Horsebetting.com experts give their 2018 Gimcrack Stakes betting tips from the Ebor Festival and say Shine So Bright is worth siding with to land the spoils in the Group 2 juvenile contest over 6f at York on Friday, 24 August. The Aidan O’Brien trained The Irish Rover drops in class and is feared most following a fine effort last time out, while Emaraaty Ana looks a lively outsider and each-way value. For full details, read our in-depth 2018 Gimcrack Stakes betting tips preview.Shine So Bright taken to put Gimcrack Stakes rivals in the shadeShine So Bright has some solid form in the book, so looks the answer to a wide-open looking renewal of the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes – a 6f juvenile contest on day three of the York Ebor Festival on Friday (15:00).
After scoring in good style on debut at Nottingham when in the care of Karl Burke, this son of top class sprinter Oasis Dream ran a cracker when when a 5 3/4 lengths fifth of 23 to Calyx in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Shine So Bright showed plenty of pace to chase the leader on the far side and held every chance at the furlong marker.
He then lacked the a pace to get involved in the finish but stuck to the task well. The winner is a very smart sort and the runner-up Advertise has won twice since – landing the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket before following up in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh.
It gives the renewal a very strong look and in the circumstances Shine So Bright ran very well on just his second start. He’s had just one outing since joining Andrew Balding, when staying on strongly to be nearest at the finish when a 1 1/4 length third to Land Force in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Shine So Bright raced too keenly in the early stages that day, so did well to finish off the contest so strongly. The form of the aforementioned races read well in the contest and he is clearly progressing with each outing.
So, with the prospect of further improvement to come, and the Balding yard in red-hot form, he looks to have plenty going for him in this. Shine So Bright thus had to be the main selection in our 2018 Gimcrack Stakes betting tips.Class-dropping The Irish Rover a big dangerThe Irish Rover ran the race of his life last time out when third in the aforementioned Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and now drops in grade. It gives the Aidan O’Brien trained son of No Say Never major claims in this – if able to repeat that effort – and he therefore rates the main danger to Shine So Bright.
In the Phoenix at The Curragh, The Irish Rover raced prominently throughout in the five-runner field and kept on well to be beaten just a length into third behind Advertise. It was a career-best effort and a big step up on his previous run when a 10-length 12th of 23 to Calyx in the Coventry Stakes when well behind Shine So Bright.
A big question, however, is can the form of that race be taken at face value? That is because it was very muddling run affair in which nobody wanted to make the running, but Advertise eventually did and dictated at a slow pace before staying on strongly to assert near the finish.
The Irish Rover’s stablemate Sergei Prokofiev, who had finished second in the Coventry, also failed to fire and trailed in a distant last. It all suggests that The Irish Rover could be flattered by his close proximity at the finish; if not he has to go close in this, but on balance he looks opposable.Emaraaty Ana odds appeal each-way Of those at bigger odds, Emaraaty Ana makes the most each-way appeal. The son of Sharmadal is a promising type who hails from the yard of Kevin Ryan, who has saddled the winner of two of the last six runnings courtesy of Blaine (2012) and Astaire (2013).
In Emaraaty Ana, he has similar type on his hands who looked a smart prospect when beating Blow By Wind by 2 1/4 lengths on debut at Windsor. The runner-up has won twice since and ran well when seventh to Calyx in the Coventry Stakes, with that front pair also pulling six lengths clear of the third home to give the form a solid look.
Emaraaty Ana was pitched into Listed company on the back of that taking performance and was far from disgraced when a keeping on 2 1/4 lengths third to Natalie’s Joy at Hamilton. He still ran green and looked a work in progress that day, so should have learned plenty.
This demands even more, but Emaraaty Ana is a scopey sort who appeals as the type to keep progressing. He also has the services of the in-form Jamie Spencer in the saddle and looks capable of outrunning his odds, so is also featured in our 2018 Gimcrack Stakes betting tips.Your Next Bet
