Events / Editor / 18 August 2009 /

They say the well balanced Yorkshireman has a chip on both shoulders, but even the dourest Yorkie tends to raise a smile on Ebor day as Europe's biggest staying handicap tops the bill on the Knavesmire. Proud Lancastrian Graham Cunningham will be changing his currency at Hartshead Moor services on the M62 and aiming to make back to lay tactics work to his advantage on day two of the Ebor Festival.

1.45

Just occasionally you see a horse win and think "I have to be with that one next time."

That's what I thought when Whispering Gallery bolted up at Newmarket recently. And Mark Johnston's colt looks one to keep a very close eye on having been raised a very fair 7lb for his latest success.

Whispering Gallery won by a little over two lengths at HQ but would have doubled that margin with a little further to travel and this return to a mile-and-a-half looks ideal. He's bound to be ridden handily again and appeals as the sort with the potential to trade short if he gets into the same rhythm which characterised last week's win.

The form of the Newmarket handicap in which Class Is Class finished third is copper bottomed and he rates a danger to all now he takes another step up in trip.

Yes Mr President, Coin Of The Realm and Seeking The Buck will also attract support, but Whispering Gallery is far less exposed. In short, I'll be dismayed and poorer if he doesn't go very close.

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2.15

Only six runners, yet this looks a riddle wrapped in an enigma.

Macorville hasn't shown a lot in two runs since his long injury break, while Baddam has dropped to a mark of 85 and simply doesn't look up to this level these days.

That leaves four, but Askar Tau ran a sulky race on his reappearance in the Goodwood Cup and Enroller was below par there. He also seems ideally served by more give in the ground than he is likely to encounter here.

Royal And Regal is more than good enough to win this at his best and the fact that he hasn't been seen since flopping in the Yorkshire Cup here in May suggests something must have been wrong that day.

Along with reliable handicapper Drill Sergeant he is probably the safe option. But when a race is filled with negatives it's often best to watch rather than bet. And, on balance, that might well be the best strategy here.

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2.50

He's won six of seven and was unlucky in the other, so why do I want to take on Monsieur Chevalier?

In short, because I suspect a tendency to get behind on a fast track like this could count against him and the likes of Orpen Grey, Showcasing and Taajub might be improving faster than he is now.

At the time of writing he's trading at [2.9]. And at that price I'm a layer. Make that a strong layer.

Orpen Grey's high cruising speed was seen to fine advantage behind the exciting Arcano in the July Stakes, while Showcasing has left a striking impression in two runs in maiden company and Taajub brushed a useful subsequent winner aside at Newmarket.

If forced to choose between them I suspect I would side with the exciting Showcasing. But Betfair was made for taking a stand against favourites when you feel you have several strong alternatives.

And in this case I feel that I do.

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3.25

Any number of possible angles in an Ebor which might just be less competitive than the numbers suggest.

The freewheeling Warringah tops my list of possible back to lay contenders. I've already stepped in ante-post on the back of two career best efforts here and at Goodwood, but he's still trading at [10.0] and anyone who takes the current price with a view to trading out at around [4.0] could be in business two out.

Changingoftheguard is plainly on the up but is priced accordingly and can run without my money on his back off a mark of 107 at little over [4.0].

Record Breaker is too good a horse to be trading at [40.0] plus and also offers clear back to lay potential, while the reliable Desert Sea is another live longshot and first reserve Precision Break can come into the equation if he sneaks in late.

However, I'm less convinced about several potential place lay candidates. Lack of pace could be a worry for The Betchworth Kid if the ground stays fast, while Munsef has a penalty for winning with little in hand at Ascot and a wide draw to combat, too.

Red Merlin's high cruising speed could be offset by a lack of stamina on his first attempt at this distance given that his sire Soviet Star is hardly renowned for producing stayers, while it isn't easy to see which piece of Deutschland's Flat form entitles him to a mark of 100.

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