Horsebetting.com experts provide their 2018 City Of York Stakes betting tips and say Expert Eye is a worthy favourite to cash-in on a drop in class to land the 7f Group 3 contest at the Ebor Festival on Saturday, 25 April. Suedois is also eased in grade and has some solid form to his name, so rates the obvious danger. Arbalet odds appeal each-way for this race at York. For full details why, read our in-depth 2018 City Of York Stakes betting tips preview.Expert Eye the one to be on in City Of York StakesExpert Eye ran a cracker when runner-up last time out, so looks a worthy favourite to take advantage of a drop in class and go one better and land the spoils in the 7f Group 3 City Of York Stakes at the Ebor Festival on the Knavesmire this Saturday (15:00). The Sir Michael Stoute trained three-year-old found only Lightning Spear 1 1/2 lengths too good in the 1m Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood when previously in action.
After racing prominently, the son of Acclamation took up the running two from home and looked the likely winner until David Simcock’s charge burst from the chasing pack to mow him down inside the last. It was a really solid effort in defeat, while the form reads really well in relation to this weaker affair and sets a clear standard.
Dropping back to 7f is also in Expert Eye’s favour, as he has won twice and been placed once in four starts over it. The last of those success came at Royal Ascot in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes where he scored in ultra-impressive impressive fashion by 4 1/2 lengths from Society Power.
After being held-up towards the rear, Expert Eye cruised into contention before showing a blistering turn of foot to put the race to bed at the furlong marker. It was a performance which suggested that he was back to his brilliant best after some below par efforts and there are plenty more valuable prizes to be won with him – a view which was confirmed by his excellent Sussex Stakes showing.
An official rating of 119 also gives Expert Eye 4lb and upwards in hand on his rivals, so he’s undoubtedly the class act in the line-up and also now gets the services of Frankie Dettori in the saddle for the first time. Stoute’s stable also remains in fine form and everything suggests this is a golden opportunity for him to resume winning ways; therefore, he rates a solid bet among our 2018 City Of York betting tips.Suedois a solid contender for O’MearaDavid O’Meara trained seven-year-old Suedois is the closest to Expert eye on official ratings. He’s a tough, consistent sort who also now drops down in grade and thus looks the obvious danger to the selection following a fine second last time out which suggested his time was near.
That run came in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes over the 7f trip of this at Glorious Goodwood. After being held-up, the gelding made good headway two from home when switched to see daylight, then stayed on strongly to hit the front inside the last before being chinned on the line and beaten a short-head by Sir Dancealot.
Although it was a messily run affair, the winner has gone on to land the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in impressive fashion to give the form a solid look. Suedois also has a Group 2 success on his CV and ran very well when fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar back in November.
Another plus is that he tends to come right at this time of the year; so, taking everything into account, Suedois has plenty going for him and looks capable of giving Expert Eye plenty to think about now eased in grade as well.Arbalet a lively outsider and each-way playerIt’s hard to see anything winning outside the front two in the betting if they run to form, but Arbalet looks capable of sneaking into the frame and so appeals each-way at the odds on offer. This Hugo Palmer trained three-year-old was far from disgraced when staying on to be nearest at the finish and beaten six lengths into fifth by Expert Eye in the aforementioned Jersey Stakes.
Arbalet has since run very well to finish a three-quarters of a length second of 27 to Burnt Sugar in International Stakes at Ascot. This is obviously tougher than that Heritage Handicap, but it’s worth remembering the son of Dark Angel finished a 3 1/4 lengths third to subsequent Epsom Derby winner Masar in last year’s Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown.
Romanised, who finished runner-up, has gone on to land the Irish 2000 Guineas – so it was a strong renewal. Whilst that juvenile form cannot be taken at face value, given those Classic winners have really come into their own as three-year-olds, it still entitles Arbalet to plenty of respect in this.
Apart from Expert Eye he is also the least exposed in the line-up. So at double figures odds, Arbalet had to feature as the each-way option in our 2018 City Of York betting tips.Your Next Bet
