The Mandarin’s Ebor Festival Racecard for 21st August 2024

The Mandarin’s Ebor Festival Racecard for Wednesday 21st August

Symphony Group Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1.50
Pilgrim
Pilgrim has been in sparkling form this season, with back to back wins in June at Musselburgh and Ascot. This Havana Grey gelding also saves his best for York, so looks a solid bet on back on the Knavesmire, where he has filled all of the first four places here in four starts. It’s a competitive opener for this Ebor Festival, so there’s plenty of likely types about, not least William Knight’s in-form Holkham Bay and Mick Appleby’s Goodwood winner, Shagraan, while Robert Cowell’s Democracy Dilemma carries top-weight, but is classy on his day. Copper Knight always makes the shortlist for these big handicaps, so is the each-way angle, but Pilgrim gets our vote for the win

Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3) 2.25
Ruling Court
It’s time to make a proper assessment of Charlie Appleby’s Ruling Court in this Group Three contest. Sired by the brilliant and unbeaten Justify, the Scat Daddy colt that lined up six times, and never saw a horse ahead though the post in his Triple Crown of 2018, Ruling Court makes his entry here to Pattern level. Justify started at 7 furlongs too, so if Ruling Court is true to type, this should be just the ticket for his second run under rules. The first was at Sandown Park, where he really got into gear in the final two furlongs, so a different track here on the Knavesmire, but fancied to go in again. Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter also got the job done with something to spare at The Curragh last month, and this looks a good duel between the pair

Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) 3.00
King’s Gambit (nap)
The chance is taken on King’s Gambit to take the Great Voltigeur, and go one better than in the York Stakes here last time out. He was runner-up in that Group Two contest, just half a length behind course specialist Alflaila, but this extra furlong and a half should be just the ticket for Harry Charlton’s Saxon Warrior colt. Aidan O’Brien is triple-handed with Los Angeles, Illinois and Euphoric all going to post, while William Haggas’s Space Legend returns from a break, after a fine second to the brilliant Calandagan in the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot’s Royal meeting. King’s Gambit to score with William Buick in the hot seat, while Los Angeles is sure to make him sweat for it

Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) 3.35
Ambiente Friendly
The Juddmonte International has been a summer highlight since 1972, but this has to be the best field ever put together for this important Group One. With Derby and Coral Eclipse winner City Of Troy dominating the ante-post markets, and Aidan O’Brien, the Ballydoyle handler right at the top of his game, it is no surprise to such a short price for this Justify colt, but we’ll gamble that this race is not a foregone conclusion. City Of Troy is bred in the purple, sired by American Triple Crown winner, Justify, and connections hold him in the highest regard, but in Ambiente Friendly and French raider Calandagan, City Of Troy is likely to be pushed to his limit on this sharp trip on the Knavesmire. Course specialist Alflaila and Ralph Beckett’s progressive filly, Bluestocking, give real depth to the feature, while both Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter and William Haggas’s Maljoom would be half their current price in any other renewal of this race, so both are tempting each-way angles. A cracker in store, with Ambiente Friendly to serve it up to the jolly, with Calandagan, Ghostwriter and Maljoom making an interesting Tricast for the brave!

Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 4.10
Samui
Gordon Elliott has made something click with Samui this term, so despite a hit from the Handicapper for his last demolition job at Killarney, he must be worth keeping on side. Unexposed at this sort of trip on the flat, and with Jamie Spencer up top, this Siyouni gelding can take this valuable prize back to Ireland for the Cullentra handler. Competition for this is sure to come from Harry Eustace’s mare, Divine Comedy, who has returned a better model this term, last year’s winner, Forza Orta, and another improver in David O’Meara’s Iron Lion. Samui to take this back across to County Meath, while Iron Lion looks the best of the rest for each-way value

Visit Irish Yearling Sale With ITM Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 4.45
Got To Love A Grey (nb)
Karl Burke has had an outstanding season, so Got To Love A Grey gets a tentative vote for this 5 furlong dash. A winner on her seasonal reappearance at Chantilly in March, this Dark Angel filly has put in some average performances since, but was back to her best at Goodwood at the start of the month, and any repeat of that run puts her firmly in the frame. One previous visit here, winning a Listed contest at two and beating some useful types, so horses for courses, and Got To Love A Grey is the one to follow

Sky Bet Nursery Handicap 17.20
Handcuffed
It could pay to side with Andrew Balding’s Handcuffed for the closer on the Ebor Festival’s opening day. This Dark Angel filly won well on her debut under rules at Newbury Park last month, and her run in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Royal Ascot was better than the bare result looked in a blanket finish. This looks easier than that Group 3 at the Royal meeting, so now dropped into a Nursery, and with Oisin Murphy along for this sprint, every chance

The Mandarin