Doyle: Ebor test should suit Klassleader

Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her expert views on the best of the action at York and Chester on Saturday, including the \u00a3500,000 Ebor Handicap. <h3><strong>Leader looks Klass act in Ebor</strong></h3><p>If you're willing to forgive his run in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month then <strong>Klassleader</strong> must be on your shortlist for the \u00a3500,000 <em>Sky Bet Ebor Handicap</em> (3.35) at York on Saturday.</p><p>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.</p><p>Alan King's<strong> Daiquiri Bay</strong> 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.</p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/13574761/item-surprises-big-two-for-juddmonte-international-glory">Item surprises big two for Juddmonte International glory</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12040/13575099/kalpana-wins-yorkshire-oaks-as-gutsy-display-enough-to-see-off-sparan-nua-on-day-two-of-ebor-meeting">Kalpana shows guts to go with her class in Yorkshire Oaks</a></strong></li></ul><p>Another open to improvement is the Willie Mullins runner <strong>Love Me Tender</strong>, 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.</p><h3><strong>Zavateri can upset older rivals in Group One feature</strong></h3><p>I'd love to see Eve Johnson Houghton's <strong>Zavateri</strong> win the Group One <em>Sky Bet City Of York Stakes </em>(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.</p><p><strong>Zavateri</strong> 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 <strong>Notable Speech</strong>.</p><p>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 <strong>Ten Bob Tony</strong>. Ed Walker's colt will revel in the conditions and can at least confirm the form.</p><p>Japan's classy entire <strong>Satono Reve </strong>is an interesting contender after<strong> </strong>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.</p><h3><strong>Grey day for Ireland in Strensall</strong></h3><p>Ireland can take the honours in the Group Three <em>Sky Bet Strensall Stakes</em> (1.50) at York with the reliable <strong>Geryon</strong>, who already has winning form at this level.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Market rival <strong>Damysus</strong> 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.</p><h3><strong>Progressive Infraad has Melrose claims</strong></h3><p>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 <strong>Infraad.</strong></p><p>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 <em>Sky Bet Melrose Handicap</em> (2.25) at York.</p><p>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 <strong>Limestone</strong>, who is the definitive Group winner in a handicap following his success in the Queen's Vase.</p><p>Giving so much weight to progressive types like <strong>Infraad</strong> 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 <strong>Mythical Bay</strong>.</p><h3><strong>Red the danger in sprint feature</strong></h3><p><strong>Air Force One</strong> is out to complete a memorable Ebor Festival double in the <em>Sky Bet Constantine Handicap (</em>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.</p><p>However, I'm a big fan of Tim Easterby's <strong>Red Spells Danger</strong> 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.</p><p>David O'Meara's <strong>Toca Madera</strong> 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.</p><h3><strong>Derby runner-up tops bill in Chester Marathon</strong></h3><p>Godolphin's <strong>By The Book</strong> and ...

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