Plenty of cheers and tears after the opening day and a look at what's to come.
Not tears exactly but a slight upset when Andrew Balding's Gewan 11/2 won the Acomb with the more fancied pair of Italy (second) and Distant Storm (third) relegated to bridesmaid roles.
The perhaps a few tears when Lambourn got beaten in the Great Voltigeur. Aidan O'Brien had said earlier that they were being easy on him at home and that showed in the race where he finished out of the money. However his goal is either the St Leger or the Arc so we shall see what happens. Pride of Arras loves this track and won over this trip here in the Dante and following a couple of not so good races after that got gelded.
So with no distractions regarding the direction of his future he put his mind to the job here and won from Carmers and Arabian Force.
The Juddmonte was nearly an upset as the pacemaker Birr Castle led them into the home straight and looked set to sail straight to the line only Ombudsman emerged from the pack and put in a wonderful finish to take the race with Delacroix not that far off and the pacemaker Birr Castle staying on for third. No luck for Danon Decile or Daryz as presumably the pace in the race or lack of it didn't suit them.
Thursday is Ladies' Day and we have the G2 Lowther for the 2yo fillies over 1200m with 11 lining up. Royal Fixation is on 11/8 for Walker-Buick – she's by Palace Pier and pretty smart. We like Staya, a lovely grey filly by (no surprises here) Havana Grey with the Scott-Shepherd team caring for her. She's on 6/1 which looks good. And we think Argentine Tango on 12/1 could pick up a place here with David Allan riding for Tim Easterby.
The Yorkshire Oaks is not one for betting but watching with a cold glass of something in hand. Minnie Hawk is already a double Oaks winner and this daughter of Frankel has won four of her five starts to date and should get this especially as her main rival Whirl is not running. O'Brien-Moore of course. Estrange is a Chevely Park product by Night of Thunder and is on 4/1 for O'Meara-Tudhope and 4/1 available.
As we will be on the road on Friday here's a quick look at that card. The Lonsdale Cup G2 is over 3300m and has a field of six headed by Trawlerman 4/6 for the Gosdens-Buick. He won the Ascot Gold Cup and is one of those horses that look like they could run for ever. We think Shackleton could be a potential challenger on 13/2 with Wayne Lordon riding the Curragh Cup second for Aidan O'Brien.
The Gimcrack G2 over 1200m is for 2yos and there are 8 in this field headed by Do Or Do Not with Ed Walker putting up Tom Marquand on this son of Space Blues. He has a 0 2 2 2 3 record so he just needs to find the line! Reciprocated is by Havana Grey and is on 7/2 for Burke-Lee and we quite like Egoli, a No Nay Never colt who has a c&d here and an attractive quote of 9/1.
The Nunthorpe is G1 for 2y+ over 1000m and has a 2yo leading the market – Lady Iman on 4/1 with Joe Fanning riding for Ger Lyons. She's by Starman and has the 2yo weight advantage. Asfoora has been disappointing so far in this English adventure and this is a chance for her to redeem some of her former glory with Oisin Murphy riding this time for Henry Dwyer. As there are 17 runners at this stage we will add Mgheera 11/1 for Walker-Buick and the 3yo Arizona Blaze 6/1 for Adrian Murray and David Egan. He's by Sergei Prokofiev and has talent.
