York Ebor Meeting – Thursday 20th August

Betting Tips – York Ebor Festival Day 1

The York Ebor juggernaut rolls on into Thursday, and after a mammoth performance from Ghayyaith in the Juddmonte International Stakes on Wednesday, many will be looking for something similar from Love in the Yorkshire oaks, en route to a dip at the Arc De Triomphe in October. She will be mightily hard to beat you would think, whereas most of the other races on the day look hard to pick through.

Subsequently, there is only one bet to be had, and that comes in the valuable Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes at 2.15 – in the shape of Kevin Ryan’s Tinochio at 8/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral, who offer four places each-way. The meeting sponsor Skybet are offering 5 places each-way, if you prefer the bigger safety blanket in such a big field.

The main feature of racing on Wednesday was a need to be prominent (which is often the case on the Knavesmire), and nowhere near the near side rail. With a slightly stronger tailwind following them down the straight and the ground set to ride slightly softer, you’d think that pattern will hold sway into Thursday too.

Hence, Tinochio’s draw in stall 5 looks absolutely perfect, as too does the ground, as his best career run to date was his win at Hamilton on ground with a bit of give in it. He was winning at the Scottish track on his second start, having been a huge eyecatcher on debut at Pontefract.

Both of these runs came over 5f, and so too was Tinochio’s third and most recent run at Newbury, in the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint. You would think that having been beaten 4½ lengths by the reopposing Happy Romance, that it will be hard to turn around that deficit.

But the fact that those who raced near the stands side rail in high numbered stalls that day at Newbury were significantly advantaged, and given Tinochio came out of stall 1 and got squeezed for room early on – plus the extra furlong here will suit Kevin Ryan’s colt much more – means that wherever Happy Romance finishes, I expect Tinochio to be right upsides.

Happy Romance is a best priced 5/1, whereas as mentioned earlier, Tinochio can be backed at 8/1 with Ladbrokes or Coral. The potential fly in the ointment is favourite Devious Company, who has been to most of the big 7f two-year-old dances this season, and drops in trip here on ground that will suit.