This weekend’s racing makes no appeal betting wise and so I am instead going to put up three ante-post bets in the hope of landing a big-priced winner for the column over the next month or so.

The first bet is in Europe’s richest handicap on the flat, the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York on 22 August. This is a race in which Irish maestro Willie Mullins, who won the contest last year with Ethical Diamond, has no less than ten entries.

Mullins keeps his cards so close to his chest that I wouldn’t want to bet on which of his horses will run let alone which might win the race. Instead, I prefer the chances of an exposed British trained-runner in DAIQUIRI BAY.

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Alan King’s progressive four-year-old gelding is two wins from two runs this season, landing the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot, run over the Ebor distance of one mile six furlongs, last time out.

King says the Ebor is his horse’s next target and, off a rating of 105, he is certain to make the cut for the race. His last two wins have been on ‘good to firm’ ground but the handler says Daiquiri Bay will be even better with cut. That means if the rain finally comes it should be good, not bad, news for his........

© The Spectator