Doyle: Ebor test should suit Klassleader

Hollie Doyle: Klassleader looks well treated in the Ebor William Haggas and Tom Marquand will be hoping Klassleader can regain the winning thread on the final day of York's Ebor Festival; Hollie Doyle believes the son of Lope De Vega can make it two from two on the Knavesmire Friday 21 August 2026 17:08, UK Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her expert views on the best of the action at York and Chester on Saturday, including the £500,000 Ebor Handicap. Leader looks Klass act in Ebor If you're willing to forgive his run in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month then Klassleader must be on your shortlist for the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (3.35) at York on Saturday. My husband Tom (Marquand) felt he simply didn't handle the undulations that day but the way he justified favouritism in a mile and a half handicap at this track back in May gives me the impression he's well treated on a mark of 98. Alan King's Daiquiri Bay had his moment in the sun in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot and looks sure to go well over this extra quarter mile. He's no stranger to The Knavesmire, having finished a gallant third over course and distance in last season's Melrose Stakes, and has been handed a good low draw. - Item surprises big two for Juddmonte International glory - Kalpana shows guts to go with her class in Yorkshire Oaks Another open to improvement is the Willie Mullins runner Love Me Tender, a fascinating recruit from Germany who has winning form in soft ground. That said, William Buick's mount has something to prove on his handicap debut over a trip he has never run over. Zavateri can upset older rivals in Group One feature I'd love to see Eve Johnson Houghton's Zavateri win the Group One Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (3.00). He's a proven performer at this level and a relatively fresh horse whose run behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes was encouraging. Zavateri was smart enough to win the Group One National Stakes at two, beating Gstaad in yielding ground, and looks a more appealing proposition than Godolphin's brilliant miler Notable Speech. The faster they go the better for him on his first try over seven furlongs but, although he sets a tough standard on ratings, he has something to prove after disappointing on that much stiffer track at Ascot in the Queen Anne, when he was beaten by Ten Bob Tony. Ed Walker's colt will revel in the conditions and can at least confirm the form. Japan's classy entire Satono Reve is an interesting contender after his near miss in the Group One Jubilee at Royal Ascot. He tackles this trip for the first time but I'm more concerned about the soft ground for him as he's never encountered conditions so demanding. Grey day for Ireland in Strensall Ireland can take the honours in the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (1.50) at York with the reliable Geryon, who already has winning form at this level. Ger Lyons's grey landed the Meld Stakes in decisive fashion over this 9f trip at Leopardstown this summer before going down with guns blazing in the Gordon Stakes at The Goodwood Festival. Dropping back in distance is very much in his favour and slow ground holds no fears, as he showed when chasing home the classy Hawk Mountain in the Group Two Beresford Stakes as a two-year-old. Market rival Damysus is another who likes to get his toe in and bumped into one in the Group Two York Stakes last month when he finished behind this week's Juddmonte International hero Item. The addition of cheekpieces could be a plus but he must give seven pounds to my fancy. Progressive Infraad has Melrose claims It was great to see my husband Tom and William Haggas win the Great Voltigeur on Wednesday with the gorgeous Maltese Cross and I'm hoping they can take another big staying prize with Infraad. I loved the way he nailed a Class Two handicap at the Goodwood Festival last time, scoring in a manner that suggests he will enjoy the greater test of stamina in the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (2.25) at York. A seven-pound rise to 97 shouldn't impede a colt who looks a pattern performer in the making so I can see him getting the better of class dropper Limestone, who is the definitive Group winner in a handicap following his success in the Queen's Vase. Giving so much weight to progressive types like Infraad demands plenty of Joseph O'Brien's star, though he won't be inconvenienced by the testing conditions - a comment that applies to Andrew Balding's easy ground Newbury winner Mythical Bay. Red the danger in sprint feature Air Force One is out to complete a memorable Ebor Festival double in the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (4.10) after winning over the straight track in such game style on Wednesday and looks sure to go well, even with a five-pound penalty. However, I'm a big fan of Tim Easterby's Red Spells Danger who arrives at The Knavesmire on the back of an impressive win in the Shergar Cup Sprint two weeks ago. He has a six-pound rise to overcome on slower ground but is progressive enough to find the answers. David O'Meara's Toca Madera was third behind Air Force One on Day Two and also backs up quickly. He's a sprinter in form but just isn't nailing his races and may have to settle for another share of the place money. Derby runner-up tops bill in Chester Marathon Godolphin's By The Book and Charlie Johnston's Classic-placed Lazy Griff looks set to fight it out in the Listed Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (2.40) - one of seven races at The Roodee that are live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday. Championship leader Billy Loughnane partners this Meydan handicap winner who has run well in Group races this year without getting his head in front. He's a solid option but will have to pull out all the stops to deny Lazy Griff. Charlie's colt was placed in both the English and Irish Derbies last year after finishing just a length and a half behind Epsom hero Lambourn in the Chester Vase. He didn't fire in the Goodwood Cup after making all to win a Listed race at Sandown in July but can prove a tough nut to crack from an attacking draw in stall three. Drop back in trip no concern for Cracker George Boughey's exciting Asuka has been dealt a tricky draw in the Class Two Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (2.05) at Chester on Saturday. Billy Loughnane will need to ride for luck from out in stall 12 if this smart colt is to complete a hat-trick on ground that will be slower than he's raced on so far. A better option could be Richard Hughes' five-year-old Whip Cracker who, by contrast, has a much better draw in stall four and ran well at this track back in the spring. Conditions will hold no fears for him on his first try over this kind of trip since his novice win three years ago. Feeling good to be back on a horse! It felt so good to be back on a horse this week - even if it was a mechanical one at Oaksey House in Lambourn! I had a session on the Equicizer as part of my on-going rehabilitation from the injuries I sustained in that fall at Bath back in May. The team at Oaksey House continue to be a great support in my fight to regain full fitness, though it's still too early to say when I might be back in the saddle proper. [Image text:] UOF DOYLE'S EXCLUSVE BLOG Dorts