YORK EBOR – TV TIPS (THURSDAY)

13:55 York Eight of the last ten winners of this race have come from stall 13 or higher so thats were we’ll concentrate our efforts for the opener. De Bruyne Horse (stall 16) was an impressive winner of the Woodcote in June so is proven at this level and with a 50% win strike rate over the trip and Ryan Moore back in the saddle for today’s race he has to be considered again. Hey Jonesy (stall 18) was an impressive winner over course and distance last time out and his trainer Kevin Ryan won this race in 2011 and 2012 so is another in with an excellent chance. Richard Fahey runs five with Great Prospector the early favourite. He ran a cracker when a close third in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes last time out despite a poor start, but will need to overcome being drawn in stall 4. Hey Jonesy (WIN) – NAP

14:25 York Madeline finished just ahead of Actress when they met in the Albany and has since won at listed level, while Actress improved to win a Group 3 on penultimate run and placed in a Group 1 last time out. Both are proven over six furlongs and look closely matched here. William Haggas has won this race twice in the last five years and runs Special Purpose who is unbeaten in two and was an impressive three length winner last time out. This race sees a big step up in class but she retains the services of Oisin Murphy who was in the saddle for both victories and could sneak a place if seeing out the extra furlong. Another who steps up in trip is Happy Like A Fool who was heavily supported at Ascot in June and ran an excellent race despite finishing second to Heartache. She wouldn’t want too much rain but trainer Wesley Ward was bullish about her chances last time out so she is given the chance to go one better today. Happy Like A Fool (WIN)

15:00 York El Hayem and Ronald R are both prominent in the early markets, with preference of the two for El Hayem for the very much in-form Sir Michael Stoute. His two career victories have come over a mile on good-to-firm ground so if the rain stays away he could prove tough to beat. Having said this, with twenty scheduled to go to post and bigger priced winners fairly common in a race of this nature i’m opting for an each way option by way of G K Chesterton. The Charlie Appleby trained four year old needs to put a couple of below-par performances behind him but has a great record over a mile and is re-united with jockey Martin Lane who has won on him before and has a 40% winning strike rate for the stable over the last twelve months. G K Chesterton (E/W)

15:35 York Aidan O’Brien has won this race three times in ten years so Alluringly deserves a mention, although in truth its difficult to see her turning the tables with Enable given that John Gosden’s filly is unbeaten over the trip and has already beaten her three times this season. Enable also gave a beating to stablemate Coronet in the Irish Oaks and it would be somewhat of a shock if she didn’t justify her short odds by winning again here. However given the odds of the favourite picking out an each way option will likely prove more profitable and for this reason i’m siding with Abingdon who, despite being much bigger odds is the only previous course and distance winner in the field and has made the frame in 80% of runs over twelve furlongs. Nezwaah, impressive in both runs this season especially when winning the Group 1 Pretty Polly by over three lengths, is also considered and could be a danger if seeing out this longer trip. Abingdon (E/W)