Adam McNamara on the 2022 Ebor Festival

My favourite festival of the year has always been, and likely will always be, the Ebor Festival at York. It was the first proper racecourse I visited at the age of sixteen.

I’d been to plenty of point to points before then, and I was starting to fall in love with racing but York was what really pulled me into the sport for good. The rattle of thundering hooves down the Knavesmire, the exquisite equine flesh on show and the roar of a jubilant crowd is certain to tingle the spine. As if I needed proof, day one proved my point beyond any doubt.

All racing fans can recall Mick Kinane hunting down Johnny Murtagh in the straight, Sea the Stars responding to every urging and downing Mastercraftsman. More recently we witnessed the awe inspiring Frankel powering past St Nicholas Abbey, the look of complete dejection from Joseph O’Brien as Queally cruised past as still as a statue. On Wednesday we saw a performance that may cement itself into the history books as one of the greatest of all time. Baeed had some questions to answer. Would he stay? Could he be considered in the same league as some of the greats? Is he an equine god or a mere mortal? The manner in which he answered every question and dismissed last year's Juddmonte winner, Saudi Cup winner and all round proper Group One horse Mishriff, should now leave us in no doubt. He’s quite simply exceptional, a generational freak and he’s far from finished yet. I’ve heard a lot of people trying to compare him to Frankel but I’m not going to do that. Frankel will always have a soft spot in my heart and will always be my favourite. But aside from that I think it’s like trying to compare Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, two absolute greats in the same discipline but who had such a contrasting manner with which they achieved their immortality. Frankel powered everywhere, dragging at his reins, like a biological atomic bomb ready to explode when Queally pushed the big red button. Baeed creeps there like he’s out for a morning canter, tiptoes round his opponents and puts the race to bed before anyone has really had the chance to decide how impressive he was. Let’s just enjoy him while we can, the comparisons can begin when he’s done.

Looking forward to the rest of the week, I can’t wait to see how the Yorkshire Oaks plays out. We’re lacking a mega star this year but the field still has plenty of depth and a few of these fillies could win this and stamp their authority in this grade. I’m going to oppose the favourite Alpinista. She’s a rightful group one winner, and she’s been a star for her outfit but whether she can do that back on home soil remains to be seen at this level. La Petite Coco is a more deserving favourite in my eyes. I was quite taken with her win at the Curragh last time in the Pretty Polly, and although she’s relatively unexposed over this trip she looked like she certainly stayed when she won over 1m4f last year at Cork. I think Tuesday is over priced and if I could ride one it the race it would probably be her. I’m willing to forgive her a poor run in the Irish Derby. Aidan O’Brien admitted afterward they may not have gotten the tactics right that day and I think we’ll see her to much better effect here. She possibly deserves more credit for her run in the Epsom Oaks as she had a fairly similar trip through as the winner and was only just denied. Emily Upjohn would more then likely win the Yorkshire Oaks if she were to make an appearance, so I’m going to side with Tuesday. 

I’m hoping for a downpour on Thursday night as I’m sure all racing fans would love to see Stradivarius and Trueshan battle it out once again. Alan King is adamant Trueshan will only head to post if the ground softens and I can’t say I blame him. His run at Goodwood was almost near his best but he’s almost unstoppable with juice in the ground. I’m not sure Stradivarius could reel him in when he’s got his optimal conditions, and without Trueshan in the race I fear it will be an easy task for Stradivarius. 

The Nunthorpe looks seriously intriguing. James Tate has been very bullish on the chances of Royal Aclaim. He’s said that she’s the fastest he’s ever trained, and he’s trained some fast ones in his time. She’s unbeaten and proven at this track which is a huge bonus, as the straight five here can be daunting for a few. We also have a two year old supplemented which throws another spanner in the works. The Platinum Queen left a solid field of two year olds scrambling in her wake at Goodwood and deserves an entry here. It’s a risk, and an expensive one at £40,000 to be supplemented, but it’s a risk that may pay off for Middleham Park and Richard Fahey. Moreover, Richard Fahey mentioned this week that he’s not a fan of supplementing for races like this, so this won’t have been an afterthought by any means. Of the ones at a bigger price, I’m going to give a shout out to Raasel. He’s done nothing but improve all year and has tonnes of speed to boot. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was throwing his hat in the ring at the business end.

The Sky Bet Ebor is going to be a helter skelter handicap as always, and picking a winner is never easy. Earl of Tyrone looks like a prime candidate. The Irish raider arrives here off a mark of 103, so is well weighted to have a proper tilt at this. He won the Race to the Ebor at the Curragh and his trainer has clearly lined him up for this. You need an improving handicapper for this race and everything about his profile suggests he’s the one punters will be latching on to. Gaasee was unlucky last time out in the Old Newton Cup and with a better trip round here should give the favourite something to worry about. At a bigger price I’d have a look at Candleford each way. The fact that Tom Marquand is on board this Haggas charge has to carry some weight, and I’m willing to forgive his last run. He was very impressive the time before in the Duke of Edinburgh and could be right in the shake up here. 

Harrowells offers specialist legal support to trainers, breeders, racecourses, owners and jockeys. We first came into contact with Adam in 2016 when we sponsored him under the apprentice jockey scheme we were running at that time. In the same year, he went on to win the prestigious Ebor Race at York and posted a number of well received blogs on horse racing. We have asked him to return as a regular guest commentator and to offer up some insights into racing life.

Adam is not an employee of Harrowells Limited. The views he expresses in his blogs and on his social media accounts are his own.