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Oisin Murphy shares his thoughts ahead of the Ebor Festival

Oisin Murphy: Talking Politics | Ebor Festival blog day four

By Oisin Murphy

Horse Racing

Sat August 22, 2020 · 4y ago

Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy looks ahead to day four of the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York in his latest blog.

Saturday York rides

Epic Hero – 1.50

He’s a nice ride to pick up for the Crisfords in the Strensall Stakes, their horses are in great form. This horse showed a high level of form out in Dubai and if he can translate that to York then he must have a good chance. He’s won well over a mile and run well over this unusual nine-furlong trip, so the race looks ideal for him.

Coltrane – 2.25

He’s another one that’s a light weight for me off 8-8 and he’s in super order ahead of the Sky Bet Melrose Stakes. We’ve been really happy with him, he won well at Newmarket the other day and he’s a big, old-fashioned style-staying horse. I reckon he’ll improve and improve, so he deserves to be one of the favourites.

Shailene – 3.40

She’s done nothing wrong really and got a great ride from Rob Hornby when she finished second at Goodwood last time out. I think she’s talented and she’s been working well all summer, but you need something extra to win this race so we’ll see.

There are plenty in there with a shout and I fear Willie Mullins’ True Self. You’d have to respect her.

Politics – 4.10

Politics is in good order and this looks a nice stepping stone for him. It’s a shame we haven’t exploited his handicap mark of 81 but I think he’s up to this level, he’s good, and while he’ll stay six in time we’re keen to stay at five furlongs for now.

Mountain Hunter – 4.40

He’s a tough old horse, a proper group horse, but he’s getting older now. He’s kind of vulnerable to the young improvers but we’ll see what we can do.

Saturday Snippet: Matthew Flinders

He runs at Sandown (3.15) on Saturday and he’s a horse I’ve ridden work on at Ed Walker’s. I really like him. Louis Steward rides him but he’s good and is one to look out for, for sure.

Sunday Snippet: Sweet Solario ride

I’m looking forward to Sunday, we’ve some nice horses stepping out including King Vega in the Solario Stakes. He’s improved at home since his Sandown second on debut.

Kameko to drop back in trip

Kameko relaxed really well in the Juddmonte International, the ground was probably a little bit slow for him, but the bottom line is he definitely didn’t stay.

He passed Magical and Lord North and looked like he was going to be a good second at the furlong pole, but at the line he was a very tired fourth.

We haven’t made a decision on where he’ll go next. The QEII if it isn’t slow ground might suit him well, but there’s also the possibility he could stay in training next year, so that’s exciting. Sheikh Fahad and the rest of the Qatar Racing team and Andrew [Balding] will make a decision in the coming months.

I got within two or three lengths of Ghaiyyath at the furlong pole and thought I had half a chance, but he’s very good, an exceptional horse, and even he could come back to a mile the speed he shows.

Ghaiyyath - brilliant winner of the Juddmonte International

Don’t give up on Darain

Darain did everything right in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur but just wasn’t good enough on the day.

Obviously the tempo and everything is very different to what he’s been used to, so he’ll come back to a mile and a quarter as he definitely didn’t hit the line and finish.

I’m not sure where we can go next with him, it’s hard to place these type of horses but John [Gosden] will make a plan and we’ll go from there.

I wouldn’t be too disappointed in him, he was the most babyish in the field and I thought Pyledriver was very good, he looks like a proper Leger horse.

Darain stretches clear at Newbury

Friday York rides

Koeman – 1.45

He’s a tough horse, he won’t mind the ground and Mick Channon’s horses are in good form so let’s see how he goes. It’s a competitive race but he is easing at least a little in the weights.

Dashing Willoughby – 2.15

He’s one of my best rides of the week. Enbihaar looks very good and will be tough to beat if she improves for stepping up in trip, but we don’t know if she will whereas we know my fellow stays.

We’ve been really happy with him at home since Sandown and he’s definitely up to this level. He’s versatile regarding trip and ground and he’s been in great form this season.

Ubettabelieveit – 2.45

He steps up to six in the Gimcrack and it’s obviously a really competitive race. As long as he relaxes he’ll stay, he’s a high-class horse with plenty of upside to him.

I feel five probably suits him better but there’s only one Gimcrack and every Yorkshireman wants to win it so hopefully Nigel Tinkler can have a bit of luck.

Ornate – 3.15

He ran well behind Battaash at Goodwood last time, the handicapper actually put him up 3lb. Battaash is a beast and he’s going to take some stopping, we all know that.

Given he tends to lead he makes his own luck as long as he jumps out of the stalls quickly and doesn’t get too wound up. He just gets away from horses and York suits him very well.

I know what we’re up against but Ornate was gallant in defeat last time and this is the obvious target for him.

Rushmore – 3.45

He ran a little bit green at Newbury on his first start but his work since then has been good. He’s sharpened up.

This is always a tough maiden, it’s thrown up some stars in the past, but we like him and I’m hopeful.

Mon Choix – 4.50

He's won his last two, he’s really getting the hang of it and I hope the ground dries out for him. He’s won his last two starts very well on good to firm so he definitely wants it quick.

The handicapper has put him up 13lb for his two wins but he deserves the hike so we’ll see how he gets on.