York Ebor Festival 2023

[Ken4155]

Begins today and, as one would expect, the Knavesmire is responsible for the bulk of the ITV 7, providing 5 races, including the first leg at 1.50. The 2.50 Bath and 3.15 Carlisle make up the numbers.

[Canary42]

I prefer Yorkie Bar !

[Ken4155]

See what you did, there, Canary:-)

3.15 Car; Happier @ 9/1 - 4 places
4.10 Yor; Robert Johnson @ 11/2 - 5 places
4.45 Yor; Designer @ 9/2 - 5 places
5.20 Yor; Starlust @ 4/1 - 4 places

Win singles, 20p L15 2 x £1 e.w. accas. 4 placed = £38, 4 winners = £3,905.

ITV7; Korker (win single), Ballymount Boy*, Secret Handsheikh, Gregory*, Happier, Paddington* & Robert Johnson. Omitted Paddington from £1 e.w acca.

*= £2 free bet acca with Sky along with Starlust (4.20 Y) for a poss £163.

Also with Sky; £2.50 e.w. (free bet) Vintage Clarets @ 20/1 - 7 places.

Best of luck, all.

[Togo]

Didn't even look at the card today Ken. Had an early doors follow up medical appointment after my recent "repair", and blood tests etc. Will be having a look for tomorrow. Just watched Frankie lower the colours of Paddington with a clockwork master ride. Galloped it to death. Just like Roberto did to the Brigadier.

[Ken4155]

I said on the Stealing Money thread that when you see Frankie ride like that, you have to question his decision to retire at the end of the season. I honestly did not believe that his mount could concede the weight to Paddington and i'm just thankful that Moore had already brought home the bacon with his earlier win:-)
Vintage Clarets placed for me, Designer won well and i also had a forecast up which paid £22 at Bath. So not a bad day from a betting POV.
But i then tread that my fav pilot, Paul Hanagan is to call it a day at the end of this meeting. I was already a fan of the Fahey stable and I latched on to a young Paul Hanagan back in 2002 when he rode a winner at Beverley while i was in attendance.
He has won me more than a few quid down the years and i will be sorry to see him go. However, he has not been the same rider since his accident when he broke 3 vertebrae and his decision makes sense. All good things, and all that.
5 from the Knavesmire again, today, with one each from Chepstow and Stratford - yes, sorry Togo, a jumps race during the flat season. I can here you gnashing your teeth:-))

[Ken4155]

As you are aware, i am a student of statistics - they often help me whittle big-field handicaps down to a more manageable level. But not with today's 3.00 York! 20 runners and, by following the stats, i can only get rid of 3 - and then tenuously on weight and age. All 20 have a chance, imho - the outsider of the field is the Charlie Johnston trained Outbreak @ 50/1, but it wouldn't be a complete surprise were it to head them all at the line, now it's dropping back in distance.
I've had to rely on gut instinct and i've plumped for one of Outbreak's 4 stable-mates in Dutch Decoy, arguably the most consistent horse in the race, having been placed on it's last 6 outings.

[Togo]

I spent more time looking at that field Ken and went with good draw, nice weight, good jockey, likes, the going and CD winner. Master Richard it is. Get back before the off with my "ones to avoid".

[Ken4155]

2.25 York; Persica @ 5/1 - 6 places
3.35 York; Bluestocking @ 13/2 - 4 places
4.10 York; Market Value @ 9/1 - 5 places

50p R Robin, £1 e.w. Treble. 3 placed = £12, 3 winners = £762

3.15 Stra; Magic Mike @ 15/2 - 4 places
4.25 Stra; Call Of The Loon @ 10/3 - 4 places
4.45 York; Lincoln Legacy @ 8/1 - 6 places
5.20 York; Sophia's Starlight @ 7/1 - 6 places (RF/c with Nigiri)

20p L15, 2 x £1 e.w. accas (365 and Sky). 4 placed = £48, 4 winners = £5,350.

Done a couple of Placepots and, on a whim, the Place 6 at Chepstow.

ITV7; above qualifiers, plus; Relief Rally & Atty's Edge (£2 win). £1 e.w. acca.

Best of luck, all.

[Togo]

Looks like it is brightening up hereabouts, so I am off out. Done the ITV7 and two punts from those races. When I get back in I may have a look at Easterby's runner in the last, Misty Blue. For some reason in the distant past I have added it to my SL "stable" as one to watch. A quick squint through its last races makes me wonder if they have been playing around with it having just such a race as this in mind. Big price. ###Win TRixie. **** E/W Acca, Trebles & Doubles. Good Luck if you are having a flutter.

Star of Mystery @11/2 1.50Y#
Fossos @9/2 2.15Ch#
Ziggy's Condor @9/2 2.25Y#
Master Richard @16/1 3.00Y*
Magic Mike @8/1 3.15St*
Warm Heart @9/1 3.35Y*
Spring Fever @10/1 4.10Y*

[Ken4155]

All the best fairy stories begin with 'Once upon a time...' and i'm hoping this particular fairy story ends with; "And Paul Hanagan lived happily ever after.
He has his last ever ride today on Richard Fahey's Wootton'sun in the 1.50 and it really would be fitting were he to sign off a quite illustrious career riding a winner for the guy who gave him the leg up. And, given the fact that Wootton'sun is the 2nd fav, at present, that scenario is not out of the question. £5 win @ boosted odds of 4.86/1.

