Lambourn trainer Ed Walker is one of racing’s good guys but even he found it difficult to stay cheerful after his stable star Almaqam was collared on the line by Item in the big race of the week at York, the Juddmonte International Stakes. So near yet so far to win a Group 1 contest, all the more frustrating since Alamaqam comfortably beat the two short-priced horses in the race, Ombudsman and Constitution River.
I am hoping Walker’s disappointment will be short-lived because another of his leading lights, TEN BOB TONY, has a good chance of winning the Sky Bet City of York Stakes tomorrow (3 p.m.), even though stepping back in distance from a mile to seven furlongs may not be ideal.
Ten Bob Tony, a five-year-old gelding, is one of those horses whose chances regularly seem to fly under the radar, never more so than when he lifted another Grade 1, the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot at odds of 50-1.
Ten Bob Tony is the second highest rated horse in the field tomorrow, 3lbs behind the likely favourite Notable Speech, yet he is still relatively unfancied in the market. Back him 1 point each way at 8-1 with Coral, paying four places.
Walker will be hoping that the ground does not dry up too much between now and the off because his horse, despite winning on ‘good to firm’ at Royal Ascot, is better with cut. There are dangers aplenty including Paborus, who, like Ten Bob Tony, is best suited by soft ground, while Notable Speech and Zavateri will hope the terrain firms up before the race.
One horse who won’t mind what the ground does is trainer James Owen’s FAR ABOVE DREAM who won on heavy ground at Goodwood last season but who has run big races on much faster ground on his last two starts: fourth in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and then sixth the Coral Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood
Tomorrow’s 20-runner Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (4:10 p.m.) is super-competitive but this four-year-old gelding remains on a nice mark of 99 despite his two fine runs recently. I would prefer that he had a single-figure draw over this six furlongs-trip but stall 12 is manageable. Back him 1 point each way at 8-1 with Paddy Power paying six places.
Another horse who should be happy enough with whatever ground he encounters is the Irish raider DIEGO EL QUESO, who runs in the Sky Bet Dav Reid Finale Handicap (5.20 p.m.).
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong at Glorious Goodwood when the four-year-old gelding was badly drawn, reared at the start and was hampered as he tried to weave his way through the 17-runner field. All in all, sixth was a fair finishing place given his troubles.
Hopefully, Ger Lyons’ runner will have a smoother passage tomorrow under Gary Carroll as his regular jockey, Colin Keane, has to ride for his retainer, Juddmonte, in the race. Back Diego El Queso 1 point each way at 13-2, with bet365 paying five places.
I have already covered tomorrow’s big handicap, the Sky Bet Ebor (3:35 p.m.) in two previous columns. I am happy enough with both bets: Daiquiri Bay each way at 16-1 and Paddy The Squire each way at 33-1, although the former will need luck in running from stall one.
I mentioned in last week’s column that I had a strong fancy for the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (2:25 p.m.). Unfortunately, that horse has had a setback and will not be running, which is a shame, especially considering he likes cut in the ground. I won’t be betting in the race now.
As for today’s fare, I have already put up Adaay of Scarlett each way at 8-1 in the Grade 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (3 p.m.). I would be disappointed if trainer Hugo Palmer’s consistent two-year-old did not run a big race, but the worry is he has never run on ground this soft.
I will add just the odd bet for today to the York portfolio, ending this column where I started with a tip for an Ed Walker horse, ELECTRIFARHH. This four-year-old filly improved for a first-time hood when third at Glorious Goodwood in the Bolney English Wine Fillies’ Handicap last month.
Now I am hoping she improves again for this longer trip – 1 mile two and a half furlongs – when running in the Sky Bet EBF Fillies’ Handicap (5:20 p.m.). The hood is retained and, although she is not proven on soft ground there is encouragement that she will handle it in her breeding. Back her 1 point each way at 10-1 with one of several bookies paying five places.
The racing at York has been magnificent all week but the rain has not made it easy for punters given that the recent form of so many horses has been on quick ground. That’s it from me until next week.
Last weekend and yesterday: – 5.6 points
1 point each way Witness Stand at 13-2 for the Hungerford Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Lord Roxby at 7-1 for the Great St Wilfred, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 3rd. + 0.4 points.
1 point each way Tattycoram at 10-1 for the Yorkshire Oaks, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. – 2 points.
1 point each way Coedana at 66-1 for the Yorkshire Oaks, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Non runner. – 2 points.
Pending:
1 point each way Adaay of Scarlett at 8-1 for the Gimcrack Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Electrifarhh at 10-1 for the EBF Fillies’ Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Ten Bob Tony at 8-1 for the City of York Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Daiquiri Bay at 16-1 for the Ebor Handicap, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Paddy The Squire at 33-1 for the Ebor Handicap, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Far Above Dream at 8-1 for the Constantine Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Diego El Queso at 13-2 for the Dav Reid Finale Handicap, paying 1/5thodds, 5 places.
2026 flat season running total: + 13.025 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points on all tips.
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points on all tips.
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