Saturday Racing Tips: Back top-rated Horses In Focus on day four of York's Ebor Festival

14:25 York - Infraad looks ideal Melrose candidate

2 (4)

Infraad (Ire)

• J: Tom Marquand
• T: William Haggas
• F: 2-3131

• SBK 11/4
• EXC 3.85

'Hot Trainer' William Haggas has won the Melrose Handicap twice since 2019 and looks to have an ideal candidate for this year's edition of the 'three-year-olds' Ebor' with progressive Goodwood winner Infraad.

He had an entry in the Great Voltigeur won by stablemate Maltese Cross, but he remains of interest in good-quality handicaps and gave the impression last time the longer trip of the Melrose would suit ideally.

While he only had a head to spare at Goodwood and then had to survive an inquiry, Infraad showed a great attitude, earning the 'Horse In Focus' flag, and heads the Timeform ratings here with a 'p'.

15:00 York - Shorter trip to suit Notable Speech

4 (1)

Notable Speech

• J: William Buick
• T: Charlie Appleby
• F: 45211-416

• SBK 3/1
• EXC 5.1

The second running of the City of York Stakes looks a fascinating contest featuring a mix of sprinters and milers meeting over the intermediate distance of seven furlongs.

The sprinters in the field should make for plenty of pace and that looks an ideal scenario for 'Hot Trainer' Charlie Appleby's high-class miler Notable Speech to produce his turn of foot over this shorter trip.

The Godolphin five-year-old landed a fifth Group 1 in the Lockinge Stakes before a below-par run at Ascot, but that can be overlooked and he's the one to beat heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings.

16:45 York - Speedy Adonius will be hard to catch

1 (8)

Adonius (Ire)

• J: Kaiya Fraser
• T: Rebecca Menzies
• F: 1112

• SBK 9/4
• EXC 3.05

Speedy two-year-old Adonius has made an excellent start to his career for Rebecca Menzies, and he should take some catching in the Julia Graves Roses Stakes over this flat five furlongs.

He ran up an early-season hat-trick with two wins at Musselburgh and the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester where he gave weight to Hickory Lad who meets him on worse terms here.

Given a break, Adonius met with his first defeat in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last time, but he earned the 'Horse In Focus' flag for that good effort behind Pershaada and heads the Timeform ratings.

Now read Alan Dudman's Saturday Ebor Big Race Verdict