 rating should not deter him against the class‑dropping Limestone, a proven Group winner who has excelled in the Queen’s Vase. She stresses that progressive types like Infraad thrive under the guidance of top jockey Joseph O’Brien, and that the testing ground should not pose a problem for Andrew Balding’s Newbury winner Mythical Bay, who prefers easy ground. Turning to the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (4.10) at the Ebor Festival, Doyle backs Air Force One to complete a memorable double after a dominant straight‑track victory on Wednesday. Even with a five‑pound penalty, the horse looks capable of handling the slower ground.
Conversely, she is enthusiastic about Tim Easterby’s Red Spells Danger, who arrives at The Knavesmire after an impressive Shergar Cup Sprint win. Although the colt must give up six pounds on softer ground, his progressive nature should allow him to find a solution. David O’Meara’s Toca Madera, who finished third behind Air Force One on Day Two, is also mentioned.
He is a quick‑turning sprinter but has yet to find a race that suits him perfectly, so a place finish may be realistic. In the Listed Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (2.40), Doyle expects a battle between Godolphin’s By The Book and Charlie Johnston’s Classic‑placed Lazy Griff. Both have strong credentials, and the race is one of seven at The Roodee broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing.
Championship leader Billy Loughnane will ride the Meydan‑handicap winner, a horse that has performed admirably in Group races this year but has not yet taken the lead. He is a solid choice, though he must give his all to prevent Lazy Griff from prevailing. She also notes that Charlie Johnston’s colt, after placing in both the English and Irish Derbies last year and finishing close to Lambourn in the Chester Vase, failed to fire in the Goodwood Cup.
Nevertheless, an attacking draw in stall three could make him a tough opponent. George Boughey’s Asuka faces a challenging draw in the Class Two Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (2.05) at Chester. If Billy Loughnane can secure a good ride from the far‑back stall twelve, the colt could complete a hat‑trick on ground that will be slower than his previous outings. Alternatively, Richard Hughes’ five‑year‑old Whip Cracker enjoys a more favourable stall four position and performed well at Chester in the spring.
The softer conditions should suit him on his first attempt at this type of trip since his novice win three years ago. Doyle concludes on a personal note, expressing the joy of returning to the saddle after a period of rehabilitation. She recently used an Equicizer at Oaksey House in Lambourn as part of her recovery from injuries sustained in a fall at Bath in May.
The staff at Oaksey House have been invaluable in her journey back to full fitness, although she cautions that it is still too early to determine when she will resume competitive riding.