Our racing team pick out six eyecatchers that ran at the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
Masham Star - fourth in Wednesday's Betway Stakes (Nursery)
The Wagon Wheel turned the opening day's nursery into a bit of a procession, proving her initial mark of 73 to be extremely lenient, but there were some eyecatching performances in behind and it looks a race that could throw up several future winners. Mark Johnston was responsible for the third and fourth, Storm Cry and Masham Star, who were both drawn high and had to race more towards the stands' side and away from the main action, and it's the latter who could be ready to strike next time. He's been tried over various distances in his juvenile campaign but Johnston has maintained from the start that he shapes like a miler at home and stepping back up to seven furlongs in the near future should pay off. He failed to figure on his only previous attempt at that trip in the Chesham at Royal Ascot but can be forgiven that run and looks well worth another try following last week's staying-on effort. Being a son of Lawman, there's good chance he will handle proper autumn ground so it could be a productive time if he's kept on the go. (MB)
Third Time Lucky - fifth in Thursday's Clipper Logistics Stakes
Last year's Cambridgeshire winner has taken time to come to hand as a four-year-old, but it was third time lucky as regards his 2016 profile with a season's best in the hotly-contested Clipper Logistics Stakes at York on Thursday. Ridden to the fore of the main pack in mid-division off a strong gallop, Third Time Lucky travelled well and only the impressive winner, Firmament, went better as they entered the last furlong. His momentum was slightly impacted as Kelinni weakened directly in front of him and he was a bit unlucky to finish out of the places as Spark Plug did him for fourth by a nose on the line. But this was a much better effort from the son of Clodovil and, after just three runs this season, he's going to be fresher than most of the rivals he'll face in the big handicaps this autumn. He's still 5lb higher than he was for his Cambridgeshire win last year, but Adam McNamara's 5lb claim, seen to brilliant effect in the Ebor, has yet to be utilised on this horse and it wouldn't be a surprise if Richard Fahey turns to his young jockey at some stage later in the campaign. (BL)
Found - second in Thursday's Darley Yorkshire Oaks
Found's prep-race for the Irish Champion Stakes went as well as could have been expected and she could prove a decent bet at 6/1 for that contest, especially with stablemate US Army Ranger having possibly bombed out of contention for the same contest with an ordinary run on Sunday. She did not look 100 per cent in the paddock after a break since Royal Ascot, but travelled with authority until coming under pressure over a furlong out and forfeiting first run to her stablemate Seventh Heaven. Switched left to challenge, she didn't pick up in quite the same manner of her best performances last season, but connections had stressed beforehand that she was not fully-tuned for this, and both the way in which she emerged to make her challenge and the fact that she stayed on all the way to the line was nothing but promising with the future in mind. (WH)
Battalion - fifth in Saturday's Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Stakes (Handicap)
All four of Battalion's career wins on turf have come with some ease in the ground so the rain that fell on Saturday morning probably contributed towards William Haggas' charge producing arguably his best performance of 2016. Held up last of all and seemingly struggling to keep up throughout the early stages of the 10-furlong contest, the son of Authorized really got rolling in the home straight and picked off his rivals into a never-nearer fifth behind Scarlet Dragon. The handicapper had eased off this year and shouldn't react much on the back of this better effort, leaving Battalion fairly well-treated on his very best form, but it's in Listed races where he might have most joy now and when the ground gets that bit deeper in the coming months he should be able to get back in the winner's enclosure. (MB)
Yorker - second in Saturday's Betfred Mobile Strensall Stakes (Group Three)
Yorker is definitely one to monitor closely following his highly encouraging UK debut outing in Saturday's Strensall. William Haggas' new recruit was clearly expected to come on for the run, being allowed to go off one of the outsiders of the field at 14/1, but he belied those odds with a fine effort behind the classy Scottish on his first run for over two years. He was a quality performer for his previous trainer Geoff Woodruff, winning three times at Group One level in South Africa, and while his Champion Stakes entry might be pushing it, the seven-year-old is certainly entitled to have a shot at a Group Two before then and he could end up contesting the big one on champions day. (MB)
Oceanographer - seventh in Saturday's Betfred Ebor Handicap
With Antiquarium hogging the focus of Charlie Appleby's Ebor runners, Oceanographer was sent off at 20/1 but looked unfortunate not to reward each-way backers with a place. He'd improved for being held up (and the application of a hood) when carrying a big weight to victory at Doncaster on his previous start, and again appeared to relish being dropped out the back and allowed to weave his way through runners up the straight. Unfortunately, Martin Lane chose what proved to be the wrong route as the battle for second began to unfold and his mount is much better than his finishing position. Granted, there aren't many opportunities for a horse of his rating over this sort of trip, fewer still if we're to take the view that a big field and strong pace are now considered essentials. But after just nine career starts there's more to come from this son of Sea The Stars, who could yet make his mark at a higher level and reward connections' patience. (BC)