The York Ebor meeting - Day 1

York Ebor meeting is the late summer festival that trainers head to and punters alike where we witness more history being made in what is my favourite four day flat season festival. I look forward to this more than Royal Ascot, the Derby and Goodwood. One main reason for my excitement this year is to see the mighty Frankel step up in trip by an extra two furlongs. This four your old is rated the best horse in the world, has a mark of 140 but has yet to run over the mile and a quarter trip. In my opinion he'll get it with ease and will win by 5 to 7 lengths! A true superstar! On with the card from York... 2.00 Symphony Handicap 5f 89y If you've read my blogg previously you'll understand just how much I love handicaps and particularly these big field handicaps where draw, ground, form and jockey are not the least of your worries. On days like today experience plays a key role particularly if the horse has a little course form but I also believe some trends over the years help in selecting the potential winner. With ground likely to be on the quick side of good I believe high draw numbers may well be the place to look at that's been an advantage in previous years when the going is like this. My selection here has a good draw, will enjoy the ground conditions and will get this trip. REX IMPERATOR has performed credibly in class 1 races and although running off top weight and indeed going off favourite I see this Royal Applause gelding being the one to pin back. If he breaks well and settles then this horse will take all the beating from a plum draw. 2.30pm Pinsent Masons LLP Stakes 7f Mark Johnston horses are in terrific form I backed Maastricht earlier this week and it paid dividends. He has saddled 28 winners in 20 days a terrific trainer who is in red hot form. STEELER is the obvious choice, when you look at his form he had the better of Improvisation last time beating him by three quarters of a length, that horse had already beaten Dundonnell and Afonso the Great who line up here in this race. STEELER if handy won't be overtaken, you can always be sure Johnstons horses are possibly the fittest always staying on and this horse is no different. 3.05pm Great Voltigeur Stakes 1m 4f A truly mouth watering race where six go to post a boy is it close. I have liked the way Noble Mission digs in a keeps trying, Encke looks a progressive type who may have progressed since it last run at Goofwood when just pushed out by NM. Thomas Chippendale has arguably some of the best form on offer as he's beaten Noble Mission and Thought Worthy. However, I believe wholeheartedly that MAIN SEQUENCE will take all the beating (as long as Ted Durcan doesn't cock up the ride again). Firstly, finishing second to Camelot by 5 lengths is still standout form for me, I was thoroughly impressed by his win in the derby trial at Lingfield the time before that in which he asserted and stayed on well to land that race beating Shantaram who rubber stamps that form. MAIN SEQUENCE then went on into the Prix de Paris at Longchamp with high hopes but had no luck in running and was driven down a cul-de-sac by Ted Durcan who I'm sure would admit that wasn't his finest hour. Back him he will deliver! 3.40pm Juddmonte International Stakes 1m 2f FRANKEL obvious choice I know he is a machine has the biggest challenge hes faced thus far but im sure his high cruising speed if he settles will put the rest of the field to the sword. However, the each way selection has got to be TWICE OVER love this horse and is certainly Sir Henry Cecil's favourite as well. When you look at his record at York over the 10 furling trip the form reads 3211, a course specialist and trip specialist in my opinion so at a good each way price I'll be having this beautiful Observatory bay. He may well roll back the years and deliver a 1-2 for Mr Abdulla. 4.15 Handicap 2m 88y Update...Countrywide Flame is a non runner so I've had to rethink my selection here. I'm sticking with another NH trainer who sends CAPE EXPRESS to post here. We all know how excellent Nicky Henderson is as a jumps trainer and he always has one or two for these types of handicaps. The horse I've selected in running off the same mark but is 8lbs lighter plus Darren Egan the apprentice jockey is taking a further 5lbs off. I like CAPE EXPRESS not least because of his mark and the weight he's carrying but also a repeat of his run at Goodwood last time out would certainly put him in the frame here. If the blinkers spark an extra bit of improvement then I see a big run on the cards at a nice each way price. 4.50 Handicap 1m 2f 88y Sticking with Mark Johnston here and going against the age trend with the three year old HAJRAS. Gone up six pounds for his last victory over this trip at Newmarket but I still feel he's progressing above that mark. Trainer in lightning form, a good solid jockey on board and ground that is right up this Dubai Destination's street. If he likes the track and settles in behind in a cosy position that be ready to witness the turn off foot that will win this horse a few more high quality races before the season is out. Good Luck!