This year’s Ebor festival at York is expected to start on good ground with a mostly clear forecast in the run up to the four-day meeting starting today.
The opening day highlight sees seven rivals compete for the prestigious Gr1 Juddmonte International run over 2100m.
The race jumps at 16h35, and Mishriff currently heads the market for the £1million prize.
Alcohol Free – if she stays, she must go close
The son of Make Believe has already had a fine 2021 campaign with lucrative victories in the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic. Last time out he again ran another cracking race, finishing second to Derby hero Adayar in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Reigning champion trainer John Gosden said: “I was very happy with his King George run. We’ve very much been targeting the Juddmonte. The slightly extended mile and a quarter, we feel that’s his best trip.”
The four-year-old heads the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings and is the sole representative from the champion trainer’s yard on day. This looks a good opportunity for Mishriff to win his first group 1 on home soil.
The champion three-year-old filly from last season, Love is declared by Aidan O’Brien in place of her injured stablemate St Mark’s Basilica. The Galileo filly was victorious in the Yorkshire Oaks at this meeting last year and must be respected. She will have to improve though as she was nearly two lengths behind Mishriff in the King George last month.
A bigger threat could be the sophomore filly Alcohol Free who receives 10lb in age and sex allowances. This slightly framed filly was full value for her win in the Sussex Stakes accounting for the 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare. The question that this race will answer is whether this daughter of No Nay Never is just as effective over an extra 500m.
Snowfall will face six rivals including Wonderful Tonight as she bids to emulate the great Enable by bringing up an Oaks treble in the Gr1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday.
Snowfall – all class and ready for another big showing
Aidan O’Brien’s filly has improved out of all recognition this season since being stepped up in trip. She began her three-year-old campaign with an impressive front running victory over 10 furlongs at York in the Musidora and has since won two Classics.
At Epsom she powered to a record sixteen length win in the Cazoo Oaks before following up adding the Irish Oaks, where she triumphed by over eight lengths.
She will, however, face by far her toughest test to date in David Menuisier’s popular four-year-old Wonderful Tonight – herself a dual Group One-winner last season.
This term she has won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood. Wonderful Tonight sets a high standard, but she must concede 9lb to the younger Snowfall.
Menuisier said: “Obviously I’m hoping there’s a bit more rain, but if the ground is good, we’ll give it a go.”
15h25 on Friday will see top-class stayer Stradivarius try to secure a third victory in the Gr2 Lonsdale Cup. He has won the two-mile Group event on two previous occasions. John Gosden is hoping the rain steers clear of the Knavesmire after withdrawing his seven-year-old entire from the Goodwood Cup due to the soft going.
Gosden said: “We’re going to York, a track he knows well, on ground he likes. The weather forecast looks promising. He’s in great form.”
It’s a pity that his highest rated challenger, Trueshan, is also ground dependent, but this son of Planteur relishes soft underfoot conditions which may not materialise on the day. A rematch would be most entertaining.
