Sam King tipped a 5/2 winner at Worcester last night and returns with three selections as York’s Ebor meeting gets underway.
The four-runner Juddmonte International looks like a fascinating affair as a racing fanatic but understandably there's no bet to be had in the contest. Similar can be said for Sky Bet Great Voltiguer Stakes although I can see an argument for Castle Way at the prices. Therefore, it's to the handicaps we head for all three wagers with the first coming in the opening five-and-a-half-furlong Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap (1.50).
It would be fantastic to see old boy Copper Knight record a remarkable eighth-course success, but he's drawn down in six and I fear it may be a benefit to be situated high in this. Intrinsic Bond has obvious form claims but again he's drawn low, and I couldn't have him at the prices. With all that in mind could pay dividends to take a chance on Makanah.
Julie Camacho's eight-year-old hasn't really enjoyed the rub of the green so far this year but proved the fire still burned within when fourth in a competitive handicap at Newcastle in June. He ran well to finish fifth here over six furlongs back in May and you can ignore his latest midfield run in the Stewards' Cup on bottomless ground.
A 2lb drop in the weights for that recent outing puts him on a highly tempting mark of 96 and you only have to go back to October last year to see him scoring off a rating of 100 at Musselburgh.
It's also worth noting, he was sent off 15/2 to land this contest off a mark of 101 last year and really caught the eye by staying on strongly in the closing stages to grab fifth following a luckless passage during the final furlong.
There should be plenty of pace on from those drawn high and Paul Hanagan, who knows this horse well, should be able to take a lead without having to sit too far back. The quick ground will pose no issues (versatile with winning form on nearly every type of ground) and at a best-priced 20/1, he looks well worth chancing in a typically competitive opener.
Selection: Makanah – Best-priced 20/1
The 4.10 Sky Bet Stayers Handicap wouldn't often make much appeal to me, but Zanndabad certainly catches the eye and looks to have plenty to recommend about him.
A Tony Martin-trained runner crossing the Irish Sea is always worth noting and it's interesting his last two darts thrown at this race have finished first and third.
He shaped nicely on two of his first three outings over timber in Ireland and was hardly given a hard time when keeping on steadily at the Curragh back in May. The son of Iffraaj looks to have been laid out for this contest and holds a similar profile to that of Heartbreak City, who landed this race in 2015 before going on to Ebor success a year later.
His form in France isn't the easiest to access but he did finish third in the Listed Prix du Grand Camp at Lyon-Parilly on his final outing for the Aga Khan back in November last year. New connections paid 240,000 euros so clearly expect to see him make up into a decent dual-purpose performer and the booking of Ryan Moore really catches the eye.
Selection: Zanndabad – General 6/1
Our final wager comes in the concluding Sky Bet Nursery Handicap. It's easy to see why Starlust is well-fancied following his Goodwood second, but he's effectively 7lb higher for that effort if you take into account Connor Planas' claim last time.
It's the Richard Fahey-trained Blue Prince that makes the most appeal in this competitive heat. Once again, I'm hoping it's an advantage to be drawn high with Blue Prince starting out from stall 18.
The Rabbah Bloodstock-bred son of Blue Point has seemingly taken some time to come to hand, but he was ultra-impressive when scorching away for a four- and three-quarter length success on nursery debut over course and distance late last month.
A 9lb rise in the weights clearly demands more of the colt but he remains open to any amount of improvement. It's interesting Tom Marquand takes the ride, with the Group 1-winning jockey doing 8st 8lbs (his lowest riding weight in the last 12 months) and I'm expecting this progressive well-bred colt to go close on the Knavesmire this afternoon.
Selection: Blue Prince – General 8/1
