Dave Massey is back for another look at The Knavesmire – check out his best bets at York Ebor Meeting Day 2 2024.
York Ebor Meeting Day 2: Arizona Blaze (2:25) – Back
Yes, there’s 22 runners and yes, strange things can happen in these sales races but we can only go on what we know and for my money, I’d have Arizona Blaze about favourite for this. He’s done nothing but improve throughout the season, winning the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh back in May followed by a close third in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, and then having to race alone in the Railway Stakes probably didn’t do him any favours.
However, he was straight back to form when a good third in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last time, form that’s since been franked by second home Whistlejacket winning the Prix Morny last weekend. He has to give a fair bit of weight away to likely favourite Maw Lam, but stall 4 looks a cracking draw and he’s clearly a class act.
York Ebor Meeting Day 2: Emily Upjohn (3:35) – Take On
I’m afraid to say this was a pretty easy lay after her poor Goodwood effort and whilst Shoemark came in for some stick on the ride, never really putting her in the race, the fact remains she’s now hard to win with and just looks another one of the older John Gosden mares that look more disillusioned with racing the longer time goes on.
She looked the pick of the paddock for the Nassau as well, so to my eyes there really were no excuses, and whilst the hood has been removed here, I think the problems lie deeper than her simply taking a hold in her races and not finishing off with any gusto. Without a win on the board since the Oaks last year, I’d be happy to try and get her out of the frame at a short price today, with more than enough quality opposition to do so.
York Ebor Meeting Day 2: Mirsky (3:00) – Each Way
All season long I’ve been trying to work out what the target might be for Mirsky after he caught the eye on his first start for David O’Meara in the Thirsk Hunt Cup back in May, finishing a close fifth, and that after six months away from the track. He had a look around York on his next start when midfield in the Hambleton Handicap in May and did as well as he could from a poor draw in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot next time out, being only one of two to stay on the far side from his low stall.
Dropped back to 7f and with more forcing tactics, he seemed to run better at Haydock last time but this step back up to a mile is surely what he wants, and a drop of rain wouldn’t harm his chances either. 4lb lower than he was at the start of the season and with Mark Winn taking another 3lb off, this looks his opportunity, with stall 8 looks a perfectly good place to work from.
By Dave Massey
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