The two big race favourites obliged on the first day, but York looks like slim pickings on Ladies’ Day for those that will not touch big fields there, especially in handicaps.
It is very hard to envisage a circumstance where Fair Eva will not win the Lowther Stakes as she holds all of her opponents on a couple of form lines, so the forecast looks the only viable option. Can Queen Kindly bring up a Frankel forecast? She could do on strict form lines with Kilmah, Nations Alexander, Magical Fire and Roly Poly, who even has the negative of a penalty.
I cannot think of any reason why I would be taking short odds about Found in the Yorkshire Oaks. Rain is unlikely to arrive in time to assist her and she seems to have a habit of finding one too good for her these days – well beaten twice in last three starts. If the three-year-olds had not fared so badly against their elders in the Juddmonte, there might be grounds for enthusiasm about Irish Oaks winner Seventh Heaven. Less of a case can be made for Even Song, beaten favourite at The Curragh or Turret Rocks, who ran fourth. I can see the bookies getting a result unless Endless Time continues her progressive path and steps up from her Lancashire Oaks win on quicker ground.
The Galtres Stakes has been a good race for the Classic generation in recent years and may well be again as the elders do not look very strong. The obvious pick appears to be Abingdon, beaten by Fireglow in a similar event last time with Tiptree just behind. It is hard to know what to make of Glamorous Approach as she ran in a two mile handicap last time! Just as hard to fathom is fibresand winner To Eternity, who I would not want to back to make all here given that no horse has led before the 3 furlong pole and won at York this year in a race longer than a mile.
May have to look at the Deauville card to find something worth betting on...
