Best bets for the York Ebor Festival day four plus the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend

The Bank Holiday weekend has arrived but it’s no rest for the wicked with plenty of horse racing to get stuck into this weekend if you wish. I will be sticking to the main meetings and at the moment have no bets planned for the Monday – maybe a cheeky lazy day in a beer garden somewhere?

And so to the bets I will be having.

The Group Three Strensall Stakes at 1.50 kicks-off the York card Saturday up on the Knavesmire. Lord Glitters has been placing up in better company than this and on basic form and ratings is rightly the jolly. That said I think he has become a bit of a monkey and doesn’t actually want to put his head in front. Take a look at his last three races he came with every chance looking strong on each occasion but would not go by to win. Threading won a Listed race here before coming second to the all-conquering Alpha Centauri in the G.1 Coronation Stakes at Ascot. Somewhat disappointing the last twice if she can get back to her early summer form she would go close in this with the various weight-for-age and sex allowances all in her favour. William Hill were 11-1 on Thursday and I had a bit of that.

Beat The Bank looks too short a price to me for the Group Two Ladbrokes Celebration Mile at Goodwood due off at 2.05 and I can't have him at those odds. The ex South African Whisky Baron was behind the jolly on his one visit to these shores in the G.2 Joel Stakes at HQ last year finding trouble and getting unbalanced. The six-year-old put in a couple of fair efforts at the Dubai Carnival – ran in the G.1 Jebel Hatta Satakes - before moving to Somerville Lodge where he is now in the care of William Haggas. On his best South African form, he would have a chance here and it is hoped Haggas has him fit and raring to go after five months off the track as I have the 20-1 each-way.

Expert Eye runs in the Group Three City Of York Stakes at 3.00 over seven furlongs,   unsurprisingly at Yor, rather than taking up an engagement in the aforementioned Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Sir Michael Stoute’s G.3 Jersey Stakes winning colt (tipped on here 12-1 e/w) finished second to Lightning Spear in the G.1 Sussex Stakes last month and looks a solid bet for this at 13-8. Suedois is in form and is the danger.

Longtime ante-post favourite Stratum snuck into the Ebor Handicap in the end but ante-post punters where sweating for a while. The 5yo was pretty impressive at Newbury last time but at 7-2 the value has well and truly gone and I think he may be vulnerable anyway. If Teodoro gets the 1m6f he is the best-weighted horse in the race, in theory, being due to rise 9lb after this from his current rating of 105. The four-year-old advertised his well-being making all in a Haydock Group 3 (10.4f) earlier this month having won a 1m4f handicap at Newbury off 95 back in June; fourth in the Old Newton Cup in between. At 14-1 he is the pick for me and my fingers are crossed that he stays.

Rain is likely on Sunday, it is a Bank Holiday weekend, and a wet Sunday afternoon at Yarmouth is certainly not for everyone but I think there is one that may brighten a grey afternoon in the 3.25 6f Bet totejackpot At betfred.com EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes. Dubai Discovery is a very interesting 2yo filly newcomer for Saeed bin Suroor; truth be told I have been waiting for her to run all season. Sire Hard Spun was top-class over 7-10f in the States, won G1 King's Bishop Stakes and was 2nd in the Kentucky Derby. The female side of the pedigree is pretty decent as well with a liberal sprinkling of top-class winners. She is the first foal out of unraced Caramel Snap who was a half-sister to US 1m-1m1f Grade 1 winner Frosted and US 1m Grade 3 winner Indulgent all being out of US 8.5f Grade 2 winner Fast Cookie; herself, being out of Fleet Lady, a half-sister to BC Juvenile winner Midshipman. Godolphin have taken their time with this one and hopefully, it will prove worth the wait as I will be on at the best price I can get Sunday morning.

Be lucky