The headlining race of day two of the Ebor Festival is the Darley Yorkshire Oaks Group 1, featuring the favourite Alpinsta, who is looking for her eighth success on the bounce on the way to an appearance in the Arc. Alpinsta has not received the plaudits she deserves, and she looks sure to continue the good record in this Group 1.
The handicaps at the Ebor Festival are super competitive and notoriously tricky, with the satisfaction of tipping a winner or two high on the list of what accounts for a good four days at York. Northern Express and Lion Tower are my fancies in the Clipper Logistics Heritage Handicap, and it will be disappointing if they don’t both go well, as they have plenty of positives here.
Enjoy whether at York or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers –
The Wine Tipster
1.50 York – Lowther Stakes Group 2 (6f)
Kinta has strong each way claims from stall 7 in a Lowther where Dramatised is obvious enough, having clocked a big speed win winning the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot and could be hard to beat, though some of her beaten rival’s form hasn’t worked out so well.
Kinta has form through Lezoo when second at Ascot last time out that ties her in closely with Mawj (currently second favourite with a three-pound penalty), who beat Lezoo in a rough finish at Newmarket, yet Kinta is more than double the price. The Ascot form can be marked up too, as Kinta was shuffled back when short of room early on and she finished clear of the third when beaten a length behind Lezoo. The fourth and fifth upheld the form at Newbury last week, when finishing second and first in the same race.
Kinta, who has a lovely attitude, can run a big race and will benefit from having plenty of pace on here.
Unibet 11/1 each way
2.25 York – Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes (6f)
Shouldvebeenaring (nap) for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon, who has trained the winner three times in the last five years, can make it another success for this inform yard. Shouldvebeenaring was very slowly away on debut and this colt was doing all his best work at the finish in eye-catching style when fourth to the speedy Rocket Rodney over the minimum trip. He stepped up to six furlongs at Ripon next time out in May and won easily when going away over the final furlong, with the form from the third in this race working out well. Shouldvebeenaring hasn’t been since May, however his trainer will have him in top shape here and providing he gets a smooth start he will be right there from stall 7.
Unibet 4/1 win
3.00 York – Clipper Logistics Heritage Handicap (1m)
Northern Express looked all class at York when carrying top weight to beat Orbaan (reopposes, won last two starts) over seven furlongs in June, though given every indication that a mile will suit. Northern Express has continued in good form, with a fourth last time out to Fresh at Ascot in a competitive handicap when keeping on well and this four-year-old has only finished once outside the first four on six starts in 2022. Though his appearances have all been over seven furlongs in 2022, he looks sure to go really well over this distance, with ground to suit and course form.
Unibet 17/2 each way
Lion Tower is good each way value with Unibet paying five places, given he comes here on the top of his game after winning at Redcar earlier this month when beating the fast-improving Golden Voice in gamely fashion. Lion Tower has some excellent course form figures of 321 from three starts in 2022 at the Knavesmire and this thoroughly genuine type will have the benefit of a good draw too from stall four.
Unibet 25/1 each way
3.35 York – Darley Yorkshire Oaks Group 1 (1m 4f)
Alpinsta, who still doesn’t get all the credit she deserves, is going for her eight success on the bounce and is hard to oppose here in a race where the last five favourites have all won. Alpinsta beat the subsequent Arc winner Torquator Tosso fair and square at Hoppegarten last year and has run at a very high level since, coming back from a break to win well in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud when beating Baratti by 1¼ lengths in good style. She needs to be winning the Darley Yorkshire Oaks comfortably in order to have a serious crack at the Arc.
Unibet 2/1 win
4.10 York – British EBF Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes Listed Race (1m 4f)
Voodoo Queen is going for a three timer, having won on the Rowley Mile and July Course at Newmarket. This Frankel filly stayed on really well over one mile two furlongs on the July course coupled with plenty of determination too and this step up will being out more improvement on the quick going, which she is clearly effective on.
