York Ebor / Geoffrey Riddle / 21 August 2009 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet View Market

A little bit worse for wear after tipping Roaring Forte and Lady Of The Desert yesterday, Geoffrey Riddle is still trackside at York for all the latest news, interviews and price movements from the Knavesmire. Send in your hints, tips, questions and hangover cures by e-mail to him at: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

5pm
So there we are Betfairers. The Ebor meeting is over for another year. It seems such a long time ago that Sea the Stars beat Mastercraftsman in the Juddmonte. But we've had other good performances, too. Sesenta's little frame hiding her huge heart in the Ebor, the bloodless performances of Whispering Gallery and Showcasing on the same day.

But I think out of all of them Lady Of the Desert tops them all. It was a sensational performance, and let's hope after the likes of Flashy Wings, Nadhoodh, and Queen's Logic, perhaps owner Mr Jaber Abdullah may have some luck with Lady Of The Desert and finally win the 1,000 Guineas?

Last night there were raucous scenes after racing down in the cheap seats. 'Sweet Caroline' was being hammered out by a good 'ol band and the crowd were all a sea of drunken merriment. The band have just started up again, so I had better go before I get corralled into it. I'm beginning to flag.

It's been great guys, although not the most profitable meeting for me. I hope you have won money. I'd better go, we've reached the end of the road. See you next time at Doncaster for the St Leger meeting. Here's a little music to keep you going for the next half hour before the weekend.

4.50pm
1: Swingkeel
2: Saga de Tercey
3: Aaim To Prosper
There are wide grins all round the Knavesmire as Swingkeel comes home easily. There's nothing like a short-priced favourite in the lucky last is there! That wily old fox John Dunlop, eh? It was his third winner of the day. He knew a thing or two didn't he? "I've got some firepower left," he told us at 2.05pm, when I flagged up Swingkeel's chances. If only cyberspace allowed sound, I'd shout in a John McCririck-esuq fashion, "Were you on!?"

4.40pm
Right team. The lucky last. Although you wouldn't know it because there is hardly anyone here. The press room is eerily empty and the racecourse harbours a few dour Yorkshiremen. It's so sad.

This isn't an easy contest, either, and there are the musical chair jockey bookings to take into account. Frankie has zipped off to Salisbury, so Kevin Shea rides Judgethemoment. Michael Hills is also unavailable, so Tom Eaves takes the ride on Valmari. Or is it Snoqualmie Boy? The announcer can't decide.

Swingkeel, as we all know, is heavily fancied by the John Dunlop team, and Judgethemoment would rate a massive chance considering Sesenta, who finished second to him at Royal Ascot, scooted home in the Ebor on Wednesday. Judgethemoment has already beaten Swingkeel this season, at Ascot, by a neck, but the Dunlop runner is 2lbs worse off.

The one to consider from leftfield though, is Gordonsville. He has been well backed today - he was matched at [30.0] and his run behind Darley Sun and Alanbrooke looks a lot better after the first race.

4.05pm result:
1: Businessman
2: Noble Greek
3: Dherghaam
Once again a local trainer hits the bullseye. Well done Mark Johnston. It's been a good day for the UAE-owned horses, too. Akmal and Alanbrooke bossed the first race, remember. Businessman looks to have a bright future. He was bought for 68,000gns, then bought again as a foal for 90,000gns, and then finally the Crown Prince of Dubai bought him for 105,000gns. Easy money, eh?

3.25pm result - The Nunthorpe
1: Borderlescott
2: Benbaun
3: Radiohead
The local lads nick it from the big guns, right? Jockey Neil Callan just waited and waited, enjoying the tow, before unleashing Borderlescott to collar Benbaun at the line.

Wonderful stuff, both locally trained. Radiohead stayed on for third, and thank god we won't have to hyperlink any witty Radiohead songs, either. (Are there any witty Radiohead songs?)

Winning trainer Robin Bastiman was in good humour afterwards. It's understandable really, his stable houses just 20 horses and he's just picked up his percentage of £136,248.

"He's won two Group 1s and I've only got 20 horses in the yard," he joked. "I think everyone had written him off this morning, especially you boys, the press. I opened the paper this morning and wondered whether he was running!"

