Simon Holt best bets for York Ebor Festival on Wednesday

Recommended bets

2pts win Valdermoro in 2.25 York at 13/2

2pts win Justanotherbottle in 1.55 York at 10/1

The Juddmonte International has frequently achieved the highest performance figures during the Flat season but Wednesday's renewal looks one-sided from a ratings angle as Crystal Ocean is at least 7lb superior to his rivals.

Sir Michael Stoute's five-year-old has improved again this year and earned many plaudits for his battling second to Enable in last month's King George at Ascot in which he was beaten a neck by the dual Arc winner conceding the 3lb sex allowance.

It could be that he is slightly more effective over a mile and a half compared to this shorter trip, but he was decisive enough in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m2f) previously and it is unlikely that James Doyle will allow a crawl to develop.

At odds close to even money, tipsters hardly need endorse how difficult it will be to beat Crystal Ocean and the three-year-olds Circus Maximus and King Of Comedy, first and second in the St James's Palace Stakes, should make a race of it while both needing career bests if the favourite runs to form.

In the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes, a 3lb pull with his Gordon Stakes conqueror Nayef Road should offer Constantinople a good chance to advertise any St Leger claims.

However, the son of Galileo appeared to hang fire in the closing stages at Goodwood, succumbing to a more professional and determined rival who put up an improved performance compared to his previous defeats behind Spanish Mission at Newmarket and Dashing Willoughby (in the Queens Vase) at the Royal meeting.

Nayef Road's resolution could prove the decisive factor once again, but the five-runner field includes a complete unknown quantity in Logician, a winning favourite in all three of his starts so far who now takes a step up in class.

The son of Frankel confuses any analysis of the race and no bet seems the safest option.

Earlier, the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes features several runners of similarly untapped potential but it was hard not to be impressed by VALDERMORO at Doncaster last month when Tony Hamilton's mount stretched right away from his rivals.

It could be that the son of Declaration Of War beat little that day - runner-up Global Storm was beaten at odds-on next time - but his earlier debut third at Haydock behind two subsequent winners in Mystery Power and Subjectivist (with nine lengths back to the fourth) has a more solid look and can be marked up as he didn't get a clear run at a crucial stage.

That form looks a bit more substantial than Persuasion's first-time-out victory at Goodwood even though it was a performance full of promise.

In the opener, JUSTANOTHERBOTTLE should be spot on for a bold bid in the Sky Bet And Symphony Group Handicap.

Declan Carroll's charge showed little in his first two starts this season but was probably being trained for another crack at the Stewards Cup in which he finished second last year.

Back at Goodwood 18 days ago, Justanotherbottle bounced back with a creditable fifth behind the Group class Khaadem, leading the far side group until outpaced by the winner and finishing just a neck behind fourth-placed Summerghand who was second to Dakota Gold in last Saturday's Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon.

The latter, who reappears under a 5lb penalty having earlier won here (6f) on soft ground, is clearly in grand form but may have had the pick of the draw that day and going conditions could be rather different this time.

Despite his decent effort at Goodwood, Justanotherbottle was dropped 1lb by the handicapper and is now 5lb lower than his Stewards Cup second while he has twice run well over this course and distance in the past.

Posted at 1700 BST on 20/08/19.