Loughville is first reserve for the Ebor at York tomorrow

August 22

Loughville is first reserve for the Ebor Handicap at York tomorrow, so needs one to come out to get  run. Bookmakers are showing scant respect of the mare’s chances, but the Knavesmire’s most prestigious race has thrown up a few surprise winners in recent years, with eight being at odds of 20-1 or more since the turn of the century.

We are hoping thats Loughville manages to squeeze into the race at the eleventh hour, and, while one of the layers has the mare priced up the rank outsider at 80-1, trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam would be quick to remind them that her own Mudawin won the race at 100-1 in 2006.

Loughville has won on all types of ground, so underfoot conditions are not a problem, but we need to see her return to the form she showed when producing a career-best performance to finish third at Goodwood in May.

She gave herself no chance in her two subsequent races by being too keen, but Alan has been happy how Loughville has been shaping at home and we can only hope that she gets a run. Joe Fanning has been booked.

Also heading to York tomorrow is our St Leger entry Daiquiri Bay, who runs in the Melrose Handicap over the same mile and six furlong trip as the Ebor.

Daiquiri Bay has only finished out of the frame once in his five races so far, and that was in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, where he was staying on well at the end.

Last time out Daiquiri Bay was dropped back to 10 furlongs at Glorious Goodwood, and, having been forced to race wide from his high draw, he did well to briefly strike the front inside the final quarter-mile, eventually finishing fourth.

The form of that race received a boost with the third horse winning since, but Daiquiri Bay now tackles his longest trip so far. However, his dam won over two miles, so stamina should not be a problem, and Rossa Ryan knows this horse so well. So hopes are high that he might finish in the money.

Our other Saturday runner is Westerton in the mile and a quarter handicap at Goodwood. His recent form has been disappointing, but his handicap mark has dropped to 83, the lowest since he won at Sandown more than two years ago.