Gabrial has the class to shine at Beverley ahead of York tilt

The DBS Premier Yearling Stakes at the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival in August could well be on the schedule of Gabrial, a two-year-old colt that I rate very highly.

He made his debut at Chester’s May Festival earlier this month, and won very impressively indeed.

That was over the minimum distance of five furlongs, and he is back over that trip tomorrow. He will probably be seen at his best at six furlongs, but it is another race over the minimum distance tomorrow at Beverley. He’s in the 3.45pm conditions race and his class should tell once again.

The DBS race at Knavesmire on Thursday August 18 is over six furlongs. It is, of course, a race close to my heart because it was won by Wootton Bassett last summer on his way to victory in Paris in the autumn.

This evening, I’m riding at Haydock Park. My best chance is likely to be Arctic Feeling in the Listed race at 7.05pm.

His chances would be enhanced if there were some rain. There’s a few millimetres forecast by this evening, and the racecourse executive has been watering earlier in the week. That won’t harm his prospects at all. He will certainly run well, though he prefers the ground with a bit of give in it.

My other main opportunity is Badea, half-an-hour earlier in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Maiden Stakes. It will be this colt’s first run. He’s going well at home and I like him – but he has to prove himself on a racecourse.

Of course, next week it’s the Investec Derby meeting at Epsom Downs. I’ll be hoping for some nice rides – trainer Richard Fahey has a number of entries in ‘The Dash’ for example.

I’ll have more news next week about my prospects in the saddle as we head down south.

The next racing at York is the June meeting on Friday and Saturday, June 10-11. Since 1971 this event has raised over £5m for good causes. Just by attending the day, racegoers will be helping to raise money for cancer-related charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support.

The feature race on Saturday is the most valuable sprint handicap for three-year-old horses in Europe. First races are at 2.10pm and 2.05pm, respectively.

Admission from £5 to £24 on Friday and £7 to £34 on Saturday, with accompanied under-16s entering free of charge. Further details can be found at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk