Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle offers her seasoned perspective on the highlights of Saturday's racing at York and Chester, with a particular focus on the prestigious £500,000 Ebor Handicap. She begins by urging fans to overlook Klassleader's lackluster performance in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month and consider him a serious contender for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (3.35) at York.
Doyle explains that her husband Tom Marquand believes the horse struggled with the undulating terrain that day, but she points out that Klassleader proved his class earlier in the season when he won a mile-and-a-half handicap at York in May, suggesting a rating of 98 is appropriate for him. Next, Doyle turns her attention to Alan King's Daiquiri Bay, fresh from a bright showing in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot. She notes that the colt is expected to stay the extra quarter mile comfortably.
Having already secured a respectable third place over the same course and distance in last season's Melrose Stakes, Daiquiri Bay benefits from a favourable inside draw, which should aid his chances. She also highlights the Willie Mullins entry Love Me Tender, a German‑bred who has demonstrated a liking for soft ground.
Although the horse is making his handicap debut over a distance he has never attempted, William Buick will be keen to prove his mettle and show that Love Me Tender can adapt to the new challenge. Doyle expresses enthusiasm for Eve Johnson‑Houghton's Zavateri, who is slated to contest the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes (3.00).
The filly has already proven herself at the top level and, after a promising run behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes, she appears to be in excellent form. Zavateri’s résumé includes a Group One victory in the National Stakes at two, where she beat Gstaad on yielding ground, making her a more attractive option than Godolphin’s Notable Speech, a highly rated miler. The commentary then shifts to a promising three‑year‑old who is tackling seven furlongs for the first time.
Despite setting a high benchmark in the ratings, the colt underperformed on the firmer surface at Ascot in the Queen Anne, finishing behind Ten Bob Tony. Ed Walker’s runner, however, should relish the softer conditions and could confirm the form shown in previous outings. Japanese contender Satono Reve is also mentioned as an intriguing prospect after a near‑miss in the Group One Jubilee at Royal Ascot. While the horse is stepping up in distance for the first time, Doyle is wary of the soft ground, which could prove testing for a horse that has not yet faced such demanding conditions.
In the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (1.50) at York, Doyle backs the reliable Irish gelding Geryon. The horse has already secured a win at this level and, after a decisive victory in the Meld Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown this summer, followed by a strong showing in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, Geryon appears well‑suited to a drop in distance and to softer ground, as demonstrated when he chased home Hawk Mountain in the Group Two Beresford Stakes as a juvenile. She also mentions market favourite Damysus, who likes to lead from the front and was only narrowly beaten in the Group Two York Stakes last month, finishing behind this week’s Juddmonte International winner Item. The addition of cheekpieces could give him an edge, but Doyle notes he would have to concede seven pounds to her preferred selection.
Doyle celebrates the recent success of her husband Tom and trainer William Haggas, who won the Great Voltigeur on Wednesday with the elegant Maltese Cross. She hopes they can add another major staying prize with Infraad, a colt who previously excelled in a Class Two handicap at the Goodwood Festival and should relish the stamina test presented by the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (2.25) at York.
A rating increase to 97 should not hinder Infraad, who is likely to out‑run the class‑dropping Limestone, a proven Group winner who has already triumphed in the Queen’s Vase. She stresses that horses like Infraad, who improve with weight, will need the guidance of top jockey Joseph O'Brien, though the testing conditions 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), Doyle backs Air Force One to complete a memorable Ebor Festival double after a dominant win on the straight track on Wednesday. Even with a five‑pound penalty, the horse looks capable of handling the softer ground. However, she also admires Tim Easterby’s Red Spells Danger, who arrived at the Knavesmire after a striking victory in the Shergar Cup Sprint two weeks earlier. Although the colt will have to give up six pounds on slower ground, 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 another sprinter in good form. While he has yet to find a race that suits him perfectly, he may settle for a place finish. In the Listed Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (2.40) – one of seven races at the Roodee broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing – Doyle sees a clash between Godolphin’s By The Book and Charlie Johnston’s Classic‑placed Lazy Griff.
Both are solid options, though Lazy Griff will need to work hard to beat By The Book. Championship leader Billy Loughnane is paired with a Meydan handicap winner who has performed well in Group races this year but has yet to win a top‑level race.
The horse is a dependable choice but will need a full‑throttle effort to keep Lazy Griff at bay. Charlie’s colt, after placing in both the English and Irish Derbies last season and finishing a close second to Lambourn in the Chester Vase, failed to fire in the Goodwood Cup despite a recent Listed win at Sandown. Nevertheless, he could prove a tough opponent from an attacking draw in stall three. George Boughey’s promising Asuka faces a challenging draw in the Class Two Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (2.05) at Chester.
Billy Loughnane will have to rely on luck from the far‑back stall 12 if the colt hopes to complete a hat‑trick on ground that will likely be slower than his previous outings. A more favourable option might be Richard Hughes’ five‑year‑old Whip Cracker, who enjoys a better stall four draw and performed 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. Doyle concludes on a personal note, describing the satisfaction of returning to the saddle this week, even if only on a mechanical horse at Oaksey House in Lambourn.
She has been using an Equicizer as part of her rehabilitation after injuries sustained in a fall at Bath in May. The staff at Oaksey House have been invaluable in her recovery journey, though she cautions that it is still too early to predict when she will be fully back in the saddle.