Simon Holt picks out his best bets for York
Simon Holt picks out his best bets for York

Simon Holt best bets and tips for day two of the Ebor Festival at York


What's The Story can add to his good record at York on Thursday, according to Simon Holt - check out his two best bets.

Recommended bets

2pts win What's The Story in 3.00 York at 14/1

1pt e.w. Fleeting Prince in 2.25 York at 14/1

The reappearance of Enable in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks is bound to over-shadow the rest of the card at York on Thursday as she continues her build-up towards a record-breaking attempt to win the Arc three times.

But, with the outstanding mare set to start at a very short price, value hunters must look elsewhere, and possibly in the direction of WHAT'S THE STORY in the Clipper Logistics Handicap.

Improved since being gelded, Joe Fanning's mount has run his best races on the Knavesmire this season, slamming the re-opposing Firmament (just 1lb better) at the May meeting and then finishing third behind Pivoine in the John Smith's Cup over a mile-and-a-quarter, a distance possibly beyond his best.

In-between, What's The Story was ridden a bit too aggressively in the Hunt Cup and can be forgiven his latest run in the lottery that is the Golden Mile at Goodwood.

Back at York and with trainer Keith Dalgleish's horses in terrific form (as they were back in May), he looks a good value bet albeit in a competitive field.

Firmament, third behind Poet's Society and Kynren in this race last year, has run well since his defeat by What's The Story, winning over seven furlongs here in June and then finishing sixth in the International at Ascot last month. He too seems to save much of his best form for York.

Regular readers will be surprised that I haven't continued the dogged, head-down march over the cliff with Kynren, a horse who has been a source of great personal frustration.

Perhaps this will finally be his day in a big handicap and seconds in the Lincoln and the Victoria Cup earlier in the season certainly suggest he's bound to be in the shake-up again, not forgetting his excellent run in this 12 months ago.

Fifth in the Hunt Cup, when leading his centre to far side group home, it could be that he has been freshened up for this task but really fast ground may not be ideal and, for all his obvious ability, he keeps falling just short.

Seniority, another recent selection, didn't get the best of runs when fourth in the Golden Mile (a race he won in 2018) but wouldn't have beaten the impressive winner Beat Le Bon. Ryan Moore's mount is running into form, however, and should again be thereabouts.

Unlike some races of its kind, the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sales is a conditions race in which cheaply bought yearlings receive no weight concessions.

On ratings, there is wide variety of abilities involved but FLEETING PRINCE is one of the better runners and looks over-priced if he can be forgiven his run in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood earlier in the month when he was squeezed out and eased down over a furlong out.

The son of No Nay Never had previously made all in comfortable fashion over this six furlong trip at Windsor, form subsequently boosted by the second and third who finished well clear of the fourth.

Show Me Show Me is a leading contender and did well to recover from a slow start in the Molecomb at Goodwood where he ran on to take third behind Liberty Beach having been outpaced most of the way. This extra yardage should suit Richard Fahey's colt, though he was a well beaten second on his only previous try at six furlongs.

Raahy, sixth in the Molecomb, and Rayong, a bit outclassed when seventh in the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville, are others with good claims on the figures.


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