3.00 Y; Jehangeer @ 14/1 - 4 places
4.10 Y; Sisyphus Streng @ 8/1 - 4 places
5.15 Y; Bajan Bandit @ 8/1 - 4 places

Win singles, 50p Patent, 2 x £1 e.w. accas. 3 placed = £48, 3 winners = £3,112.

ITV7; above qualifiers, plus; Dream Whisper, Going The Distance, Courage Mon Ami and Highfield Princess. £1 e.w. acca.

On early because, this frustratingly unpredictable weather permitting, i have a few hours outdoor painting to do to complete a job i began last week!

Best of luck, all.

[Ken4155]

And, just after i had finished typing the above, and had switched the laptop off, the skies darkened, the heavens opened and it's raining - which, according to the forecast, wasn't supposed to happen until this afternoon!
So it's another enforced day off for old 4155:-(

[Togo]

No heroics today, not done well at York this time round. ITV7 done with an E/W single in the first# and Win Acca, Trebles and Doubles in the last 4. Good luck if you are punting.

Bague D'Or @17/2 1.50Y#(5 places)
Dream Whisper 2.05Nm
Going The Distance 2.15FLas
Courage Mon Ami @9/4 2.25Y*
King's Gamble @5/1 3.00Y*
Highfield Princess @13/8 3.35Y*
Reach @4/1 4.10Y*

[Ken4155]

Not to be for the very likeable Paul Hanagan with Wootton'sun not getting into anything like a challenging position. I'll be sorry to see him go though i do believe he is staying in the business in one capacity or another.

[Ken4155]

Yours just pipped mine in the 4.10 Togo, but i'm happy enough - i did the f/c which paid just under £20:-)

[Ken4155]

Once again, York provides 5 of the 7 races in the ITV7 (1st leg 1.50) with Goodwood chipping in with the other 2.

[Ken4155]

A friend of mine questioned yesterday why i do e.w. accas with both 365 and Sky. I explained that while 365 have now begun offering extra places, Sky nearly always go one better, albeit at shorter odds.But Sky do have that annoying habit of offering money back instead of the extra places in some big field handicaps, such as the 2.25 at York
There is another consideration, which i discovered last night. 365 do not offer extra places on handicaps where there are only 8 runners, whereas Sky do. Having placed a L15 and e.w. acca with 365 and same with Sky, last night, i watched the first 3 all places. Waiting for the fav, Glorious Rio to do likewise in the last race at Hamilton. At the start, one horse reared up and was withdrawn, reducing the field to just 7 and, yep, you've guessed it, my selection finished 3rd.
I had been hoping for a return of £32 from 365 and £26 from Sky. As 365 were not paying extra places, obviously my e.w. acca with them was down :-((. However, because Sky were originally going 4 places, the withdrawal meant that they were now paying on 3, so i got my £26:-))
My friend has informed me today that he is now investing that extra £2 on his L15s. Monkey see, monkey do:-)

[Ken4155]

Just to prove the above point, i have indicated just how many places each of the two firms are paying out on; 1st is 365, Sky places in brackets.

2.25 Y; Lordship @ 5/1 - 4 places (Money back offer)
3.35 Y; Real Dream @ 9/1 - 6 places (8 places)
4.10 Y; The Green Man @ 10/1 - 5 places (6 places)
5.20 Y; Haunted Dream @ 6/1 - 5 places (6 places)

Win singles, 20p L15, 2 x £1 e.w. accas. 4 placed = £64, 4 winners = £8,988.

2.4o G; Epicetus @ 5/2
3.00 Y; Kinross @ 3/1
4.45 Y; Purosangue @ 9/4

£1 Trixie, £1 Treble. 3 winners = £130

ITV7; above qualifiers, plus; Nostrum & Pretty Crystal . £1 e.w. acca (Sky)

Best of luck, all.

[Togo]

I always do the ITV7 E/W Accas with Skybet Ken for that reason. Like you I have had place returns from them whilst a bet with 365 is down. I also always leave odds on runners out of any punt. Saying all that todays punt is done and I am off out. Should get to see the Red Arrows later, weather permitting, standing on Colwyn Bay prom. Good Luck ... I could do with a bit of that E/W back today or I will be in the shonky shop. (^_*) ### Win Trixie. **** E/W Acca, Trebles & Doubles.

Nostrum 1.50Y
Pretty Crystal @4/1 2.05G#
Alhambra Palace @13/2 2.25Y#
Charyn @3/1 2.40G#
Mutasaabeq @15/2 3.00Y*
Real Dream @8/1 3.35Y*
Albasheer @8/1 4.10Y*

With the three from the ITV7, Certain Lad @20/1 5.20Y*