Emit can secure victory in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) (3.35pm) at York on Saturday afternoon. Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien has been having a spectacular season and can land another big race with victory in the 1m6f feature at the Yorkshire track.
O'Brien's impressive season
Having struck over Jumps at both the Cheltenham Festival and Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree, O'Brien has also scored on the Flat in the Chester Cup, landed Classic glory with Thundering On in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom in June and Johanna Walsh in the Irish version as well as spectacular successes at home and in Britain at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. Emit can now give him another victory in the prestigious handicap on the Knavesmire.
The four-year-old son of Too Darn Hot has not won in five starts this season since being gelded over the winter. In fact he only has two successes in his 15 career starts but he rarely runs a bad race and deserves to land a big pot. Having won a Listed event at Gowran Park and been runner-up in two Group contests in France last year, he has been in good form again this season. He was fourth on his seasonal return at the Curragh in April and he was third behind the mighty Scandinavia in the 1m6f Listed Vintage Crop Stakes.
Emit's recent form
He was also fourth over the same distance in the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap back at the Curragh and slightly unfortunate to finish in the same position behind the reopposing Opportunity in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has been given a short break since then and the step back up to 1m6f and the track at York should suit him down to the ground. He can finally get his head back in front and give his County Kilkenny handler another big race.
As ever the famous old race is hugely competitive and the likes of Glorious Goodwood winner Hopewell Rock; the Willie Mullins-trained Mr Hollywood; and the aforementioned Opportunity – from the William Haggas stable.
Other selections at York
Haggas can take the Group One Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (3pm) with LAKE FOREST. The five-year-old gelded son of No Nay Never was second to Never So Brave in this seven-furlong contest last season and he can go one better this time. Lake Forest has generally been consistent in these type of races and won a Listed event over the distance at Haydock Park on his seasonal return. He grabbed a well-deserved success in the Group Two Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood at the end of July and ran with credit behind Bow Echo when seventh stepped up to a mile and to Group One company 24 hours later. This is much more to his liking than a mile and Lake Forest can score ahead of chiefly Charlie Appleby’s smart Notable Speech – under Liverpool FC fan William Buick – and Rogue Diplomat, from the James Owen stable.
Ger Lyon’s GERYON can go one better than at Goodwood and win the 1m1f Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (1.50pm). The three-year-old Lope De Vega colt struck was an impressive winner at Group Three Meld Stakes at Leopardstown, scoring by three-and-a-quarter-lengths to beat Cowardofthecounty over a similar distance to this. He ran with great credit stepped up a 1m4f at Goodwood and was only beaten a length-and-a-quarter in the Gordon Stakes by St Leger hopeful Enceladus, with the pair well clear of their rivals. Back down to 1m1f, Geryon can return to winning ways.
Another Joseph O’Brien contender, LIMESTONE, can score in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) (2.25pm). O’Brien’s three-year-old New Bay colt won the Group Two Queen’s Vase over this 1m6f at Royal Ascot, which was his fourth straight success and third of the season. He is back in a handicap having been sixth of seven runners in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp last time. He can bounce back and resume his progress with victory on the Knavesmire.
ADONIUS can land a fourth victory from five starts this season in the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes (4.45pm). The Rebecca Menzies-trained Soldier’s Call gelding won his first three starts in style, scoring on soft ground on her debut at Musselburgh in April, before scoring again at the Scottish track and landing a hat-trick in fine style in the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester’s May Festival. He lost nothing in defeat when second to the smart Pershaada in the Group Three Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time. Adonius can go one better and grab another victory back down to Listed level.
Tim Easterby’s RED SPELLS DANGER can land a fourth win of the season in the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (4.10pm). The three-year-old gelded son of Cotai Glory is having a profitable campaign and hasn’t run a bad race so far. After wins at Ripon and Hamilton, he ran well in some top six-furlong handicaps and landed another success at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot earlier this month. Red Spells Danger can back that win up with another at York.
Roger Varian’s RAAMMEE won the 1m2½f John Smith’s Cup over course and distance last month and the four-year-old can score again in the finale to the Ebor meeting, the Sky Bet Dav Reid Finale Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) (5.20pm).
Selections at Newmarket, Chester and elsewhere
At Newmarket Mick Appleby’s ROYAL ZABEEL – a good handicap winner a Ripon last week – can take the step up to Listed company his stride and the five-year-old should win the Listed Hopeful Stakes (Sponsored By Blackwell Earthmoving) (3.19pm).
Others who can score at Headquarters are Terry Kent’s RAJAKING in the Twyford Down Cutting Handicap (2.09pm); the George Margarson-trained GUEST HOUSE in the Hargreaves Services PLC Handicap (2.44pm); and Thirsk debut runner-up RED BLUE POINT – from the James Tate stable – in the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes (GBB Race) (3.54pm).
At Chester FANTASY WORLD – from the in-form Andrew Balding Stable – can win the 1m6½f Listed Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (2.40pm). Others who can triumph on the Roodee are Jennie Candlish’s course and distance winner ROSENPUR he Powells Jewellery Handicap (5pm); the well-drawn NICELY – from the Kevin Philippart De Foy stable – in the Powells Jewellery EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (3.15pm); and the Brian Ellison-trained MOLLISHA in the British Stallions Stud EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (3.50pm) in the Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (2.05pm). Well-drawn in stall one, Ivan Furtado’s ALFA DUPLICATE, can also score in the Kore Systems Handicap (4.25pm).
In Ireland at the Curragh Aidan O’Brien’s juveniles can again come to the fore with course and distance winners GIANT SEQUIOA and ALPHA likely to win the Group Two Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes (3.25pm) and the Group Two Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) (2.50pm) respectively. Ballydoyle stable-mate QUEENSTOWN can make a winning return in the Group Three Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (4.35pm).
