Kevin Blake of Sky Sports Racing has laid out three standout selections as the Ebor Festival at York reaches its climactic fourth day on Saturday. The meeting has been hampered by a spell of unsettled weather, leaving the turf softer than usual and adding an extra layer of difficulty for the runners. Nevertheless, Blake hopes the final day will provide a strong finish to an otherwise challenging week.
The opening race of interest is the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes, scheduled for 1:50. Among the entries, the most attractively priced is Archivist, trained by Hamad Al Jehani. Long‑time followers of Blake will remember that he championed Archivist in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot.
Although the horse did not deliver on the day, he quickly redeemed himself in his next start, overcoming a daunting barrier draw of 20 to win the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood. That victory, achieved with a comfortable margin, signaled that the colt was ready to compete at stakes level. The Strensall Stakes, run over a similar distance on a course that should suit his style, offers a perfect platform for him to continue his ascent. The soft ground is unlikely to be a major hindrance, and while his draw is slightly wider than ideal, the odds present a compelling value proposition.
A strong, front‑running effort from Archivist would not be unexpected. The second pick comes in the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap at 4:10, a race that Blake describes as "another brutally competitive sprint handicap." His choice is Dance In The Storm, a filly trained by Andrew Balding. The betting market has been unusually generous to her this season, backing her in four starts and implying that she may be operating above the typical handicap level. She has already secured two wins from four attempts over seven furlongs, but Blake believes she is showing signs that a shorter trip could unlock further potential.
Although she will need to overcome a career‑high weight assignment, the reduction in distance may allow her to display a turn of foot that has been hinted at in her previous runs. Blake finds her a fascinating prospect and feels she merits serious consideration from punters. The final recommendation of the day is for the Sky Bet Dav Reid Finale Handicap at 5:20, where Blake backs Diego El Queso, trained by Ger Lyons.
The four‑year‑old has followed a progressive trajectory: he captured a handicap at Leopardstown in April with a convincing performance, then took a 12‑week break that likely served as a strategic spell. Upon returning, Diego El Queso produced a remarkable effort, finishing second to Thread Of Gold in a valuable Leopardstown handicap, a performance that has been highlighted by the winner’s subsequent form.
He was also well‑supported for a similar contest at Glorious Goodwood, where, despite a mishap that prevented a winning result, he still managed a respectable sixth place, catching the eye of observers. Blake points out that the combination of York’s layout, the distance of the Finale Handicap, and the forgiving ground conditions should play to Diego El Queso’s strengths.
Given his demonstrated ability to improve after layoffs and his proven class in higher‑profile handicaps, Blake expects him to make a bold bid for a place, potentially even a win, and to provide solid compensation for his connections. In summary, Blake’s three picks—Archivist in the Strensall Stakes, Dance In The Storm in the Constantine Handicap, and Diego El Queso in the Dav Reid Finale Handicap—represent value bets that align with the unique conditions of the day. The softer ground, the varied distances, and the quality of the fields all create opportunities for horses that have shown adaptability and upward momentum.
Blake’s analysis suggests that each of these runners possesses the right blend of form, pedigree, and circumstance to make a meaningful impact on York’s final day of the Ebor Festival.