Day one of the Ebor Meeting at York looks set to be a cracker with a scintillating renewal of the G1 Juddmonte International taking centre stage.
Here are Danny Archer's race by race selections for Wednesday's card:
I'll be placing my bets with Ladbrokes today to take advantage of their Best Odds Guaranteed Plus concession, which means I'll get a price boost if I take an early price about my selection and the SP is bigger. They will also double winnings in both the 1.55 & 3.00 races if your selection wins by 3 lengths or more. Full terms here.
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1:55: York: Orion's Bow 15/2 and El Astronaute 11/1 Each Way.
Tough event to start proceedings but Orion's Bow who is now with Tim Easterby has been knocking at the door this year and might be suited by today's track. Fifth at Ascot last time, that was a creditable run and he has slipped down to the same mark as when he finished second in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood last year. He evidently retains plenty of his ability and is worth supporting.
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John Quinn's El Astronaute continues to run well this year and was a 33/1 winner at Goodwood on his penultimate start. He followed that up with a creditable second placed effort on the All Weather at Chelmsford last time out where he got tired late on. The long straight here should play to his advantages and he looks a worthy each way bet.
2:25: York: Fleet Review 7/2 and Wells Farhh Go 16/1.
Aidan O'Brien's Fleet Review held on narrowly to win a maiden on his penultimate start before keeping on well to score at the Curragh by a length earlier this month. He quickened up readily that day and leaves the impression that he will stay seven furlongs.
Tim Easterby's Wells Farhh Go won at 16/1 on his debut by two and a quarter lengths and whilst this is a step up in class, he created a favourable impression that day and is entitled to further improvement here.
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3:00: York: Cracksman Evs NAP. Tough to look past John Gosden's charge who brings solid G1 form to the table. Third in the Investec Derby, the three-year-old son of Frankel was a narrow second in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh last time when looking a likely winner a furlong out. I think York could really play to his strengths and his progressive profile makes him of strong interest. With Ladbrokes' Three & Easy offer also covering this race, it could pay to back Cracksman to put his rivals to the sword by three lengths or more to double our returns.
3:35: York: Cliffs Of Moher 6/1. An absolute humdinger of a renewal of the G1 Juddmonte International with most of the main rivals' form entwined. Barney beat Churchill in the St James's Palace before just struggling to peg back Ulysses in the Coral Eclipse. However, I really like Cliffs Of Moher. Second in the Derby at Epsom, he travelled into the race looking the likeliest winner that day only to be pegged back late by his stablemate. He then lost all chance in the Coral Eclipse when badly hampered and he did pretty well to finish fourth given those circumstances at Sandown. I think he is an unproven and improving three-year-old with more progress to come and an exciting future ahead.
4:15: York: Magic Circle 5/1 and Penglai Pavilion.
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Magic Circle won over course and distance last term and whilst a well beaten seventh in the Ascot Handicap last time, he was an excellent fifth from a tough draw in the Chester Cup on his penultimate start. A reproduction of that run would see him go close here.
Penglai Pavilion was a facile three length winner at Newmarket in September but struggled to reproduce that form in Australia recently. If ready to do himself justice here, he makes appeal.
4:50: York: Green Fortune 7/1 and Tathmeen 7/1 Each Way.
William Haggas' Green Fortune has won two of his three starts and with the second at Chelmsford last time winning since, that form has been given a good boost. A mark of 87 is fair for this progressive two-year-old and he represents a Newmarket handler who likes having a winner back in his native Yorkshire, especially at this meeting.
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Tathmeen represents Richard Hannon and was impressive when winning by six lengths at Newbury on his latest run. This is another step up but he is going the right way.