Jack Too Quick For Ebor Rivals

Jockey Declan McDonogh couldn’t hide his admiration for Ivan Grozny after Galway and he was clearly excited to renew that partnership in the Ebor but unfortunately the ante post favourite was lame on Friday morning and won’t run and that certainly opens up this competitive handicap.

Jack The Lad
Irish trainers have been responsible for three Ebor winners since 2009 and while Ivan Grozny may have proven hard to beat, Quick Jack is a horse that may well be capable of picking up the pieces.

Last year’s Galway Hurdle winner was sent off the 5/1 joint favourite to follow up in this race last year but could only finish down the field in 13th place.

Since Galway last year trainer Tony Martin has had a trying time but in the last month or so there has been definite signs of the horses coming back to form and while Quick Jack couldn’t land a blow behind Clondaw Warrior in the Galway Hurdle this year, he still must have solid claims to run a big race here.

Only time will tell but on initial inspection this may not be the strongest Ebor of all time and with the rain beginning to get into the ground at York, that shouldn’t be an inconvenience for the seven-year-old and at 12/1 hopefully he can run up to something like the form that saw him finish third in the Cesarewitch back in October.

Quick Jack’s stable companion Heartbreak City is shorter in the betting at 9/1 and the new favourite for the race is Antiquarium at 5/1 for Godolphin but Fun Mac is the horse that could outrun his odds at 25/1.

Oisin Orr gets his biggest opportunity yet when partnering Quick Jack however and hopefully they can click on the Knavesmire.

C&D Winner Can Cut It Again
David O’Meara is already on the mark at York this week and can be again with Custom Cut who can get the better of his younger rivals in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes. Custom Cut hasn’t won since Irish Champions Weekend last year but at 8/1 he may have a say here.

Track records were in danger at York yesterday even despite the rain but if more gets into the ground overnight well then that could further work into his favour.

Custom Cut has been giving plenty of weight away in all bar one of his races since winning at Leopardstown. On this occasion he is in receipt of 4lbs from Air Pilot and Tullius while only the three-year-old filly Diploma is getting weight off the seven-year-old but the conditions look to suit in many ways and the extended mile shouldn’t be a problem either. He can cap a memorable week for O’Meara.

Back At Home
Killarney’s August festival will draw to a close on Saturday and the pick of the card in Kerry looked to be Elegant Statesman who lines up in the feature Grade B Handicap Chase for Henry de Bromhead. The nine-year-old is relatively lightly raced and won a decent pot at Down Royal last time and can build on that here to land this valuable prize.

At the Curragh, Order Of St George is going to be the star attraction but not really a backable proposition but at 3.20 in the Group 3 Curragh Stakes for juveniles, Yulong Baobei really caught the eye at Tipperary and can fend them off here also to make it two on the bounce.

Recommended Bets:
Quick Jack (12/1) – 4:00 York
Custom Cut (8/1) – 2:15 York
Yulong Baobei (7/4) – 3:20 Curragh
Elegant Statesman (4/1) – 4:10 Killarney

*Prices correct at time of publication.