Catching Pigeons: Gossip and tips from the gallops ahead of the Ebor Festival

Horse Racing

Fri August 24, 2018 · 6y ago

Our Catching Pigeons insider flags up all the well-fancied horses from around the major training centres running at York this week.

Friday August 24

Melting Dew looks a typically, late-maturing Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old and he's expected to really appreciate the return to a mile and a half in the Sky Bet Handicap.

Ryan Moore has been to HQ to put the horse through his paces ahead of this test and there's hope in the camp that he can concede weight all round before going on prove himself in stronger company.

Stradivarius is impossible to oppose in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes but Red Verdon won't lack for fitness after a glowing gallop in recent days.

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Ed Dunlop is targeting a trip Down Under with he son of Lemon Drop Kid and a solid second here behind the red-hot favourite would be considered a pleasing prep before attention is switched the Melbourne Cup.

Legend Of War scrambled home at a very short price last time but it was a muddling affair and he has impressed connections in his Gimcrack Stakes prep work.

In the Coolmore Nunthorpe it looks worth taking on the jolly Battaash, certainly from an each-way perspective. He's much the best when on song of course but was disappointing here last year and on that basis alone we'll be looking elsewhere.

Havana Grey couldn't live with Battaash at Glorious Goodwood but he's a good bit better than that - as he showed in Ireland previously - and Karl Burke has been working back from York for a while.

Nicklaus has done this column a few favours this season and can get back to winning ways for William Haggas and William Buick in the concluding Nationwide Accident Repair Services Handicap.

1.55 Sky Bet Stakes - Handicap (0-105) - Class 2

2.25 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup - (Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Bonus Race) - Group 2

3.00 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes - Group 2

3.35 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes - (British Champions Series Race) - Group 1

4.15 British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes (Plus 10 Race) - Class 2

4.50 Nationwide Accident Repair Services Stakes - Handicap (0-105) - Class 2