Henri Matisse and Ryan Moore centre win for owners Coolmore Stud and trainer Aidan O Brien from Cadogan© Photo Healy Racing
What a fine week it has been for Irish raiders on the Knavesmire with multiple trophies returning across the sea from the high-class York Ebor Festival.
Emma Nagle and Donn McClean look ahead to the final day of the meeting, along with a quality card at the Curragh.
Henri Matisse comes into the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Futurity Stakes as the clear favourite, and for good reason. After a surprise win in the Railway Stakes, he has emerged as yet another exciting Ballydoyle two-year-old prospect, with the form from that race looking solid. The Strikin Viking, who was just edged out in a Group 2 at Goodwood, and Arizona Blaze, who has been consistently placing at Group level, have both enhanced the race's reputation. Henri Matisse shapes as though the step up to 7f could bring out further improvement, making him odds-on to back up that Railway success.
Scorthy Champ, though lightly raced, is an intriguing contender. He won his maiden back in May with an impressive turn of foot, although the form hasn’t held up as well as one might hope - Hotazhell, who was fourth that day, is the only horse from that race to show much promise since.
Donn McClean is eager to see what Scorthy Champ can do in this step up in grade, saying, “Scorthy Champ won on his racecourse debut back in May and we haven’t seen him since. Besides Hotazhell, who was fourth that day, the race he won maybe isn’t working out as well as you would have liked, but he still did it well and I’m interested to see him. But it’s hard to argue with Henri Matisse being an odds-on shot now, isn’t it?”
Bedtime Story has been a standout filly this season, and she comes into the Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes as the 1/14 favourite. Her performances have been nothing short of phenomenal, including a dominant win in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot against the colts. Reflecting on her season, Donn McClean commented, “Any reasonable person would have to be impressed with what she has done; she has just been phenomenal! What she did in the Chesham Stakes was one of the standout performances of Royal Ascot against the colts.”
If any filly in the field poses a threat to Bedtime Story, it might be Bubbling. She impressed with a win in a hotly contested maiden at the Galway Festival—a race known for producing top-class fillies. However, as Donn notes, her stablemate may simply have too much class on this occasion.
Audience has been one of the season’s revelations, earning a top rating after a string of spectacular performances. On official ratings, the field has plenty to find with the Cheveley Park horse. However, Donn McClean believes that value can be found elsewhere, especially if the ground softens. “If the ground does ease up, Kinross could have the opportunity to reverse placings with Audience; he has won the last two renewals of this race,”
He also emphasised the importance of course form at York: “York is one of those tracks where course form is more important than it is at a lot of other tracks. It’s always important, but whatever it is about York, if you have course form there, it seems to be a big asset.” One horse that could be interesting at a bigger price is Shouldhavebeenaring, who steps back up to 7f. “I think back at York, up to 7f will suit him. He has lots to find on official ratings with Audience, but I think he has plenty in his favour, and he may be a bit overpriced.”
The Ebor Handicap is always a fascinating race, and this year is no exception. Queenstown has been the subject of significant ante-post support, backed from 14/1 down to 7/1, making him the market leader for this year’s renewal. The lightly-raced Ballydoyle colt has been playing second fiddle to superstar stablemate Kyprios this season, finishing second to him twice. Though he was pulled from the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot due to a veterinary issue, encouraging comments from Aidan O’Brien have reignited interest, and it would be no surprise if he landed this on just his seventh racecourse start.
However, Donn McClean sees value in two longer-priced selections. “If there’s an Irish horse that’s overpriced, it’s probably Yashin. He ran in the race last year and he ran well. He finished seventh in the end, but he wasn’t beaten that far—he was only beaten three lengths by Absurde, and he’s in off the same mark today.”
But Donn’s main fancy at a big price is Crystal Delight for Harry Eustace. “Actually, the one who I think is most overpriced is Crystal Delight. He’s only run three times for Harry, he won well at Epsom over 10f, and then next time he went to York—and we’re back to the importance of York course form. He was really impressive that day,” McClean said.
“He is a front-runner, and it’s not easy to make all of the running in an Ebor, but Trawlerman did it in 2022, and Fujaira Prince in 2020 was prominent. It is possible to do it. Given his course form and the fact that he won so well here over a mile and a half, he is interesting. He will need to stay the trip, but he shapes like he will see it out,”.
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