Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Emit is the leading light in Ebor
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck casts his expert eye over the fourth and final day of York’s Ebor Festival.
ARCHIVIST is a sporting pick in the Strensall, the final day curtain raiser at York’s Ebor Festival (1.50). He’ll likely need another career best, but he really got his act together at Goodwood, and he’s got tons of York form from his time with William Haggas. The extra furlong could easily eke out another pound or two, while cut in the ground shouldn’t be a massive issue.
INFRAAD is another Goodwood winner fancied to follow up (2.25) in the Melrose. Much was made of the stewards’ enquiry that day, but in truth he always looked too be holding the useful runner-up, shaping as though there was quite a bit more to come. He has been kept just below the handicapper’s radar at shorter trips, but looks all over a horse who wants a proper test.
PABORUS is a bit of a wild one in the City of York (3.00), but this is a seriously talented animal, if fragile and hard to train. He ran a massive figure at Thirsk last year, while his comeback defeat of Marvelman in the Chipchase was a proper effort in the circumstances. Soft turf and a return to seven furlongs can bring him on further.
EMIT looks another Joseph O’Brien likely one in the Ebor (3.35). The feeling going into Ascot was that he was a very well-treated horse, having been dropped this season despite holding his form pretty well against high class rivals. He didn’t really get the rub of the green at the Royal meeting, but he’ll love the step back up to 14 furlongs and the ground definitely won’t be an issue.
FAR ABOVE DREAM is a strong fancy to land the Constantine handicap (4.10). He ran another fine race in the Stewards’ Cup, suggesting he could easily win a race of this nature off this mark, he’s drawn around some pace, and will enjoy getting his toe in.
DUBAI CHAMPION looks a sound each way play in the Roses (4.45). He was pretty unfortunate to get mugged by the talented Revels in a red-hot nursery at Goodwood, and it is interesting that Ryan Moore has agreed to ride him again, despite an apparent rise in class. A return to the minimum distance and more give in the ground should both suit judged on his dominant display at Hamilton.
THUNDER RUN is the call in the finale (5.20). He simply never runs a bad race at this place, and comes here in typically good fettle off the back of a very sound effort in the John Smith’s Cup. There should be a drop more pace on here, and the handicapper has just eased his load a little bit as well.
