Through the card tips on day four of the 2023 Ebor Festival
The Ebor Handicap headlines the action at York on Saturday 26th August
Purosangue, Sacred and Oviedo feature in our selections
Expired
Tom Marquand riding Sacred (red) win The BetVictor Hungerford Stakes at Newbury. (Getty)
York Day 4 Tips
Ebor Festival Day 4 Card
Ebor Festival Day 4 Tips
Race 1 - Strensall Stakes Tips
Race 2 - Melrose Handicap Tips
Race 3 - City Of York Stakes Tips
Race 4 - Ebor Handicap Tips
Race 5 - Constantine Handicap Tips
Race 6 - Julia Graves Roses Stakes Tips
Race 7 - Finale Handicap Tips
The fourth and final day at York is headlined by the namesake race of the meeting, the Ebor Handicap. Viewers will enjoy the Strensall and City Of Walls Stakes during the build-up to Europe's richest handicap, before the Ebor Festival rounds off with a couple of strong handicaps.
Here are our free tips through the card on day four of the Ebor Festival.
Sky Bet Finale Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 1m2½f
Ebor Festival Day 4 Tips
Race 1 - Strensall Stakes Tips
Despite that surprise defeat at Goodwood, I'd be surprised to see NOSTRUM (11/10) get turned over again in Saturday's opener.
A runaway winner of the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes on his reappearance, Ryan Moore attempted to win the Thoroughbred Stakes from the front earlier this month, but was run down in the closing stages by Epictetus. The way Nostrum is ridden suggests he'll stay further than a mile and, on breeding, he should get the extra furlong fairly comfortably.
Race 2 - Melrose Handicap Tips
GOLDEN MOVE (20/1) might sit towards the bottom of the betting for this valuable handicap, but Richard Fahey's three-year-old has looked progressive so far this season and I fancy an each-way punt.
Cam Hardie's mount ran out an impressive winner on his handicap debut at Doncaster in July, seeing out 12 furlongs strongly on soft ground. Olivier Peslier's mount was just starting to make up ground from the rear in the Shergar Cup when the door was slammed in his face, and Golden Move was nursed home in the closing stages.
This son of Golden Horn looks ready for this further step up in trip and I'm convinced that Golden Move remains well ahead of the handicapper.
Race 3 - City Of York Stakes Tips
Kinross is the best around over seven furlongs and proved it at Glorious Goodwood, when seeing off Isaac Shelby to win the Lennox Stakes. Fast ground, however, isn't ideal for either Kinross or Isaac Shelby, who'll only be getting five pounds from the older horses this time around.
One who will relish the conditions is SACRED (4/1), who's three victories over seven furlongs have come on quickish ground. William Haggas' filly was last seen running at Royal Ascot, where Tom Marquand's mount was touched off by Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
William Haggas' filly could only finish sixth in this race 12 months ago, but Sacred has been kept fresh this time around and she's been drawn kindly in stall four.
If you plan on watching any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet, then check out our Ebor Handicap Live Stream page.
Race 5 - Constantine Handicap Tips
For the second year in a row, the Constantine Handicap has attracted a fantastic field. Defending champion, Summerghand tops the market ahead of newly-crowned Stewards' Cup winner, Aberama Gold and the beaten favourite in that huge sprint, Orazio.
Sitting fourth in the betting we find GALE FORCE MAYA (10/1), who boasts a superb record here on the Knavesmire. Michael Dods' mare has won three of her six starts - including a Listed success in 2022 - while also placing third in the last two renewals of the Group Three Summer Stakes.
Connor Beasley's mount wasn't at her best at Pontefract last week, but she's a hardy mare who takes her racing well and returning to York is a huge plus.
Race 6 - Julia Graves Roses Stakes Tips
On ratings alone, PUROSANGUE (13/8) should take plenty of beating in Friday's penultimate contest.
Andrew Balding's juvenile was handed a mark of 107 after pushing Big Evs all the way to the line in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. Purosangue won well on fast ground at Haydock on debut, so if that effort on slow ground hasn't left a mark, the favourite is certainly the one to beat.
Race 7 - Finale Handicap Tips
We've seen some classy winners of the finale over the past few years, with four of the last five winners clocking RPRs of 110 or more. There are a couple of runners in this field who look capable of such a performance, including OVIEDO (17/2), who bolted up in the Zetland Gold Cup on his sole handicap start at Ripon in May.
Ed Bethell's three-year-old then caused havoc with his wanderings in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, before a solid third behind Al Aasy and last year's Finale winner, Phantom Flight in the Steventon Stakes last time out. Callum Rodriquez's mount returns to handicap company on Saturday and he could go very well in a race where three-year-olds boast an excellent strike rate.
Verdict
Ebor Festival Day 4 Best Bets:
1: Nostrum Strensall Stakes Tips @11/10 at Hollywood bets - 15 Units
2: Purosangue Julia Graves Roses Stakes Tips @13/8 at Hollywood bets - 15 Units
3: Sacred City Of York Stakes Tips @4/1 at BOYLE Sports - 10 Units
4: Oviedo Finale Handicap Tips @17/2 at bet365 - 5 Units
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