ITV Racing Selections – Wednesday 17th August
The Sky Bet York Ebor Festival gets underway on Wednesday with ITV broadcasting five of the seven live races. Racing Tips have provided insight into all five scheduled races on the Knavesmire, with a selection to follow in each. Check those out below, alongside today’s best bets – which are free to view on-site now.
Atalis Bay (13:50 York)
ATALIS BAY was a former Listed winner for trainer Marco Botti and while the four-year-old has yet to get off the mark for new trainer Robert Cowell in four starts so far, recent evidence on the track suggests that his turn may not be that far away.
Despite running below his best in his opening two outings in Group 3 and Listed company earlier in the year, Atalis Bay has certainly hinted at a return to form in his last couple of starts. Far from disgraced behind Group-bound sprinter Royal Aclaim on his penultimate start over course and distance, Robert Cowell’s sprinter went down as a real eye-catcher back in handicap company at the Goodwood Festival on his latest start – travelling much the best before encountering plenty of interference inside the closing stages off a mark of 98.
Dropped 1lb by the handicapper, Atalis Bay is certainly handicapped to go close on Wednesday afternoon and it would be no surprise if the four-year-old goes on to record his sixth career victory in York’s opener.
Local Dynasty (14:25 York)
The Group 3 Acomb Stakes can go the way of LOCAL DYNASTY, who created a big impression when overcoming inexperience to make a winning debut at Newmarket just twelve days ago.
Well supported in the market beforehand, the son of Dubawi ran noticeably green mid-race but quickly got the hang of things under James Doyle, quickening up smartly inside the final furlong to pull away from his nine rivals and ultimately win by a comfortable 3½ lengths.
Closely related to a 1m3f winner, Charlie Appleby’s juvenile certainly didn’t lack for pace on the July course and it’s no surprise that top connections have already entered him in the Group 2 Royal Lodge and Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes later on in the year.
Aikhal (15:00 York)
Both of Charlie Appleby’s runners have to be given the utmost respect here considering that the yard is searching for their third win in this contest since 2018. Aidan O’Brien has also enjoyed his fair share of winners in this contest and will bid for a fourth success in the Great Voltigeur Stakes courtesy of AIKHAL.
Highly tried as a juvenile over a mile last year, the Galileo colt made a quiet return to action when finishing down the field at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes on his seasonal reappearance. However, Aikhal left that run firmly behind when appreciating the step up to ten furlongs for the first time at the Curragh just eleven days later, quickly asserting and staying on strongly inside the closing stages to win a Group 3 contest by 4¼ lengths. The third that day, Rumbles Of Thunder, has also given the form a recent boost after comfortably winning a Group 3 at Cork last Friday.
Although unproven over a mile and a half, it’s worth noting that he already holds a preliminary entry in the St Leger in September and connections clearly feel as if the step up in trip will suit him well.
Baaeed (15:35 York)
All eyes on Wednesday afternoon will be firmly on BAAEED as William Haggas’ stable star bids to stretch his unbeaten record to ten in the feature Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes.
The son of Sea The Stars has dominated the one-mile division and recorded his fifth Group 1 success at that trip at the Goodwood Festival last month, bounding clear inside the final furlong under regular pilot Jim Crowley to win the Qatar Sussex Stakes by a cosy 1¾ lengths. Although he is certainly an exceptional miler, Baaeed has the potential to be even better over further, being a full brother to Owen Burrows’ 1m4f Group 1 winner Hukum.
Given the fact that he may have untapped potential beyond a mile, William Haggas’ unbeaten star is difficult to oppose as he tackles ten furlongs for the very time on Wednesday afternoon and the four-year-old is strongly fancied to justify prohibitive odds and make it a perfect 10-10.
Baaeed is certainly the star attraction on York’s opening day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.
Haveyoumissedme (16:10 York)
The hat-trick-seeking Master Milliner and Mark Johnston’s Soapy Stevens are obvious starting points in a wide-open staying handicap but perhaps it could pay to take a chance on one at a much bigger price, and Ian Jardine’s HAVEYOUMISSEDME certainly fits the bill.
A two-time winner last season, Ian Jardine’s four-year-old is yet to make it into the winner’s enclosure in his five starts this term, however, he’s been far from disgraced in those particular outings and is certainly capable of making his mark at some stage. Beaten just under two lengths in a decent handicap over two miles at Haydock in May, Haveyoumissedme ran right up to his best when only finding the progressive Zoffee too good in the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle on his following start in June. Despite being unsuited by the drop back to twelve furlongs on his latest start at Newcastle, Ian Jardine’s charge still shaped with plenty of promise in third and ultimately finished just 1½ lengths behind William Haggas’ improving handicapper Pride Of Priory.
Returning to two miles on Wednesday afternoon, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see Haveyoumissedme outrun his lengthy odds back at this more suitable trip and odds of 20/1 at the time of writing are certainly not a true reflection of his overall chance in here.