Borderlescott goes to the Prix de L'Abbaye in Paris on the Arc card, but it may be better to wait to closer to the time due to the ground. Bastiman continued. "He wants a fast pace and firm ground, which is what he got today." He's unlikely to get rattling fast ground at Longchamp.

3.15pm
Aww. The tender little dear. Brian Meehan has been given permission by the Stewards to take Radiohead down to the start with the guidance of a pony. All youngsters must be protected by a guardian mustn't they? Careful though, it is the same pony that guided Lady Of The Desert down to the start yesterday, and look what a sensational performance she put in?

I managed to snatch a conversation with Michael Bell. He took an age to saddle Art Connoisseur. In the same time, Benbaun, Raddiohead, Ialysos, and Dandy man were all saddled an out into the parade ring.

Bell wasn't very confident. "Well, I am hopeful," he said. "It is the first time he has raced at this distance at this level. I'm not sure how well he will cope with the step back in trip to be honest. I'll tell you in 15 minutes."

Thanks Mr Bell. I want to know now!! For the record, Art Connoisseur has won twice over five furlongs.

By the way. Ialysos looked wonderful again. Huge, shiny and irresistible. I will not be sucked in once more.

2.50pm result
1: Dream Eater
1: Confront
3: Royal Confidence
Time: 1m23.15
The crowd exclaim an enormous "ooooooohhhh" as the tannoy dryly announces that it is a dead-heat. I'm really glad I decided to bin Confront.

There have been three colts from the Classic generation who have won the Nunthorpe in the last decade. All three won over six furlongs before dropping down for this. Admittedly, Stravinsky (1999), Mozart (2001) and Oasis Dream all won the July Cup en route to a victory here, but surely Art Connoisseur is just too big a price at [19.5]?

There have been many critics of the Golden Jubilee, but the facts speak for themselves. Four horses have come out of that race and have gone on to win and four have placed. It can't be that bad can it?

Betting brain Graham Cunningham has tipped Amour Propre elsewhere on betting.betfair. Henry Candy's colt must be forgiven for his last run, surely. Other than those two, there's really only last year's winner Borderlescott and the generation duellers of Kingsgate Native, who won it in 2007, and Radiohead, who gets the well-publicised 24lbs-pull for being a tender juvenile.

I'm off to try and canvass trainer Michael Bell about Art Connoisseur...

2.15pm result
1: Palavicini
2: Dream Lodge
3: Perfect Stride
John Dunlop strikes! Perhaps he meant Palavacini when he said he's got some more firepower to come! It was interesting to see Paul Hanagan on Dream Lodge keep to the far side, while the other jockeys kept to the centre. Palavacini went over to join him. The low numbers could be the place to be in the Nunthorpe.

The next race seems a toss up between Confront and Huntdown, according to the betting.

Confront contested the Gala Stakes over 1m2f7y at Sandown earlier this season. Sir Michael Stoute must have stepped him up for a reason, and it is not a move that screams out that he is going to put in a massive run back over seven furlongs. That said, he has raced against some real top-notchers, such as Aqlaam, and I don't know why everyone was so surprised that he was beaten by Mac Love last time out, because that horse beat him earlier in the season at Epsom, too.

Huntdown had entries in the Sussex stakes and the July Cup so Godolphin clearly thought he had plenty of ability. He was formerly with John Gosden, and if there is anything in the race that has the potential to improve dramatically, it is Huntdown.

Secret Society looks solid, and although a handicapper, the races he has been contesting recently have been fiercely competitive. He's been heavily backed, too, and of the front three I'd probably have to bin Confront if a gun was put to my head. It won't be. But hey, it might have been. You never can tell what may happen at the racecourse these days...

2.10pm
If that last race looked hard, this one looks almost impossible. Forgotten Voice would be the easy way out, and even at [3.45]. He was the pick of the paddock, too.

I've got a little inkling about Russian Sage. There is a strong link between Mike De Kock's stable and some employees at Betfair, and the mount of Kevin Shea drifted out to [8.2], before it was hammered back into its present level of [6.0].

Russian Sage has some smart form in South Africa, as well as Dubai where he dead-heated for second with the Jay Peg, a proven Group 1 performer. It looks a big price, and remember, Russian Sage could prove a useful indicator to Pointing North's chances in the next.

