-
Mark Milligan previews day three of York's Ebor meeting
-
He fancies a pair each-way and a win-only multiple
-
Free bet for customers betting £5 on multis during York
York - 13:50 - Back Bague D'Or each-way, four places @ 10/111.00
Day three of York's Ebor meeting will open on a poignant note as former champion jockey and northern stalwart Paul Hanagan takes his final ride before retiring from the saddle.
Hanagan will be on board Wootton'Sun for his old boss Richard Fahey, and you'd have to think the pair have plotted to come together one last time in an attempt to send Hanagan out on the highest of highs at Yorkshire's premier track.
Unfortunately, every man and his dog has spotted this and Fahey's charge currently heads the betting in a competitive 1m 4f handicap (13:50).
As nice as it would be to see one of northern racing's best servants go out with a winner, we have to be dispassionate when it comes to betting and there simply isn't any juice left in Wootton'Sun's price.
The one that catches my eye at the current odds is James Ferguson's Bague D'Or, who we haven't seen for over a year, but you have to think he's been laid out for this, and his shrewd trainer can usually be relied upon to have one fit and ready.
Most progressive in four starts for Chris Wall last season, the selection was runner-up to subsequent Ebor winner Trawlerman at last season's Glorious Goodwood meeting, and he's still low mileage for a five-year-old.
I'm expecting Bague D'Or to run a big race and we've also got the safety net of four places available on the Sportsbook for each-way purposes.
York - 16:10 - Back Youngest each-way, four places @ 8/19.00
Despite there being four places available on the day's feature race, 5f Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (15:35), It's a tricky race to play from an each-way perspective as, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Highfield Princess and Bradsell should fill two of the first four places.
For what's worth, I think Highfield Princess will take the world of beating and strongly fancy her to reverse Royal Ascot form with Bradsell at a track that really plays to her strengths.
We could look at one or two of the bigger priced ones to try and make the frame, but nothing really makes too much appeal outside of the handful towards the head of the market.
Instead, let's turn our attention to the following 1m 2f fillies' handicap (16:10), where I'm expecting Roger Varian's filly Youngest to improve getting to race over further than a mile for the first time.
This well-bred filly hails from a family that the trainer knows well, being the first foal of Canadian Grade 1 winner Sheikha Reika, who Varian sent out to win the E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in 2018.
Youngest is certainly bred to be much better than a handicapper and it will be something of surprise if she can't do some serious damage from a mark in the low-80s sooner rather than later.
She shaped much better than the bare result when seventh in a Goodwood handicap last time, meeting trouble on more than one occasion, and she looks the type who will thrive as she gets to race over middle distances.
Hollie Doyle is also a positive jockey booking and I'd be very hopeful Youngest can give a good account of herself from her perch towards the bottom of the weights.
Back Courage Mon Ami 14:25 and Highfield Princess 15:35 in a Sportsbook multiple @ around 9/110.00
As mentioned in the first two columns this week, the Sportsbook has a bet £5 get offer (T&C's here) running at York all this week and we're going to try and take advantage of that with another win-only double.
The Group 2 Londsale Cup (14:25) for the stayers hasn't attracted a big field, but it is a classy one, and I'm giving Courage Mon Ami another chance to back up his excellent Ascot Gold Cup win.
He looked a young stayer going places that day and I suspect he's best forgiven his Goodwood Cup effort in a race that turned into a bit of a farce with Quickthorn poaching an unassailable early lead.
I'd be surprised if Frankie Dettori allows that rival too much rope this time, and Courage Mon Ami still has much more upside than any of his opponents in this contest.
Put Courage Mon Ami in a Sportsbook double with Highfield Princess, who should be blazing the trail right from the off in the Nunthorpe under her ideal conditions.
Despite her Royal Ascot reverse, John Quinn's admirable mare proved she's still at least as good as ever at Goodwood last time, and her rivals are going to have to go some to run her down over the 'flying five' on the Knavesmire.