Ebor Handicap Betting Tips – Fujaira Prince the Punt in York Feature
York Betting Tips · Saturday, 22nd Aug 2020 - 15:40
Author:
Dave Metcalf
Publish Date:
Thursday, 20th Aug 2020
Topic:
Horsebetting Tip
Experiences:
Our expert in-house tipster
Topic:
Horsebetting Tip
Experiences:
Our expert in-house tipster
Dave Metcalf has over 35 years of experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a life-long horse racing and football fan, and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR frontman for major betting firm Betfred.
Dave has written for At The Races, provided betting previews for the 2010 World Cup via a website he owned. It was the first time they had covered any football event. He also appeared weekly on Sing When You’re Winning – football and general sports betting show on MUTV to provide odds and tips alongside former Manchester United striker Lou Macari.
Varian charge has perfect profile for big betting contest
The Ebor Handicap takes centre stage at York on Saturday (15:40). Fujaira Prince impressed when scoring last time out, so is a strong fancy to defy a hike in the weights and land the spoils in the prestigious 1m 6f contest.
This Roger Varian trained six-year-old is very lightly-raced for his age and boasts an excellent career strike rate of 57 per cent having won four of his seven starts.
After shaping with plenty of promise when runner-up on debut at Windsor back in July 2017, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid owned gelding overcame a lengthy absence to register a runaway six length success at Wetherby. Fujaira Prince went on to follow-up in facile fashion at Carlisle. He then made a total mockery of his opening handicap mark of 88 when landing a competitive 14-runner class 3 contest at Doncaster on return to action in April last year by three lengths.
After that, Fujaira Prince finished a cracking neck second of 15 to First Eleven in the 1m 4f Jorvik Handicap at this venue.
He rounded off the campaign with a fine 1 1/2 lengths third of 19 to Baghdad in the 1m 4f Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot off a mark of 99. Those efforts suggested there was better to come from Fujaira Prince.
Group performer in the making
That view was confirmed when he made a stunning and winning return to action in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot off the same rating, when stepped up to the 1m 6f trip of the Ebor Handicap for the first time.
Under a confident ride from regular pilot Andrea Atzeni, Fujaira Prince raced prominently out wide in the early stages.
He then took up the running pulling double two furlongs from home before quickening clear to easily beat Selino by just under four lengths.
It was an awesome performance and one which marked him out as a Group performer, so a 9lb rise in the weights is unlikely to be enough to stop him going in again here.
Fujaira Prince is also versatile as regards ground and hails from a yard in fine form at present. There is simply nothing not to like about his profile for this and he thus looks well worth a wager at 13/2 with Unibet.
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In a race in where a case can be made for most of the 22 runners, Ranch Hand looks a leading contender now dropped back in class.
Trained by Andrew Balding, this four-year-old has won three of his nine starts and was last successful 12 months at Haydock over 1m 6f when running on strongly to beat Trueshan by two lengths.
Ranch Hand then failed to shine when sent off a well-backed 11/2 favourite for the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, but appeared not to get home over the 2m 2f marathon trip. That run can be excused.
There was lots to like about his return to action at Royal Ascot when a not knocked about seven-length sixth of 16 to Fujaira Prince in the Copper Horse handicap.
The son of Dunaden shaped as if needing the run, holding every chance two out before weakening inside the final furlong. He now meets the winner on 6lb better terms
Ranch Hand went on to finish a solid staying on four-length fifth of 16 to Deja in the 1m 4f Old Newton Cup at Haydock, before being far from disgraced last time out when fourth of five to Eagles By Day in a Group 3 over this course and distance.
He now returns to handicap company off 3lb higher. That means Ranch Hand has a career-high mark of 102 to contend with, but there is an air of unfinished business about him.
As he ought to be very competitive off his rating, everything points to a big run from Ranch Hand. He looks an each-way player and can be backed at 20/1 with Betfair who pay five places.
Ghostwatch another with each-way claims in Ebor Handicap
The Charlie Appleby trained and Godolphin owned Ghostwatch also drops back down in grade. He is a course and distance winner too, so commands plenty of respect.
That success came at this meeting two years ago in the Melrose Handicap where the five-year-old led going well two from home and only had to be ridden out to account for Supernova by 1/2 a length off a mark of 92 .
Ghostwatch then finished a fine second of 10 to First Even at Ascot off 6lb higher before landing a Listed contest over 1m 6f at the Berkshire venue off an official rating of 101.
The son of Dubawi has had three runs this season, shaping as if needing the run after 611 days off the track when a well-beaten last of 10 to Dashing Willoughby in a Listed contest at Newmarket.
However, Ghostwatch quickly came on for that return to action when going down by just half-a-length when runner-up to Cape Coast in a class 2 handicap at the same venue.
Progressive with each run after comeback
He also ran very well last time out when a staying on third to Get Shirty in a Listed contest over 1m 7f at Deauville. That showed that his current mark of 106 was not beyond Ghostwatch.
As he should also appreciate the return to handicap company and has 50 per cent strike rate over the Ebor Handicap trip, Ghostwatch also comes under consideration.
He is a really tough and consistent sort who has only finished out of the prize money in three of his 13 career starts.
Another plus is that William Buick also gets a great tune out of him having won three times and been placed on four occasions in eight starts.
So, taking all this into account, Ghostwatch looks to have plenty going for him. He is another potential each-way punt in a typically fierce renewal of the Ebor handicap at 18/1 with William Hill who also pay five places.
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