2.05pm
Beware Swingkeel in the last. John Dunlop was asked in the winners' enclosure, after Akmal whad on the first, if it had been a good week for him. "It's certainly not over yet," he laughed. "I've got some firepower to come!"

It's well known that Dunlop has fancied Swingkeel for some time, and Jimmy Fortune's mount is down to [4.1] partly due to his run behind Sweetheart at Glorious Goodwood.

Given that Alanbrooke and Bernie The Bolt sandwiched Sweetheart at Ascot last month, it is easy to see why Dunlop's horse has been well backed.

Football pundits Chris Kamara and Alan McInally were on hand to hand out the prizes to winning jockey Richard Hills. It's hardly the same, is it? Sir Alex Ferguson was here yesterday. Kamara tipped Frankie Dettori's mount in the next, Spring Of Fame.

There has been a dramatic move on course for Richard Hills to be top jockey of the meeting. 66-1 into 6-1 with Skybet. He is one behind Jimmy Fortune, but if he wins on Dherghaam in the 4.05pm, and Fortune doesn't win on Swingkeel in the last, Hills will draw level and has had more placed horses during the week.

1.45pm result
1: Akmal
2: Alanbrooke
3: Bernie the Bolt

1.35pm
Winston Churchill's famous line about Russia being 'An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in mystery' is particularly attributable to the first race here, the 1m6f handicap.

The great Seagull has gone for Classic Vintage, the top-weight, in his Pricewise column. Top-weights don't have a great record in this race, and although he won with any amount in hand at Goodwood, we have a straight, galloping, left-handed track here, not like the right-handed, switchback, idiosyncratic course down in Sussex.

Which why horses who have finished in the place money, or worse, in that race probably have such a good record here. Cosmic Sun fits that description perfectly, and this track, and the way the race will be run will suit him very well.

Both of the Mark Johnston horses, Alanbrooke and Alcade like to force the pace, as does Penang Princess. That's a lot of pace, and our good old friend the tailwind is still blowing.

Cosmic Sun races pretty prominently though and remember earlier about the weight of money that was on him? He's down to [6.0] now, meaning he's been backed into favouritism.

I've had a little bit on Barwell Bridge in the place market at [8.2]. Sylvester Kirk's colt has beaten Cosmic Sun in the past, and has a 9lbs pull for a 1 ½ length beating at Royal Ascot. That is a hell of a lot, and he has had excuses in his two subsequent starts since the Royal Meeting. He's not sure to stay, but at [30.0] on the exchanges, he may well trade shorter in-running, too, as he's a presser.

1.05pm
Newsflash everybody! Jeremy Noseda has just confirmed to me that Jimmy Fortune officially takes the vacated ride aboard Forgotten Voice, the favourite for the Stenstall Stakes at 2.15pm.

There's been all sorts of jockey musical chairs, with Murtagh needing to ride at Killarney, and Frankie Dettori needing to go to Salisbury. South African jockey Kevin O'Shea rides Judgethemoment in the last, while Frankie flies off, most likely in a helicopter, to Salisbury to partner Godolphin's Black Snowflake in the 6.25pm.

1pm:
I've just had a spot of lunch to keep me staying on lasagne again. I could eat Italy's finest export all day, which is good, becuase this is the third time it has been on offer in the press area this week. Still, you can't crab a free lunch can you?

There are some very tenuous links that bond some of the runners on today's card. Ashley writes: "Anyone want the infertile double? Court Masterpiece and Kingsgate Native? Both fired blanks at stud, but can they fire themselves into the winners enclosure?!."

Ho Ho Ashley... well done. I appreciate the effort at trying to make me smile. It's very difficult today. The Peloponnese links two other runners here today. Ialysos, aka 'the Greek Freak', runs in the Nunthorpe, while Noble Greek, runs in the 4.05pm. We could be here all afternoon. Go on then. Any others? Email: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com

Seriously though, Noble Greek has been heavily backed in the offices and on Betfair. The mount of Robert Winston was foiled by subsequent Listed winner Iver Bridge Lad on his debut, and then found Arcano and pals far too hot last time out in the July Stakes.

