Tuesday - Ebor Day One

Any Given Moment was a non-runner at Yarmouth last night. The Ebor festival kicks off today and if we do half as well as we did at Goodwood we'll be laughing come the weekend. Day one features some fantastic action. The Acomb stakes for 2yo's is a Group 3 and often throws up a very decent winner. the likes of King's Best and Rule Of Law have won in the last ten years. John Dunlop runs Elusive Pimpernel, an impressive winner on his debut, and he looks the one to be on at around 9/2. I prefer him to the favourite because he beat the favourite first time out, and he put his head down and responded to the whip in the style of his sire, the great Giant's Causeway, when asked to go about his business. Godolphin's 2yo's have been excellent this year but at the top level I find them to be too fizzy, often hanging under the whip, and finding little for pressure after travelling well. Elusive Pimpernel won't shirk the issue and he should be fine on the good to firm ground. Paul Cole's Mata Keranjang may be the danger. The Great Voltigeur is always a cracking contest, and this year's renewal of the Group 2 event is no different. Sir Michael Stoute's Harbinger done us a good turn at Goodwood and we think he can go in again today. He looked the part at Goodwood, seeing out the race well stepped up in class, and 12f on good to firm ground look to be his ideal conditions. He can take Alwaary's measure and 2/1 looks fair - get a guaranteed price as he may well drift. The Juddmonte International is the feature on day one and I must say 3/1 about Mastercraftsman represents good value to me against Sea The Stars. Aidan O'Brien runs two pacemakers in the contest and Johnny Murtagh's mount will have the race run the way O'Brien wants it. It may not be good enough against a superstar horse, but Mastercraftsman is a Classic winner himself, there is nothing wrong with his attitude, and he will fight Mick Kinane's mount all the way to the line. I don't think there will be much in this and for those of you who like to trade in running, perhaps try and save your stake at around 8/11.

Best Recommendations:

2.15 York Elusive Pimpernel, 2pts each-way @ 9/2 (Bet 365, Stan James - 1/4 odds) Won

2.50 York Harbinger, 6pts win @ 2/1 (Boylesports, William Hill - price guaranteed)

3.25 York Mastercraftsman, 4pts win @ 4.2 (Betfair), Lay to save stake in running @ 1.72 Succesful Trade