Five beaten horses to follow from 2023 Ebor Festival

We'll begin our list by going back to the second race of the meeting, the Acomb Stakes, where HOT FUSS produced a strange but no less encouraging performance.

Having edged into a fairly reluctant lead, Richard Kingscote set some steady fractions in the early stages. When Hot Fuss came under pressure, he looked awkward, hanging in both directions as he was shuffled back through the field. At the furlong pole, Tom Dascombe's front-runner had dropped back to last place, but Hot Fuss managed to pick up again in the closing stages to pass Cogitate and Edwardian in the final 100 yards.

This son of Calyx clearly has ability and I wouldn't be surprised if Dascombe upped Hot Fuss to a mile before the end of his two-year-old campaign.

In contrast to Hot Fuss, Point Lynas took the field along at a rapid pace in the Clipper Handicap. Only Ropey Guest - who sat second throughout - managed to pass the leader, with nothing getting seriously involved from outside the front-rank.

LA TRINIDAD got off to an awful start and was second-last turning for home. Jonny Peate's mount then got involved in several barging matches as he attempted to make up some late ground and La Trinidad caught the eye as he crossed the line just four lengths behind Point Lynas back in ninth.

Roger Fell's six-year-old has been dropped a pound for that effort by the handicapper and I'd be disappointed if he couldn't challenge in a similar handicap off this reduced mark.

Market Value was tasked with making the running in the Galtres Stakes and the Royal runner cut out a fairly fast early pace. CLIMATE FRIENDLY sat just behind the pace-setter during the first half of the contest and Neil Callan made the bold decision to kick for home upon entering the straight.

Jane Chapple-Hyam's filly immediately quickened into a four-length lead. Sadly, Climtate Friendly couldn't quite maintain that advantage and was relegated to fourth as Sea Theme came through to claim victory.

Despite that late capitulation, Climate Friendly was still only beaten a length. Chapple-Hyam's filly has proven in recent starts that she can compete at black-type level and, given the pace she showed during the first three-quarters of that contest, Climate Friendly might be even more effective back down over 10 furlongs. 

One of the most obvious eye-catchers of the week was undoubtedly EHRAZ, who finished a very close third as Summerghand and Albasheer dead-heated in the Constantine Handicap.

Richard Hannon's top-weight was slowly away from his high draw in stall 16. Ryan Moore then had to circumnavigate the entire field to final clear air down the centre of the track, where Ehraz flew home to eventually lose out by less than a length. 

The handicapper has kept Ehraz on the same mark of 105, which he's clearly capable of scoring off in handicap company. Richard Hannon may even be eyeing up something like the Bengough Stakes at Ascot, now that this talented four-year-old is returning to top form.

I won't begrudge Astro King victory in the Finale handicap on Ebor day, given how many times he's hit the crossbar in high-profile contests. My money was on OVIEDO who, like Ehraz and La Trinidad, wasn't the sharpest out of the stalls.

With two furlongs to travel, Ed Bethell's three-year-old began to make stealthy progress from the rear. In the end, there was nothing Oviedo could do to catch Astro King, but Callum Rodriguez's mount finished his race strongly to place a good second.

Bethell's star received a two-pound rise from the handicapper for that effort. Oviedo can still compete in handicaps off that mark though and the nine-furlong trip in the Cambridgeshire could be right up his street. 

Marine Wave kept on well to finish third behind Designer over five furlongs on day one and Richard Fahey's filly can land a decent pot when she steps back up to six furlongs. 

As Dragon Leader strode clear in the Premier Yearling Stakes, Pilgrim stuck to her task well to catch a place and I'd be amazed if David & Nicola Barron's juvenile didn't win a maiden before the season ends.

The lightly-raced Intinso looked a little one-paced as he crossed the line sixth behind Marhaba The Champ and I'm sure the Gosden's are already eyeing 14 furlongs for this strapping grey, who's bred to be a good stayer.

Finally, I thought Aiming High was worth a mention, given how well David Simcock's filly picked up from off the pace to place fourth behind Reach in the Heritage Handicap on Nunthorpe day.