THE big betting race of the week is the Ebor Handicap at York (3.50) and in a wide open affair and Mighty Yar can give Lady Cecil back-to-back wins in the race following the victory of Tiger Cliff last year.

This lightly raced and progressive four-year-old looks made for this contest having run a series of solid races this season. His one seemingly below-par outing came in a class two handicap over a mile and a half at Newmarket when he was a running on seventh of the 14 runners.

However, his chance that day was severely compromised by the moderate pace and he once again picked up the form baton with a superb second to Kings Fete over a mile-and-a-half at York trying to give the Sir Michael Stoute trained three-year-old 16lb.

Time may well show that he was trying the impossible that day and over this extra quarter of a mile and off only a 4lb higher mark he looks sure to give Frankie Dettori a massive ride.

Luca Cumani’s Havana Cooler may only be a reserve, but we should not underestimate his other runner in the race, the three-times raced Sir Walter Scott formerly with Aiden O’Brien. 

The four-year-old has only had the one start with the Newmarket maestro, but it was a hugely eye-catching one when he came home sixth of the 10 runners in the Steventon Stakes without coming under maximum pressure.

The winner has gone on to cement that form in no uncertain terms in the by landing the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park and there should still be bundles of improvement to come from this son of Galileo.

The favourite Pallasator is very much on the upgrade, but 4/1 is too short for me in a race as competitive as this and his draw in stall 22 is also a negative so for the other players in the race I look to Retirement Plan and Wadi Al Hattawi.

The former won nicely at two miles last time out at Ascot, but a fast run event over this trip should suit, while Wadi has always looked like an Ebor horse and confirmed he remains on the upgrade with an unlucky run in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in June.

Earlier on, over the same course and distance, I give a huge each-way shout to Fiery Sunset in the Melrose Stakes at 2.40. This young filly has plenty of size and scope about her and readily when her maiden from Button Down last month. This extra yardage on a more galloping track should suit her down to the ground.

Elsewhere, Efflorescence should go close in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood at 2.20, while the feature event, the Celebration Mile (3.30), is Captain Cat’s for the taking if the rains stay away.

Over at Newmarket, have a second look at Highland Castle in the 3.20 and Tropics in the 3.55, while the best bet on the card at Windsor in the evening could come courtesy of True Story given one last chance in the feature Winter Hill Stakes at 6.45.