York - Ebor festival

Great weeks racing ahead..

The meeting kicks off on Tuesday when the highlight is the Juddmonte International Twice over and Rip Van Winkle should be involved in the finnish and Richard Hannon has supplemented Dick Turpin for R600k,so he must be confident that he will get the trip..

1:Twice Over
2:Rip Van Winkle
3:Bushman



Twice over worked well

Tom Queally

"I sat on Twice Over this morning for his last piece of work before the Juddmonte International at York on Tuesday. He did a little bit on the short gallop on the Limekilns and he seemed in great, great order. He's certainly as good as he was before Sandown - at the very least. I can't wait until Tuesday and we're going there very hopeful - I really wouldn't want to be riding anything else.

Yes some great racing this week and lucky Molly is there

Yes its "Juddmonte" day and I will be going with Rip after its great run against Canford but the race should be well worth watching.

Racing Post

Rip Van out to emerge on top in clash of titans

A FOUR-WAY clash of the titans steals the show at York on Tuesday when racing giants Rip Van Winkle, Byword, Twice Over and Dick Turpin cross swords in the Juddmonte International.

Nine runners are set to contest the £650,000 Group 1, but all eyes will be on the front four in the market, all winners at the highest level, as they seek to give their connections a fillip on the opening day of the four-day Ebor meeting.


Rip Van Winkle is 2-1 favourite, seeking to win the York spectacular his stablemate Mastercraftsman conceded to Sea The Stars last year.

The four-year-old competes bereft of the pacemakers deployed when he was runner-up to Canford Cliffs in the Sussex Stakes last month.


After opening his season with a disappointing sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, O'Brien said his stable star would improve as the season progressed, and the four-year-old appeared to have made considerable progress in the Sussex.

“He’s in good form and he came on from his first run at Ascot to his second at Goodwood and improved nicely, so we’re all looking forward to the race,” said O’Brien, who won the International with Duke Of Marmalade in 2008 and with Giant’s Causeway in 2000.

Rip Van Winkle will be having just his third start at 1m2f, having most recently attempted the distance when tenth in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, but O'Brien is confident the colt will cope.

“The horse has shown a lot of speedand showed that again at Goodwood, but we thought he would go on and progress [to 1m2f] - but he wouldn’t mind dropping back to a mile if ever necessary. He’s very versatile really.”

Owner Khalid Abdullah has the best chance of overturning Rip Van Winkle with Prince of Wales's Stakes one-two Byword and Twice Over.

The lightly raced Byword edges the betting, but Henry Cecil's Twice Over also boasts some impressive form, including when third, ahead of Rip Van Winkle, in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Enticingly, Dick Turpin will tackle the older horses for trainer Richard Hannon. The three-year-old finally broke his Group 1 duck with a fantastic victory in the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly last month, having previously finished second in three consecutive Group 1 races.

O'Brien could open his big-race account before the International if one of Midas Touch or Joshua Tree enhance their Ladbrokes St Leger credentials in the Sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur.

O'Brien said: "Midas Touch had a little break after the Irish Derby and we’ve been happy with him since then.

"Joshua Tree had a few hold-ups in the spring and isjust ready to start and should come on more for the run."

Dick Turpin with that win under his belt will grow from strength to strength and my money sides with him today

Cavalryman

Last time Dick Turpin visited York he had to hang around for a bit at the Knavesmire.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Turpin

Midas Touch looked all over the winner in the Irish Derby,if the go a decent clip in the next race he will go very close..

What a great race and a great result (tu)

Nice race,Great result?<

Wednesday`s card is equally as good as Tuesdays,with two Group2`s and the ToTe Ebor Hcp...

The Richard Hannon trained Martyr seems to have improved for the step up in trip and should go well under rider Hughes...

Martyr for the win,but i wouldn`t be surpised to see Nanton involved at massive prices..





"He's as tough as a lion and has a good draw (four) as you can ride him up in the first three and he stays.

"He's got everything you need in a horse to win the Ebor, he just needs good ground.

"I'm happy, I wouldn't swap him."

Not sure if Eddie Ahern might Overturn the Martyr in a race only to be watched, in fact a difficult card today. :S

Sariska no mistakes on Thursday - Yorkshire Oaks Card