Ebor Festival eye-catchers: ten beaten runners to follow
Andy Stephens kept a close eye on all the action at York's four-day SkyBet Ebor Festival and nominates races that will suit horses who were defeated at the meeting.
BAGUE D’OR
The five-year-old was having his first start in almost 13 months but picked up from where he left off by beating all bar Marhaba The Champ. He’s now finished outside the first two just once in his past ten starts.
Bague D’Or stuck to his task well in this 12-furlong contest and will surely be back over further for the rest of the campaign, given that he seemed well served by 14f at the end of last season. He’s run well fresh in the past and held his form afterwards, so I wouldn’t worry too much about the the “bounce factor” provided he gets a brief puause.
The £70,000 Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup, over an extended 13 furlongs, at Newbury on September 23 would look a good fit. He will be fresher than most for the end of the campaign and is also proven on easy ground.
BRADSELL
The King’s Stand winner wasn’t the best away in the big sprint and also found himself racing away from Live In The Dream, the all-the-way winner, and Highfield Princess, who he had defeated at the Royal Meeting.
In the circumstances, he did well to be beaten under two lengths; doing best of those who raced in his group. The sectionals were revealing: he was quicker than the pair who beat him in furlongs two, three and four – and as quick as the winner in the last furlong, too. It was that first furlong that done for him.
The Flying Five Stakes at The Curragh in a fortnight would look an obvious aim, not least because that track is more like Ascot, which suits him so well. British raiders have won the Flying Five nine times since 2008 and, provided it doesn’t come too quick, Bradsell could well improve that record.
CHERRY BLOSSOM
She’s a lovely stamp of a horse and, given her physique and breeding, it’s hard to believe that she will not improve given time and distance. Paddy Power make her 40-1 for next season’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas and that is worth a nibble.
The resolute Relief Rally, unlucky not to win the Queen Mary earlier this term, proved too much for Cherry Blossom in the closing stages, winning by a length, but the runner-up is the better long-term prospect.
Cherry Blossom would have a massive chance if taking her chance in the 7f Goffs Million at The Curragh on September 23 but I’d imagine her connections will want a Group race win on her CV sooner, rather than later.
She’s not in the Moyglare Stud Stakes on Sunday week and, as such, the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on September 29 may be higher on her agenda. O’Brien has won three previous editions, most recently with Just Wonderful in 2018. She would go on to finish a close sixth in the Guineas.
FREE WIND
Frankie Dettori was left rueing having to wait for a run two furlongs from home after Free Wind was beaten a head by Warm Heart in Friday’s feature.
The combination made up at least a couple of lengths when finally getting in the clear but Warm Heart was not for catching. Free Wind was quicker than every other horse in the field in the penultimate furlong and the last one, adding weight to Dettori’s hard-luck story.
Savethelastdance, runner-up in the Oaks before going one better in the Irish Oaks, was a couple of lengths back in third, and there were plenty of smart acts among the also-rans in a competitive renewal.
The first three all look candidates for the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day, with the 12-1 available about Free Wind looking generous. Underfoot conditions could well be softer at Ascot in October but she handled bad ground at Goodwood well enough on her penultimate start, but just didn’t stay 14 furlongs on it.
FRESH
The James Fanshawe-trained six-year-old was having a rare run away from his beloved Ascot and caught the eye, keeping on well from the rear to be a never-nearer fifth behind dead-heaters Summerghand and Albasheer.
This was too much of a speed test for a horse with plenty of solid big-field form over 7f, but it was a clear pointer that he will exploit a mark of 101 over the coming weeks. That’s 1lb lower than for his win the valuable National Racehorse Week Handicap at Ascot in early September last year.
That race will again be a possibility for Fresh but, if he were mine, I’d wait for the more richly endowed Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup at Ayr on September 23. He’d pick up a 5lb penalty if he wins beforehand.
