York Ebor Festival Day 1 (Wednesday) race rundown and betting tips

The Ebor Festival kicks off at York on Wednesday, and all eyes will be on the feature race of the week – the Group 1 Juddmonte International.

Renowned as one of the premier middle-distance contests in Europe, the race has a roll of honour that includes legends like Frankel, Sea The Stars and Baaeed, and once again it promises to be a fascinating clash of proven stars and rising talents.

Run over a mile and a quarter on the Knavesmire, it is the crown jewel of day one and often shapes the narrative for the remainder of the Flat season.

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Joe’s best York Ebor Festival Day 1 (Wednesday) betting tips

• 1.50 Brazen Bolt – 12/1 each way with bet365
• 2.25 Goodwood Galaxy – 8/1 each way with bet365
• 3.00 Lambourn – 5/6 with William Hill NAP
• 3.35 Ombudsman – 15/8 with William Hill NEXT BEST
• 4.10 Alphonse Le Grande – 4/1 each way with bet365
• 4.45 Fluorescence – 10/1 each way with Betfred
• 5.20 Dublin Bay – 13/2 each way with bet365

*odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.

Aside from the Juddmonte International, the supporting card more than holds its own, with the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes serving as a key trial for next month’s St Leger, while the Acomb Stakes gives punters an early look at some of the most exciting juveniles heading into their Classic year.

Add in competitive handicaps and you have a high-class opening day that sets the tone perfectly for four days of top-class racing on the Knavesmire.

I’ll look into every race in detail, with odds provided by the best UK horse racing betting sites.

1.50 Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 51/2f

Several of these come here with a chance in York’s opener but a tentative vote goes to BRAZEN BOLT in the hope he can complete the hat-trick. He looked well suited by this track winning here last month and then followed up in gutsy fashion at Glorious Goodwood last time. Warren Fentiman rides again and is very good value for his 5lb claim. I know the draw is quite tricky but if he manages to negotiate it then he will be a danger to all in this given he is in rude health.

Trefor beat the selection at Doncaster and looks to head the dangers. He can race freely though so would want to settle to produce a big performance. Vantheman has run well here and could bounce back with a big effort as well.

Bet on BRAZEN BOLT each way at 12/1 with bet365

2.25 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3) 7f

• 1 of the last 12 winners were favourites or joint favourites
• 5 of the last 12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
• 11 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before
• 4 of the last 12 winners were rated 77 or higher (8 of 12 didn’t have a rating)

The trends tell you to look away from the top of the market and that’s exactly what I’m doing here. GOODWOOD GALAXY looks great value against the top pair and I think he is going to run a huge race here for David Menuisier.

This colt looked potentially useful winning on debut at Salisbury and then he was pitched into the deep end in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last month. He was slowly intro stride and just had too much to do but hit the line hard and wasn’t beaten far at all. He has more to come and should go close.

Distant Storm overcame inexperience to peg back Constitution River on debut at Newmarket and has more to come. Italy has tons of scope and should go on improving for a while yet so is another one I expect to be bang there.

Bet on GOODWOOD GALAXY each way at 8/1 with bet365

3.00 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) 1m4f

• 7 of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 9 of the last 12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
• 3 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before
• 11 of the last 12 winners were rated 106 or higher

Aidan O’Brien is bidding for a hat-trick in the Great Voltigeur and he looks to have a great chance with dual Derby hero LAMBOURN. He arrives on a four-timer having won the Chester Vase, The Derby and The Irish Derby and while he has a big weight to carry here he certainly has the class to do it. He has been freshened up so I expect him to produce a better performance than last time and he looks the best bet on the card.

Carmers is 3-3 and impressed winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last time. That form has obviously been boosted by the runner-up Furthur winning the Geoffrey Freer since and with more to come he could be the danger. He does need to prove himself over the trip though. 

Bet on LAMBOURN to win at 5/6 with William Hill

3.35 Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) 1m21/2f

• 7 of the last 12 winners were aged 4 or older
• 6 of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 2 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous win at York
• 10 of the last 12 winners were rated 120 or higher

I’d be confident OMBUDSMAN can turn that Coral-Eclipse form around with Delacroix. The latter had the race go his way mugging the selection late at Sandown but if he can bounce back to the sort of form that saw him rout rivals in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot then he will get back in the winners enclosure here. He just hit the front too soon last time and was vulnerable late on whereas I don’t see the same scenario panning out here.

Delacroix is still a high-class animal and he should put up a fair bit of resistance. I expect the pair to battle it out though as while Danon Decile is very much the dark horse in the race he is clashing with the big boys here and it looks a tall ask.

Bet on OMBUDSMAN to win at 15/8 with William Hill

4.10 Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 2m1/2f

I think it’s safe to say things didn’t pan out favourably for ALPHONSE LE GRANDE in the Ascot Stakes when last seen. He was denied a run at a crucial stage and just had a mountain to climb throughout. He was only actually beaten 3 lengths at the line and with this drop back in trip possibly a good thing as long as they go hard he should have a great chance. William Buick has been booked and he won on him at Chester last year so knows the horse well.

Santorini Star looked progressive winning at Brighton and Goodwood and while she has been beaten twice since she hasn’t been disgraced and could be capable of a bigger performance stepping up to 2 miles here. Dancing In Paris has been a model of consistency but as a result his mark keeps climbing. He could easily be capable of another big run though so is noted as well.

Bet on ALPHONSE LE GRANDE each way at 4/1 with bet365

4.45 IRE Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 5f

Blink and you’ll miss this! Another wide open handicap but FLUORESCENCE has impressed me and I backed her at Redcar last time where she certainly didn’t disappoint winning cosily at the line. She is armed with a good low draw here and with pace all around her this could easily pan out perfectly.

Ruby’s Profit ran well in tough conditions at Glorious Goodwood and has been steadily progressive this season. She is versatile regarding the ground and should be in the mix again here. Galaxy Zoo arrives on a hat-trick and is another one who could improve again and go well.

Bet on FLUORESCENCE each way at 10/1 with Betfred

5.20 Sky Bet Nursery (Class 2) 6f

I think it is safe to say the handicapper got it wrong regarding DUBLIN BAY. He won despite showing signs of inexperience on handicap debut at Ffos Las and then followed up impressively at Doncaster at the start of the month. He looks really progressive and despite another hike in the weights he is a horse I want to keep firmly on side. This big field scenario will suit as he can settle better in behind and it wouldn’t surprise me if this has been the target all along.

Old Is Gold didn’t do much wrong beaten just a length behind Ardisia at Glorious Goodwood last time and could emerge as the danger. Shaman Champion was second in that race so on that form line is another one you’d expect to get involved here. Of the rest Utmost Respect looked good at Hamilton and is another one who must enter calculations.

Bet on DUBLIN BAY each way at 13/2 with bet365

My top tip for Wednesday’s racing at the Ebor Festival

It is a fascinating opening day at York’s Ebor Festival and the play on Day 1 would have to be a Win Double on dual Derby hero LAMBOURN in the Great Voltigeur combined with OMBUDSMAN in the big one the Juddmonte International.

The former has done nothing to doubt him and Aidan O’Brien targets the race. The latter should get back to his Royal Ascot form and reverse those Coral-Eclipse placings with Delacroix.

Bet a Win Double on LAMBOURN and OMBUDSMAN at 7/2 with bet365

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