Through the card tips on day two of the 2023 Ebor Festival
The Yorkshire Oaks headlines the action at York on Thursday 24th August
Relief Rally, Persica and Northern Express feature in our selections
Expired
David Allan riding Cruyff Turn (R) win The Clipper Logistics Handicap at York Racecourse. (Getty)
York Day 2 Tips
Ebor Festival Day 2 Card
Ebor Festival Day 2 Tips
Race 1 - Lowther Stakes Tips
Race 2 - Premier Yearling Stakes Tips
Race 3 - Clipper Handicap Tips
Race 4 - Yorkshire Oaks Tips
Race 5 - Galtres Stakes Tips
Race 6 - Nursery Handicap Tips
Race 7 - Fillies' Handicap Tips
The Ebor Festival rolls into its second day on Thursday. ITV viewers will take in a fantastic renewal of the Yorkshire Oaks, along with the Lowther and Galtres Stakes, the Premier Yearling Stakes, and a couple of valuable handicaps.
Here are our free tips through the card on day two of the Ebor Festival.
Ebor Festival Day 2 Card
Time
Title
1:50pm
Lowther Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) 6f
2:25pm
Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) 6f
British EBF 40th Anniversary Fillies' Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 7f
Ebor Festival Day 2 Tips
Race 1 - Lowther Stakes Tips
Cherry Blossom is an obvious danger for Aidan O'Brien and, given Karl Burke's record in this contest, I wouldn't rule Beautiful Diamond out lightly. Yet, it's hard to ignore the form that RELIEF RALLY (2/1) brings to the table and she could improve again for this step up in trip.
William Haggas' filly has won three of her four starts, losing out by a nose to Crimson Advocate on her sole defeat at Royal Ascot, before trouncing her rivals in the Super Sprint. Relief Rally has done all of her best work in the latter stages of those five furlong contests and she's a full sibling to Koropick, who ran in plenty of top juvenile races over six furlongs and won the Chipchase Stakes as a three-year-old. Kodiac has produced some top six-furlong horses and this filly clearly has plenty of ability.
Race 2 - Premier Yearling Stakes Tips
Richard Hannon has won five of the last seven renewals of this valuable contest. Sean Levey has ridden four of those winners and all five went off shorter than 15/2. On Thursday, Levey will ride PERSICA (7/1), who looked very green on debut at Leicester just 11 days ago.
Hannon decided to turn his colt out at Salisbury three days later, where Persica produced a commanding performance to beat some well-bred debutantes by over three lengths. Stall 11 should be ideal and I'd be surprised if Persica didn't put in a bold showing.
At the prices, I'm also going to back NAZALAN (25/1) each-way. Sean Woods threw his youngster into two pattern races following an impressive win at Sandown. Nazalan ran well when fifth behind Kylian in the Dragon Stakes, before getting stuck in the mud at Goodwood. Faster ground on Thursday will certainly suit this son of Starspangledbanner and he could run better than his current odds would suggest.
Race 3 - Clipper Handicap Tips
NORTHERN EXPRESS (8/1) has been running consistently well in high-profile handicaps for the majority of the last two years. Michael Dods' five-year-old won the Thirsk Hunt Cup and a £15k handicap here at York earlier in the season, while also placing in the Hambleton Handicap, the Buckingham Palace and the International Stakes on his most recent outing.
Despite running up to a career-best RPR of 110 at Ascot last month, the handicapper dropped Northern Express' mark by a pound down to 101. Paul Mulrennan's mount was fancied for this race 12 months ago but blew his chance at the start, so I'm hoping for a much more alert beginning from Northern Express on Thursday.
I'll also be having a small each-way bet on ORBAAN (16/1), for the master of these handicaps, David O'Meara. Orbaan finished a luckless fourth in this contest during his purple patch last season. O'Meara's eight-year-old is yet to win this term, but he has shown signs of revival on his last couple of outings and Jason Watson's mount returns to the Knavesmire rated five pounds lower than 12 months ago.
If you plan on watching any of Thursday's races via a mobile or tablet, then check out our Yorkshire Oaks Live Stream page.
Race 5 - Galtres Stakes Tips
With most bookmakers still offering 5/1 the field, it's clear that this Listed contest could go in any number of directions.
The beautifully-bred SEA THEME (11/2) looks very good when winning on her second start at Doncaster and remains open to stacks of improvement. William Haggas' filly could be the one to side with in what looks like a very winnable contest, but she's by no means a confident selection.
Race 6 - Nursery Handicap Tips
I haven't got a strong opinion in this open-looking two-year-old handicap. I thought BARG (25/1) had been given a lenient opening mark, considering some of the performances he put in earlier in the season. If first-time cheek-pieces help him concentrate, then Sam James' mount could be overpriced.
Race 7 - Fillies' Handicap Tips
Thursday's card rounds off with another very tricky contest. I'm going to have a wild stab on MOTTISFONT (40/1), who was handed a rating of 95 at the end of her juvenile campaign, having run well in a couple of Group Threes.
Hughie Morrison's filly has largely struggled in classy handicaps this season, often failing to recover after sluggish starts. Jason Hart's mount has dropped back to a workable mark of 84, though, and stepping back up to seven furlongs should suit. It's a risk, but at 40/1, it's one I'm willing to take.
Verdict
Ebor Festival Day Two Best Bets:
1: Relief Rally Lowther Stakes Tips @2/1 at bet365 - 15 Units
2: Persica E/W Premier Yearling Stakes Tips @7/1 at Betgoodwin - 10 Units
3: Northern Express E/W Clipper Handicap Tips @8/1 at QuinnBet - 10 Units
Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad
18+ New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. No cash out. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses (from first bet settlement until 23:59) as a Free Bet up to £25, valid for 7 days. Min. 3 bets on different events required, with 2 bets being at least 50% of your largest stake. Place at least 1 bet of £10+ at odds 2.00+ to receive a £5 Free Bet even if your account is up or losses are under £5. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org
