York Racing Tips for Day 1 of the 2023 Ebor Festival (Wednesday 23rd August)

The 2023 York Ebor Festival gets underway on Wednesday 23rd August and we have picked out our best York tips for each race today with a preview of every race on the card.

The Juddmont International Stakes is the big race on day 1 , due off at 3.35pm but just four runners are due to go to post. We have asked @racingToby1 to preview each York day 1 race and you can see his betting tips below.

 

1:50 – Korker (9/1) EW

It was close between JM Jungle & KORKER but my preference for the latter is purely based on the low draw that I think will be preferable in this race. Racing room will be key for Korker given his run style and the rattling quick ground will be right up his street.

You can draw a line through his 11th here in May given, how slowly he was away.

 

2:25 – Cogitate (10/3) Win

I have doubts that Ballymount Boy is as good as is form behind Vandeek suggests given the conditions. Edwardian is stepped up 2f in trip for connections that obviously should be feared in every race. But COGITATE was very impressive on debut and although Boiling Point didn’t back up the form, King Gambit did. Charlie Hills has won this twice in the last 9 years, with Buick in the saddle he shouldn’t be taken lightly.

 

3:00 – Castle Way (7/2) Win

I’m happy to take on Gregory at short odds here, he has been impressive in a short space of time this season but it seemed certain staying trips would be his forte. He also has a penalty to shoulder which brings CASTLE WAY right into the mix through the collateral form of Saint George & Klondike. Continuous always seems to run a good race without being able to get his head infront this season.

 

3:35 – Paddington (8/13) Win

With only 4 lining up it really is hard to oppose PADDINGTON again, there is no doubt he is horse of the year so far and he will take some pegging back. This has always been his next stepping stone and it would be silly to try and create an angle that doesn’t exist. Mostahdaf impressive at Ascot but those in behind have faltered again since. 

 

4:10 – Solent Gateway (12/1) EW

There has been an early gamble on the Irish raider Zanndabad, which I can’t quite put together but obviously he has to be feared on that evidence alone. I’m following the form of Sweet William’s win at Newbury, a short head separated SOLENT GATEWAY & Aztec Empire and they meet again on the same terms yet Solent Gateway is double the price at the time of writing. He’s experienced in these long distance handicaps and will make a solid bid from the front. 

 

4:45 – Designer (9/2) Win 

I’m intrigued by the entry of Rage Of Bamby, who has very solid form as a 2yo but not in the same form when returning early this season. However, DESIGNER won this last year off a 5lb lower mark, but that looked more competitive and she comes here when unlucky in running at Goodwood and Buick gets the leg up for the first time. 

 

5:15 – Bobsleigh (18/1) EW

BOBSLEIGH was 5th in a Group 2 last time and now drops into a nursery for the first time, and although carrying top weight I think the key could well be the ground, if you go back to his Woodcote win and 6th in the Coventry the ground was much faster. Eve has come back to form after a poor spell and she saddled the winner in this race last year. 

 

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