Nick Luck’s blog: Eshaada can Reign in Yorkshire Oaks

Day 2 of the Ebor Festival at York and another belter of a day is in store with top-class action wherever you look.

 Struggling for winners? Well, here are Nick Luck’s thoughts and fancies…

York

ILLUSTRATING is a bit of value at 11/2 to give Sandrine and Co a fright in the Lowther (1.50pm). She ran pretty well in adverse circumstances at Ascot before really impressing at Goodwood last time. While this will be a faster surface, she won on quick ground on her debut and she is open to significant improvement stepping up to six furlongs. The trainer won this race for the same owner with Living In The Past two years ago and this has been the target for some time.

OH HERBERTS REIGN makes a bit of appeal at 14/1 in the sales race (2.25pm). This colt has been a bit slow to learn his craft, but looked to be getting the hang of it at Newbury last time under more forcing tactics. A return to six furlongs under a similar ride and Ryan Moore taking over can combine to produce a big effort on a track that should suit well.

AMETIST can bounce back in the mile handicap (3.00pm) at 11/1. This is a big powerful, progressive gelding from the family of Russian Rhythm that is only beginning to fill his frame. I think there is a fair bit more to come from him and can readily forgive his last run in the Bunbury Cup – as his trainer had previously stated, the sharpish seven furlongs on the July course was just a bit lively for him against that calibre of opposition. Up to a mile here in a somewhat less competitive race and he should be thereabouts.

ESHAADA is taken to cause a bit of an upset in the Yorkshire Oaks (3.35pm) at 10/1. While I am a huge fan of both principals here, I’m disinclined to launch into Snowfall at such cramped odds and it is clear that Wonderful Tonight is best with quite a bit of cut in the ground. If the rain stays away until Thursday afternoon, Roger Varian’s filly could be poised to take a massive step forward. She shaped like a million times the best filly in the Ribblesdale and is bred to be better still as she comes from one of the best families in the book.

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