Something for the Weekender
WITH 20 stayers heading to post for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York, hunt down a benevolent bookie who is paying
1-2-3-4-5 places and back WEEKENDER (3.40) each-way.
There is only a 10lb difference between top and bottom weight so although John Gosden’s progressive animal must give lead to all his rivals, it’s a very compressed handicap.
Last time out, this four-year-old was second over course and distance to Marmelo when racing off a rating of 114. The winner franked the form when taking a Group Two affair at Longchamp on his next outing yet Weekender races off a mark of 112 today, and holds a Group One entry next month.
Sir Michael Stoute saddled MUSTASHRY
(1.50) to snare the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes last year so you don’t have to be an ex-public schoolboy to work out that the five-year-old has been plotted up to repeat the trick again.
Hamdan Al Maktoum’s beast showed he retains all his ability when obliging on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown Park in July, and he escapes a penalty for this race. With regular pilot Jim Crowley in the irons, what more do we want?
Goodwood is an undulating track which doesn’t suit all horses but BEAT THE BANK (2.05) loves racing on the picturesque Sussex Downs, as he proved when trotting up by three lengths over a mile last August in a Group Three affair.
Andrew Balding’s four-year-old will take a world of beating in the Group Two Celebration Mile as he ran a cracker over course and distance in the Group One Sussex Stakes on the first day of the month. He was beaten just over two lengths into fifth place that day.
Oisin Murphy will still be on cloud nine after steering Roaring Lion to a smooth success in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday, so having him in the plate is a bonus.
Archie Watson continues to impress as a trainer so make the right move and have a few quid each-way on CHESSMAN (3.15) in the 20-runner Ladbrokes Handicap.