In contrast Ialysos has drifted. Visually impressive as a thoroughbred, he hasn't lived up to his glorious frame on the racecourse. He's drifted from a low of [16.5] out to [24.0]. 'Meek Greek', more like. Boom Boom!

12.15pm
Talking of price movements, there is a very interesting move in the 2.55pm. Some of the high street bookies have flagged this one up, especially Skybet, who have cut their 40-1 about Pointing North to 28-1.

Bryan Smart trains for the first time, but his stable has been in shocking form this week. Go Nani Go finished 8th of 15 yesterday, and Monalini was 19th of 20 as well. Before that Vitoria finished sixth in a field of 12, and Aegean Dancer ran too bad to be true in the first race of the meeting, finishing last behind Barney McGrew.

It all hinges on Russian Sage, Mike De Kock's horse who runs in the race beforehand. Russian Sage dead-heated for second with proven Group 1 winner Jay Peg at Nad al Sheba in the winter. Pointing North beat Russian Sage in South Africa in January, which suggests, on his best form, he would be all over the likes of Confront and Huntdown. There has been £2,378 traded on Pointing North, the highest price at [55.0]. It's down to [30.0] now.

"What happened then?" asks a concerned Fay. Alright then.

So there I was, looking at the price fluctuations on Betfair on my computer at 10.30pm. What a loser, some of you may be thinking, which is precisely what I thought. I had taken an early dinner, so I decided to go for a nightcap in the glorious historic centre of York.
I met up with an old friend of mine, who decided it was a good idea to go to a bar called the 'Evil Eye'. I should have known just from the name it was a bad idea, and that 'just the one drink' was probably at the bottom of the agenda. I should have also known after I walked through the door when I realised that the reception area was a glorified off licence. The booze in there was lethal, think absinthe and specialist spirits you've never heard of before.

I was propelled back to my guest house early this morning by the taste of rocket fuel in my mouth. But don't worry folks. I did all my research last night, so there is nothing to fear with today's blog. I've had a massive breakfast and I'll be tanking until around 4.30pm I reckon, when I'll fade badly and be pulled up.

Midday
Last night at around 10.30pm, the Racing Post ticker intimated that Radiohead was attracting almost a third more bets than Kingsgate Native for the Nunthorpe.

All the money was for the Meehan juvenile, which doesn't seem to be the case this morning on Betfair. At the time of writing there has been around 74k matched on Radiohead, and 95k on Kingsgate Native.

Anyhow, all the traffic was for the big Group 1, but Cosmic Sun was the first horse from another race to be picked up by the Racing Post's betting radar. Bearing in mind that Cosmic Sun isn't the favourite for the 1.45pm I find that very interesting indeed. Cosmic Sun has attracted more trade than his two other market rivals, Braveheart Move and Classic Vintage and the horse's price has been forced down from a solid [8.4] down to [7.0]. Remember it is the volume of trade that is important here, not necessarily how dramatically the price has changed. There are some strong opinions out there, on both sides of the blue and pink squares.

11.45am
Sorry I'm late everyone. I've had a nightmare. More of that later, though. There is nothing worse than clicking on to a blog, and getting a barrage of bilge and hate. It reminds me of my journey up here from London on Tuesday. I got a cab from my house at some ungodly hour. The cabbie picked me up to take me to King's Cross, and as soon as I got into the cab, he turned on the radio. Out poured a tirade of fury and vitriol from a bloke called Nick Ferrari. Jesus. It was terrible. Moaning about road works in the capital. I mean really. The guy needs to take it easy. Chillax. Or perhaps he needs that Dutch guy from the Grolsch adverts to come in and just say, "Stop!"....

Welcome to the final day of York's newly-installed four-day Ebor meeting. It promises to be an uber-exciting afternoon as Radiohead bids to follow in the footsteps of Kingsgate Native in the Nunthorpe - this afternoon's big Group 1. Conceding 24lbs to Radiohead is going to be some task for Kingsgate Native, as it will for last year's winner Borderlescott.

The tailwind that has served prominent racers all week is still in force, roaring down the course towards the finish line, like, well, like Roaring Forte, who won for us so well yesterday.

I'll be back in a moment...

Tags: Geoffrey Riddle, Horseracing betting, Horseracing Tips, The Ebor Meeting, The Nunthorpe Stakes, York Races