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. If you can overlook Klassleader's sub‑par effort in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month, the horse deserves serious consideration for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (3.35) at York. My husband Tom Marquand suggested the horse struggled with the undulating terrain that day, yet Klassleader proved his class earlier this season when he won a mile‑and‑a‑half handicap at York in May, comfortably carrying a rating of 98.
That performance indicates he should be well‑handicapped for the Ebor contest. Alan King’s Daiquiri Bay also looks promising after his impressive run in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot. The colt should stay the extra quarter‑mile with confidence. He knows the Knavesmire well, having finished a gallant third in last season’s Melrose Stakes over the same distance, and he has been allocated a favourable low draw that could prove decisive.
Another intriguing contender is the Willie Mullins‑trained Love Me Tender. The German‑bred youngster has shown a liking for soft ground, and his recent form suggests he could improve further. However, William Buick’s mount is making his handicap debut over a distance the horse has never contested, so there is a question mark about how he will handle the new trip. Eve Johnson‑Houghton’s Zavateri would be a delight to see claim the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes (3.00).
The colt has already proven himself at the highest level, and his recent effort behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes was encouraging. Zavateri captured the Group One National Stakes as a two‑year‑old on yielding ground, beating Gstaad, and he now appears a more attractive option than Godolphin’s brilliant miler Notable Speech. The faster a horse can travel, the better his chances over seven furlongs, but Zavateri still has something to prove after a disappointing run on firmer ground at Ascot in the Queen Anne, where he was beaten by Ten Bob Tony.
Ed Walker’s colt should relish the softer conditions at York and could confirm the form. Japan’s classy Satono Reve is also worth a glance after a near‑miss in the Group One Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
This will be his first attempt at the Ebor distance, and while his pedigree suggests he can stay, the soft ground could be a concern as he has never faced such testing footing. In the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (1.50) at York, Ireland’s reliable Geryon is likely to take the honors.
The grey, trained by Ger Lyons, displayed a decisive victory in the Meld Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown this summer and followed it up with a strong showing 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, bodes well. Market rival Damysus, who likes to be up close to the pace, also merits attention.
He was a factor in the Group Two York Stakes last month, finishing behind this week’s Juddmonte International winner Item. The addition of cheekpieces could sharpen his focus, but he will have to concede seven pounds to my preferred selection.
It was wonderful to watch my husband Tom and trainer William Haggas win the Great Voltigeur on Wednesday with the stunning Maltese Cross. I hope they can add another staying prize with Infraad. The colt impressed in a Class Two handicap at the Goodwood Festival, suggesting he will relish the stamina test offered by the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (2.25) at York. A seven‑pound rise to a rating of 97 should not hinder Infraad, a pattern‑maker in the making.
He could well out‑class the dropping‑class Limestone, a proven Group winner in a handicap after his Queen’s Vase triumph. Progressive types like Infraad need a top‑class jockey, and Joseph O’Brien fits the bill. He will not be troubled by the testing ground, a sentiment echoed by Andrew Balding’s Newbury winner Mythical Bay, who prefers easy ground. Air Force One is aiming for a memorable Ebor Festival double by contesting the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (4.10) after a dominant straight‑track win on Wednesday.
Even with a five‑pound penalty, the horse looks capable of handling the slower surface. I am also a fan of Tim Easterby’s Red Spells Danger, who arrives at the Knavesmire after a striking victory in the Shergar Cup Sprint two weeks ago. He faces a six‑pound increase on softer ground, but his progressive nature should allow him to 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 his peak form yet, so a place finish could be realistic. Godolphin’s By The Book and Charlie Johnston’s Classic‑placed Lazy Griff will likely clash in the Listed Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (2.40), one of seven races at the Roodee broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing Saturday. Championship leader Billy Loughnane partners a Meydan handicap winner who has performed well in Group races this year but has yet to win a top‑class race.
He is a solid option but will need to give his all to beat Lazy Griff. 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, an attacking draw from stall three could make him a tough nut to crack. George Boughey’s exciting Asuka has drawn a tricky stall in the Class Two Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (2.05) at Chester.
Billy Loughnane will need a bit of luck from stall 12 if the smart colt hopes to complete a hat‑trick on ground likely slower than his previous outings. A more attractive alternative might be Richard Hughes’ five‑year‑old Whip Cracker, who enjoys a better draw from stall four and ran well at Chester in the spring.
The conditions should suit him on his first attempt at this distance since his novice win three years ago. On a personal note, I felt fantastic returning to the saddle this week, even if it was a mechanical horse at Oaksey House in Lambourn. I spent time on the Equicizer as part of my ongoing rehabilitation after the fall at Bath in May.
The team at Oaksey House continues to provide invaluable support in my quest to regain full fitness, though it remains too early to say when I will be back riding competitively.