Horses proven over 7f have a great record in the Ayr feature, probably because the ground is often on the soft side. Fresh is versatile regards the going and is a general 16-1.
GREGORY
Gregory was as short as 7-4 for the Betfred St Leger before the Great Voltigeur but you can now get 4-1 after his unbeaten record was punctured. I’ll be surprised if he’s that big on the day.
He finished almost five lengths behind Continuous, who he could well meet again at Doncaster, but that doesn’t tell half the tale.
Gregory missed a beat at the start and then Frankie Dettori raced wide of the other quartet before asking his penalised partner to set fractions that were simply too strong.
That left him vulnerable when it mattered most and it was no coincidence that Continuous, anchored in last place, swept past to win easily after being ridden with much greater economy. The winner was quicker than all his rivals through each of the final four furlongs, which is unusual.
To his credit, Gregory was staying on again at the finish, indicating the Queen’s Vase winner will be much more at home over an extended 14 furlongs. Dettori had another spectacular week at York but his ride on Gregory wasn’t among his best. Don’t expect him to make the same mistake twice in what will be his final ride in a Classic.
INNSE GALL
The Iain Jardine-trained five-year-old was a friendless 33-1 chance in the final race of the meeting but he moved well for a long way before fading out of contention. His in-running odds shrunk to single figures before the white flag was raised.
This 0-105 contest, won by Astro King, ended up being too competitive for him but I imagine the 80-rated gelding (probably high 70s after this) will be back in calmer waters next time.
He had previously won in decisive style at Ayr and could well be worth looking out for at that course’s big Virgin Bet Festival next month. His record at the Scottish venue reads 31231.
KINGS VALLEY
Ollie Sangster’s youngster had shaped with plenty of promise when third to Arabian Crown on his debut at Sandown, and the winner had franked the form with a subsequent emphatic win in Listed company at Salisbury.
As a consequence, he was a leading fancy for the Convivial but the writing was on the wall almost from the start when blew the start and then jumped a path.
It briefly looked like he would get into contention – no horse was quicker through furlongs three to five – but he then went into reverse. His debut run had been on soft ground and it could be that resented the quicker surface, especially as plenty of Territories’ progeny enjoy some give underfoot.
I’m happy to put a line through this run and am hoping he will be a bigger price than he should be when he next runs.
RAGE OF BAMBY
She looked every inch a sprinter when third to Commissioning in last year’s 7f Rockfel Stakes and had napped her to win a 6f Listed race at Pontefract just three days before this race, only for her to be a non-runner because she was in season.
Imagine my horror, then, when she looked like winning this 5f contest at 40-1 after something of a betting oversight (long story) meant I didn’t have a penny on. Isn’t it awful when you are willing something to overhaul a horse you are keen on!
It looked like Rage Of Bamby got a bit lonely out in front, or that a four-month absence had caught up with her. Designer nabbed her in the final strides.
Rage Of Bamby has been a non-runner because of soft ground on three occasions, so her connections will be hoping for a dry autumn because they have an in-form filly who has had a light season. The £100,000 Betfred Portland Handicap at Doncaster on September 16 looks a good race for her.
SONNY LISTON
Ralph Beckett has rattled up 55 winners since the start of July and is well on his way to achieving his best season – both in terms of victories and prize-money. But he must be wondering what he’s got to do to get a decent pot out of Sonny Liston.
Somehow, this 102-rated four-year-old still has only one win to his name; when winning a maiden on his debut when trained by Charlie Hills.
His staying-on fourth to Ropey Guest from off the pace at York was another story of what might have been – he could have done with a stronger gallop – and came after his second in the Royal Hunt Cup (“won” on his side of the track) and fifth in the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood, when hampered.
I went to back him ante-post for the Cambridgeshire after this latest effort but, peculiarly, he’s not entered. So instead I’ll be looking out for him in the £50,000 P J Towey Construction Handicap over a mile at Doncaster on September 16.
