The horse racing broadcaster offers his best bets for Saturday at York and Goodwood.
The final card of what has been a superb four days of action at York and the big handicap of the week in the Skybet Ebor where EPIC POET (15:35 York) can gain his reward after a couple of excellent efforts in similar races. It will only be his fourth run for the yard of David O’Meara but they have already yielded top efforts in both the Duke of Edinburgh and the John Smith’s Cup where but for meeting trouble when moving through the field he would have been even closer. Epic Poet tackles the trip for the first time and is likely to be dropped out from a high enough draw so will need to weave through again but his form lines are solid and stand close inspection.
The winner of the John Smiths ENFJAAR (13:50 York) steps up to Group Company for the first time in the Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes. He looked very unlucky at Goodwood when delaying his effort too long and with Jim Crowley riding Alyanaabi he is reunited with Jack Mitchell who partnered him at York and is 2/2 on the horse.
Enfjaar is one of several stable tracker horses on the day which also include KINROSS (15:00 York) in the City of York. He did best of those that allowed the front pair too much rope in the early stages on the Lennox at Goodwood and even though he is yet to fully fire this season it would be wrong to write him off. His 7f record is excellent and the programme book for such races is skewed towards the end of the season with several in the space of just a few weeks. He beat Audience in the race last year and can repeat the feat here.
ITV coverage also features a couple of races at Goodwood where the progressive LEAD ARTIST (14:40 Goodwood) looks to have been found a good opportunity in the William Hill Celebration Mile. He has quickly made up into a useful performer from just four career starts and did well to win at the track last time having faced more pressure on the lead than looks likely here.
The final two tracker horses in action are TROPICAL STORM (16:45 York) who went far too hard in the Richmond to give himself any chance of staying 6 furlongs and drops back to 5 here. He has a nice low draw which has looked an advantage on the straight course this week.
The last is INDIAN CREAK (17:15 Windsor) who looked to have been set up for a repeat bid at the valuable Fitzdares Sprint final earlier in the month where he ran 4th. This is far less competitive and he should be able to bag the rail from stall 2 under regular pilot Rose Dawes. He won last year’s final off 87 and is off just 79 here.
Jockeys for Courses
A couple of riders in action today where they have consistently outperformed the betting market.
Cartmel – Jonathan England 24/101 A/E 1.64
York – Connor Beasley 25/181 A/E 1.52
COLUMN PERFORMANCE 2024 (Actual / Expected Winners Par = 1.00)
Selections: 44/44.78 A/E 0.98
Stable Tracker: 22/23.85 A/E 0.92
Jockeys For Courses : 46 / 46.80 A/E 0.98
Total: 112 / 115.43 A/E 0.97
