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ALL eyes may well be on the final day of the Ebor Festival at York this afternoon, but by far and away the best bet of the day will come on another competitive card at Chester in the form of LAZY GRIFF (2.40) in the Listed Chester Stakes over an extended mile-and-three-quarter.

Placed behind Lambourn in both the 2025 Epsom and Irish Derbies, he has since run well over two miles at Sandown Park without really convincing that such a test at a stiff track is his thing. Tailed off when beaten 61 lengths by Scandinavia in the Goodwood Cup, that was a stage too high for him, but back down in trip with some give in the ground, this represents an outstanding chance for the Charlie Johnston-trained runner to come good again for the first time since landing the Prix de Conde, a Group Three event at Deauville as a juvenile over nine furlongs.

There are several other fascinating plays at the Cheshire track including the remarkably consistent BLUE PRINCE (2.05) and KUREDU KING in the two mile handicap at 5.35. 

The last named has been racing on ground way too quick for him and as a consequence has dropped to a very playable mark of 78, only 2lbs above his last winning mark when encountering good to soft ground at Yarmouth a year ago. Blue Prince just loves racing around here and once again, has drawn a good box in stall five and although he has much more to do today than earlier in the month, the bay gelding has plenty going for him.

The Ebor Handicap is the big betting race of the York meeting and with the last three renewals having been won by Irish raiders, all of their five runners are worth a closest look. However, I think that this will be the day that the home trained entries will rule the roost and I will be having a bet on two against the field of 22 runners in the form of KLASSLEADER and big outsider REAL DREAM (3.35).

The first named looked set for a season at a higher level than this when waltzing away with the Jorvik handicap over a mile-and-a-half here at the May meeting. However, he simply couldn’t handle the ground at Newmarket last time out and has been given plenty of time to get over that run by William Haggas. With 15 runners set to go off three-figure marks, I think this very lightly raced four-year-old could have several pounds in hand here and looks a must for an each-way bet at around 10/1.

Real Dream is a more left of centre pick and indeed hasn’t won a race for 19 outings. But those of you with long memories will recall that I put him up 12 months ago in this very race, when he looked a tad unlucky to finish fifth of the 22 runners after not gaining a clear passage from two-and-a-half furlongs out. That run came off a mark of 103 and this afternoon the Ian Williams-trained charge gets a chance to run off just 96 on the back of an unlucky run behind Valedictory in another messy race at Newmarket.

A winner as a four-year-old on good to soft ground followed by a soft ground success in the Mallard Handicap at Doncaster off 99, he has found Listed level and Group level too hot to handle since on six occasions.

However, I have a feeling that his whole season has been geared to a return here and following a fair run behind Opportunity at Carlisle, now a massive 23lbs better off for six-and-three-quarter lengths, and then that run at Headquarters, he looks the most lively outsider in the maximum field for this seriously prestigious prize.

In the opening Strensall Stakes, likely favourite DAMYSUS (1.50) is given a narrow vote despite having to give weight away all round. Following an impressive win in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, dropping him back to a mile didn’t work in either the Lockinge Stakes or the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, both races run at the highest level. This looks a much easier task and his close up third to Item in the York Stakes here last month has been well and truly cemented by his conqueror in the International Stakes on Wednesday.

In receipt of 10lbs from the older horse, the three-year-old Saber Strike is rightly respected. He has yet to fulfil his early potential, but has seemingly been tapped for toe over seven furlongs on fast ground and this step up in trip on a much kinder surface could see him in a much kinder light for a team that have a cracking record here.

The three-year-old Ebor, the Melrose Handicap at 2.25, is a real puzzler, although it is fair to assume that the recent Rewards Shaker Handicap winner at Goodwood, Infraad, will start favourite and could possibly enhance his outside St Leger claims. However, he will need to beat his 16 rivals well off a mark of 97 to book a ticket to Doncaster and I am quite happy to let him win at around the 5/2 mark.

The each-way play for me is the Dermot Weld trained BAY OF STARS. This beautifully bred son of New Bay out of a Champs Elysees mare has only visited the race track on four occasions, but has made stealthy progress on each occasion, culminating in a staying on third of nine behind Madbadanddangerous off a mark of 83 over 13 furlongs at Down Royal. 

This extra yardage combined to some give in the turf off just a 3lbs higher mark could make this bay colt a big player at a double-figure price under the emerging Ray Dawson. Another Irish raider, Sharkeyboy (Willie Mullins), has a bit in hand over the selection on collateral form through the aforementioned MadBad and, with cheekpieces applied for the first time, is a player. Newcastle winner Glory Road and Tierra Del Toro also merit consideration. The last named has a nice turn around in the weights with Infraad on their Goodwood form.