William Hill ambassador Nick Luck casts his expert eye over day one of the York Ebor Festival.
AZURE ANGEL is an each way play in a typically competitive opener at York (1.50). Connections had one eye on races like the Nunthorpe earlier in the year, suggesting fairly strongly that a lowered mark of 91 is hardly beyond her. She’s run well here already this season, was poorly positioned in a bit of a crapshoot at Ascot last time, and should relish the extra half furlong.
ROCHFORTBRIDGE is worth a small interest at big odds in the Acomb (2.25). He beat the Chesham runner up smartly on his debut – that rival has subsequently beaten a decent Ballydoyle horse in a stakes race – and would be one of the more expensive yearling buys for this capable yard, who went close to winning this with Ballymount Boy a couple of years ago.
STAY TRUE can bustle up his dual Derby-winning stablemate Lambourn in the Voltigeur (3.00). Still very green and gawky when a circumspectly ridden runner-up in the Lingfield Derby Trial, he’s been given plenty of time to develop, and could easily repay the patience under conditions that look perfect.
SEE THE FIRE has been on my Juddmonte International radar since she bolted up in the Middleton and I’ve seen nothing since to dissuade me that she’ll run really well (3.35). She ran exceptionally at Ascot when left with a view of the front too soon in a suicidally-run race – I’m sure she’ll get a lot closer to Ombudsman this time – while she was looked after in a silly race on soft ground at Goodwood. Vibes from the camp are strong about this course specialist, whose dam won the race in 2015. Japanese contender Danon Decile looks overpriced and can be a threat to all.
TERRORISE could have a bit more to offer in the staying handicap (4.10). It wasn’t a great race he won here last time, but he absolutely bolted up, befitting a horse who had always been campaigned like he had some talent and who was completely unexposed at this distance. He’s up in class, but won’t have stopped improving, and has a sound record here overall.
STAR OF MEHMAS looks overpriced in the filies’ handicap (4.45). This is an easier race than most she’s contested this season, and she is perfectly drawn to get a lovely tow into it from the trailblazing Ruby’s Profit. Her best effort came here and, if she doesn’t get stewed up in the preliminaries again, she should run well.
UTMOST RESPECT looks very solid in the finale (5.20), a race that his trainer habitually does well in. He ran superbly on his debut here, could have placed at Ascot with a different draw, and danced in at Hamilton. Still rated lower than horses behind him at Ascot, he might have been missed by the handicapper in a race he’ll have been wrapped up for.
