The Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George is the heavy favourite for victory at Curragh for the second successive year
It’s the final day of the York Ebor Festival, as the final marquee festival brings an end to the summer racing.
Idaho’s performance in the Betway Voltigeur Stakes – Queen Kindly upsetting Fair Eva in the Lowther Stakes – were just two from a number of highlights over the past few days.
As well as the final day at York, however, Chester and Curragh could provide some big winners on Saturday.
Ode To Everything looks set for the 1.45pm Handicap at York
We begin with the opener at York in a very open handicap, with 19 entered to battle it out over 1m 2f.
The horse that looks solid value here is Mark Johnston’s Ode To Everything.
He was an impressive winner in the Newmarket Festival last month at a huge 25/1.
Since then, he has continued to perform consistently well, coming second at Glorious Goodwood and third last time out at Haydock.
With a solid run of form, four places on offer and Johnson’s excellent record with three-year-olds, this looks well worth backing at 11/1.
Godolphin will be quietly confident of his chances in the Ebor Handicap
In what promises to be one of the most exciting races of the day, the 4.00pm Ebor Handicap is another also completely open.
The likes of Seamour, Battersea and Kinema are running, but the Godolphin pair should not be ignored here.
Antiquarium, on paper, should be Charlie Appleby’s best chance here, but it is Oceanographer where the value looks strong.
He won very well over 1m 2f at Doncaster last time out, and it will be interesting to see how he copes with an extra 4f on Saturday.
Jockey Martin Lane has a perfect record on board the four-year-old – where he has claimed two out of four career wins – and Saturday looks to make that a hat-trick.
The distance may be a slight concern, but, nevertheless, with a jockey who enjoys riding this four-year-old – and four places up for grabs – {ODDS:102688626:16/1} should hold each-way value.
Fabricate could surprise in the 3.15 Chester Stakes
Over to Chester for the 3.15 Chester Stakes in a competitive handicap over 1m 5f.
Local trainer Richard Fahey has endured plenty of success on this course – having had the winner last year, Gabrial’s King – and will be hoping Gabrial The Hero can continue that trend on Saturday.
John Gosden’s Muntahaa will be well fancied after an impressive start to his career, but the one to keep your eye on is Fabricate.
Trained by Michael Bell, this four-year-old boasts two wins, one second and two thirds from his six runs.
In the only race in which he failed to place, he still ran very well to finish fifth in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot, beaten by the likes of Kings Fete and Kinema.
He holds victory over 1m 4f at Salisbury so the extra furlong shouldn’t be much of a concern.
Experienced jockey William Twiston-Davies rides for the first time, and with a favoured stall and weight on her side, 7/1 could be a very nice price here.
Joseph O’Brien looking to deny his Father’s Order Of St George a win at Irish St Leger Trials
We finish at Curragh in the 2.45pm Irish St Leger Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien, who has had a fantastic week at York, has Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George bidding to win this race for successive years.
Despite the colt winning his last five, O’Brien’s children – Joseph and Anastasia – will be hoping Arya Tara can cause an upset.
After retiring last season, Joseph has made a fantastic start to his career as a trainer.
He took over this filly from father Aidan in June and has since won three out of four, with his sister riding on all occasions.
She was disappointing last time out at Cork but the three-year-old has victories over 1m 6f, and has also tasted success on this course.
It will be a big ask to win here but at 25/1 it could be a huge punt.
Each-way Lucky 15:
Ode To Everything 11/1 | Oceanographer 16/1 | Fabricrate 7/1 | Arya Tara 25/1 |
A 50p each-way Lucky 15 (£15 total stake) returns £28,729.88*
