ITV Racing Tips: Love can team them apart in York’s Juddmonte International
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The York Ebor meeting is one of the highlights of the summer. Among the features of the next four days are the Juddmonte International, Yorkshire Oaks, Nunthorpe Stakes and Ebor Handicap.
It starts with a bang with the £1 million Juddmonte International and although hot favourite St Mark’s Basilica was a late withdrawal the race has barely suffered with Love replacing her stablemate in a field that also includes Mishriff and Alcohol Free.
The shoulder races will be fascinating too with the Acomb Stakes, a prestige contest for two-year-olds, and the Great Voltiguer, often the premier trial for the St Leger.
ITV will be showing four of the day’s races from 13:30 and we have previewed the three most significant races of the day in our ITV Racing Tips.
A small but select field for this Group 3 contest with all five runners last time out winners. According to the betting this will be a three-way battle concerning Dubawi Legend, Ehraz and Noble Truth.
Dubawi Legend was a five lengths winner on debut. Noble Truth beat Ehraz at Newmarket, since when the second has opened his account at Ascot.
The Richard Hannon-trained Ehraz put in an eye-catching display at Newmarket so the manner of his win at Ascot was not unexpected. He could be the most exciting of the trio.
Although there should be St Leger clues aplenty here, this is often a good race in its own right with Pyledriver, Logician, Cracksman and Postponed among its previous winners.
Godolphin has a strong middle-distance division this year with Adayar and Hurricane Lane and are represented by Queen’s Vase winner Kemari.
Only one Aidan O’Brien horse features among the last ten winners but his turn could be about to come around again. His trio are led by High Definition, the winter favourite for the Derby. After finishing third in the Dante he never made it to Epsom and was well beaten in the Irish Derby.
He’s not one to write off yet but Sir Lucan could be a better option. Ryan Moore must be fed up with Frankie Dettori getting on the right Ballydoyle horse this year, as he did on Mother Earth in the 1,000 Guineas and Snowfall in the Oaks, but lightning may be about the strike thrice.
It is a shame that St Mark’s Basilica, the season’s best three-year-old over this trip, will not get the chance to build on his Coral-Eclipse success, when he beat Addeybb and Mishriff.
It will be left to Sussex Stakes winner Alcohol Free to lead the challenge of the Classic generation. This will be a big step up in distance for the filly and of her age group Mohaafeth may prove a bigger threat.
The colt is given another chance after his team botched his dress rehearsal in the Sky Bet York Stakes. Mishriff, who didn’t see out a mile and a half in the King George, should also be better judged at this trip.
Mishriff finished a place in front of Love at Ascot but the O’Brien filly was another to be hindered by poorly executed race tactics. Despite her late inclusion, this can be Love’s chance to take her revenge.
ITV Racing Schedule, Wednesday 18th August
13:50 York – 5½f handicap
14:25 York – Acomb Stakes
15:00 York – Great Voltigeur Stakes
15:35 York – International Stakes
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
