Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Thursday at the York Ebor Festival

Lowther Stakes, York, 13:50 - Back Ruby Moon E/W @ 16/117.00

No Nay Never filly Ruby Moon made a successful start at Carlisle in June, winning well at odds of 4/15.00, beating Silesia by a length-and-a-quarter. She subsequently finished an eye-catching fourth to Senorita Bonita in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at the July Festival, with Albany Stakes winner Libertango in second and Alwaysanangel, an impressive Listed winner since, in third.

Ruby Moon raced away from the others for much of the closing stages, which may have slightly had an effect on her finishing kick, but she stuck to the task well to be beaten only a couple of lengths by some exceptionally talented fillies.

With that in mind, she could represent value at double-figure odds and be capable of at least making the frame for Richard and Peter Fahey under in-form rider Oisin Orr.

Out of Ruby Shield, a daughter of Ruby Tuesday, half-sister to a number of black-type achievers including Group One winners in Quarter Moon and Yesterday, there's plenty of class in Ruby Moon's pedigree. Her dam is a half-sister to Midnight Mile, a Listed winner at York who landed the Oh So Sharp Stakes as well as finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

From a brilliant family, there could be plenty of further improvement to come from Ruby Moon, who has already shaped with promise and makes only her third career start. She remains unexposed and could be capable of outrunning her odds.

Lowther Stakes, York, 13:50 - Back Wild Blossom E/W @ 8/19.00

Karl Burke-trained filly Wild Blossom is another contender to note in the hugely competitive Group Two contest, making her fourth appearance having won two from three races to date. She won by 10-lengths over Crownbreaker on debut at Carlisle, but couldn't make a significant impression in the Queen Mary Stakes, despite emerging with some credit, far from disgraced at Royal Ascot. 

A return to the winners' enclosure at Goodwood followed, where she convincingly beat the likes of Fast Track, second in a Newbury Listed contest since and previous close second to Senoria Bonita, and Zigazig Ah, who had won a competitive 24-runner contest previously.

The daughter of Mehmas, who fetched 300,000gns as a breeze up, is out of a half-sister to Group One winner Bayside Boy, Duchess Rose, and has plenty of black-type in her pedigree. She has impressed during her career so far and is another largely unexposed contender who could be capable of taking another step forward.

York, 14:25 - Back Where Love Lives E/W @ 18/119.00

Cotai Glory colt Where Love Lives made a promising start for Donnacha O'Brien on yard debut in the Richmond Stakes when last seen, putting in a creditable effort in fourth behind Man's Best Friend. Entitled to take a step forward for the run, he could fare well in this competitive contest under Billy Loughnane, making each-way appeal having previously landed Stakes success with substance to the form.

On debut at Thirsk, Where Love Lives made a successful start for former trainer Kevin Ryan, impressing to beat subsequent Epsom winner Hickory Lad, who earned himself a rating of 100, by a length-and-a-half. He then claimed Listed honours at Sandown beating Adaay Of Scarlett, who has since finished second in three respective Group Two contests, including in the Coventry Stakes, currently rated 106.

Although Where Love Lives was unable to land a blow in the Norfolk Stakes, he returned to some form when last seen and could have further improvement to come. He's one to note considering the level of form he has shown previously and could give a good account of himself.

York, 15:00 - Back Eternal Force E/W @ 12/113.00

In the Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap, William Haggas holds a strong hand with defending champion Bullet Point along with the interesting Eternal Force. Whilst the former holds leading claims, the latter makes each-way appeal as he's still relatively unexposed and could be capable of posing a threat from his current rating of 98.

Equipped with first-time blinkers which could spark further improvement, the son of Dubawi comes into the racing following a sixth-placed effort at Newcastle in June. He wasn't disgraced as the beaten favourite on that occasion, but didn't perform to the level he's capable of and should be more comfortable back on Turf returning to a mile trip.

Previously, the four-year-old gelding was only narrowly denied by Diego Ventura at Hamilton having finished seventh of 21 runners when sent off at odds of 4/15.00 on reappearance in the Lincoln. He had enjoyed a faultless second half of the season last year, recording three wins following a gelding operation, including two victories in handicap company, and, although he's 10lb higher than his latest success, he could still be capable of better and may prove worth keeping the faith in.

Yorkshire Oaks, York, 15:35 - Back Sparan Nua E/W @ 25/126.00

In the feature race on the second day of the Ebor Festival, the Yorkshire Oaks, nine classy fillies head to pose with Kalpana and Minnie Hauk at the top of the market followed by Irish Oaks winner Johanna Walsh.

At a bigger price, Classic-placed Sparan Nua is an intriguing contender for Jim Bolger, who appears to have plenty of faith in his filly. She wasn't effective when dropping back to a mile at Leopardstown when last seen, but the return to a mile-and-a-half will suit and she was an eye-catcher in defeat in the Irish Oaks last month.

At the Curragh that day, the daughter of Dawn Approach struggled to find a clear passage at a crucial stage and was fighting a losing battle from there on in with the winner having extended an advantageous lead on the field. Sparan Nua finished strongly once in daylight and shaped with great promise and the suggestion of further improvement to come, and, although she has to take a step forward and prove herself in these deep waters, she remains unexposed.

Unbeaten in her first three starts, she landed Group Three honours before heading into her first top level assignment. She has the scope for further improvement and could outrun her odds under Rossa Ryan.

York, 16:10 - Back K Sarra E/W @ 33/134.00

First-time blinkers could spark a revival for K Sarra, who hasn't been seen to best effect of late but was an eye-catching third to Legacy Link in the Group Three Musiadora earlier in the season here.

In her previous trip to York, the daughter of New Bay stuck to the task well late on, showing speed in the closing stages over the extended mile-and-a-quarter trip and enough staying ability to suggest a step up in distance would suit.

She didn't run her race in the Oaks at Epsom and was again disappointing at Newmarket when dropping into Listed company last month, but she's capable of better as shown earlier in the campaign and, as with her brother Pride Of Arras, a return to the Knavesmire could allow her to show the best of her ability.

York, 16:10 - Back Sunshine Star E/W @ 25/126.00

Unexposed filly Sunshine Star shouldn't be discounted at a price considering she has made only one appearance over the trip, when far from disgraced in Listed company at Newmarket, and this is only her sixth career start.

The daughter of Sea The Stars could be capable of showing plenty of further progression and there's a great amount of class in her pedigree. Her dam, Dream Peace, was a high-achieving Group Two winner who has already produced four black-type achievers including Oaks winner Soul Sister. 

Whilst further improvement is required in this company, the John and Thady Gosden-trained filly could be good enough to put in a competitive effort at this level and is an interesting contender.

York, 16:45 - Back Mia Fantasia E/W @ 5/16.00

Mia Fantasia was sent off at odds of 2/13.00 for a competitive 18-runner handicap at Goodwood when last seen, but he didn't enjoy a favourable trip, struggling to find daylight in the closing stages in a run worth forgiving. He remains unexposed in handicap company and makes appeal from a rating of 79 which could prove lenient.

The son of Make Believe was successful on debut at Carlisle when beating ten rivals, including subsequent winner Telegraphic, now rated 82, in good style. He then chased home subsequent Group Two winner Dr Rascal, now rated 110, in an Ascot novice event, with reopposing Rising Tiger in second.

Whilst he needs to find further improvement to reverse the form with Rising Tiger, this is a different challenge and he did give 3lb to the runner-up on that occasion, currently on a 5lb lower rating as they meet in handicap company.

There should be more to come from Mia Fantasia, who should be capable of progressing beyond his current mark and is one to consider for Hugo Palmer and Marco Ghiani.

York, 16:45 - Back Bymiddaytomorrow E/W @ 16/117.00

In-form filly Bymiddaytomorrow is unbeaten since stepping up to 7f, bidding for a third successive win. A 5lb rise for her latest success on handicap debut may not be enough to deter her progression, and she could be capable of going close under Tom Marquand in this competitive handicap.

The Mehmas filly shaped with some promise over 6f in novice company earlier in the season, and has extra experience in her favour now. She has been improving with her racing and, although a further step up is required if she is to pose a threat, she remains unexposed with the scope for more improvement.

Her dam, Galileo mare Catchingsnowflakes, is a half-sister to Kameko and she had already produced Group Three-winning The Waco Kid, who was once fourth to The Lion In Winter in the Acomb Stakes at this meeting.

York, 17:20 - Back Perfect Part E/W @ 30/131.00

Four-year-old filly Perfect Part hasn't been the most consistent but has been luckless on occasion, including over course-and-distance at the Dante Festival last year, and appears well-treated on a going day from a mark of 83 with Tom Kiely-Marshall claiming 5lb.

The Brian Ellison-trained contender, who was a shock 125/1126.00 winner on debut as a juvenile, has been rated as high as 95 during her career to date, and has also been able to perform with credit in Listed company. She could be worth keeping the faith in from a workable weight, and could outrun her odds.

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