York Ebor Festival Tips: Betfair Trading Team's five bets for Friday from 2/1 to 12/1

York, 14:25, Longsdale Cup - Back Amiloc @ 3/14.00

3 (6)

Amiloc

• J: Rossa Ryan
• T: Ralph Beckett
• F: 11124-66U

• SBK 3/1
• EXC 4.4

The retirement of Trawlerman has made this a very intriguing and competitive affair. Caballo De Mar is the obvious form pick in a race which lacks a star performer, being a Group 1 winner over this distance on soft ground in France. However, it is the Ralph Beckett-trained Amiloc who catches the eye here, trying two miles again after his Goodwood Cup unseat.

Some of his form over shorter trips, including his Breeders' Cup fourth, indicates he should definitely have the class for this. It's just a matter of whether he stays or not.

York, 15:00, Gimcrack Stakes - Back Never Enough @ 12/113.00

11 (9)

Never Enough

• J: William Buick
• T: Ed Walker
• F: 21

• SBK 11/1
• EXC 15

This is a fascinating renewal of the Gimcrack, with a number of different scenarios likely to play out. Arapaho Gold is favourite and rightly so on the back of three impressive wins, but one wonders where his ceiling might be and if he has reached it.

Adday of Scarlett is also a short price. However, with four consecutive seconds to his name, he is not one I could be backing at that kind of price.

Marco Polo makes definite interest for the powerful Aiden O'Brien stable after a promising debut at the Curragh. However, I'm going to side with one at a price, namely Never Enough.

He is a big, powerful horse who Ed Walker has openly admitted is one they will be taking their time with after his impressive Ascot maiden win. He looks the type who could handle softer ground and is a colt who looks like he will definitely have improved again from his second run.

York, 15:35, Nunthorpe Stakes - Back American Affair @ 8/19.00

2 (4)

American Affair

• J: Paul Mulrennan
• T: Jim Goldie
• F: 151-02061

• SBK 13/2
• EXC 9.8

The Nunthorpe Stakes is the feature race of the day, which is sure to garner huge amounts of attention with Ascot winner Bacio making his reappearance, though he is a horse I'm willing to take on.

He's drawn in stall five, which is sure to be a huge help. However, there are definite question marks on his ability to repeat his Ascot run on softer ground.

Rayevka is another horse atop the market who is proven on more testing ground and has a definite chance, but my pick is previous C&D winner American Affair.

He looked back to his best at Goodwood, winning his side comfortably, and with him having good York form and also some form on softer surfaces, this might be a good opportunity for him to win another Group 1.

York, 16:10 - Back Primo Lara @ 9/25.50

15 (10)

Primo Lara (Ire)

• J: C. T. Keane
• T: Jane Chapple-Hyam
• F: 69-962511

• SBK 4/1
• EXC 7

An ultra-competitive handicap in which numerous hold chances, though I just can't get away from Primo Lara.

Coming in off back-to-back wins since returning to the Jane Chapple-Hyam stable, I'm confident he will complete his hat-trick here.

He has bolted up in both those wins but the piece of form which really catches my eye is his C&D win here in 2024 on soft ground when he was previously with the stable.

Question marks hang over numerous of the runners on this type of ground, so with him in top form, he looks a good option here.

York, 16:45 - Back Oklahoma @ 2/13.00

10 (10)

Oklahoma (Usa)

• J: Ryan Moore
• T: Aidan O'Brien, Ireland
• F: 23

• SBK 15/8
• EXC 2.86

A really competitive and interesting maiden though Oklahoma looks the obvious choice for Aiden O'Brien and Coolmore.

He failed to meet expectations in a strong Killarney maiden after an extremely pleasing debut at the Curragh, but that Killarney run came in a cold spell for the stable, so I'm willing to discount that and give him the nod here.

Lancaster Tower was clearly fancied at Sandown and failed to meet expectations, and I'm hoping he finds one too good here again.

Now read Mark Milligan's tips for Day 3 of the York Ebor Festival.