Boom or bust? Four hot favourites to back or avoid at York this week

York's four-day Ebor festival gets under way on Wednesday, but with big meetings come dodgy favourites – so who may be the horses to consider backing against this time?

Baaeed

Juddmonte International (3.35 Wednesday)

Odds: 4-9

The Racing Post's ace tipster Paul Kealy outlined the case against Baaeed here, stating that in Mishriff the unbeaten Shadwell-owned colt is facing his toughest rival yet at a course where that opponent has shown his best form.

Is Baaeed the best horse in the race on paper? Yes. Do we know for sure he will continue to be at his best stepped up in trip? Not yet, and that is where the doubt at odds of 4-9 begin to creep in for some.

Back or avoid?

I don't enjoy playing odds-on but it's hard to imagine 4-9 ever being available about Baaeed again and I'd argue he represents value at those odds in the Juddmonte International. He is already the best turf horse in the world and I fancy the step up in trip to spark further improvement. Back.
Robbie Wilders, tipster

Dramatised

Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (1.50 Thursday)

Odds: 6-5

Dramatised was undoubtedly an impressive winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the form of that race has not worked out since, with runner-up Maylandsea last of eight in the Duchess of Cambridge and the third and fifth Maria Branwell and Miami Girl both comfortably beaten in the Super Sprint.

The Albany Stakes won by Meditate from Mawj has worked out much better, with the runner-up successful in the Duchess of Cambridge and the fifth winning a Group 3 in France.

Dramatised, who is as short as 6-5, will have to prove she stays six furlongs and give 3lb to Meditate and Mawj, the one-two in the Albany Stakes, while the more recent Ascot one-two of Lezoo and Kinta add further depth to the contest.

Back or avoid?

She appeals as a decent favourite. If she was mine I'd have run her in the Nunthorpe in receipt of a huge amount of weight from the older sprinters and the decision to take in this softer target over a furlong shorter should pay dividends. Back.
Robbie Wilders

Royal Aclaim

Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (3.35 Friday)

Odds: 6-4

Royal Aclaim has been a hot fancy for the Nunthorpe since streaking away with the City Walls Stakes over course and distance last month, but that was only her third start and she still has a lot to prove.

Only one three-year-old has won in the last ten runnings of the Nunthorpe (Winter Power 12 months ago) and the form of Royal Aclaim's City Walls win, when beating Mondammej by two lengths, does not leap out.

She must also now concede 22lb to the supplemented juvenile The Platinum Queen, who is officially rated just 2lb inferior to the favourite, while older rivals Highfield Princess and Khaadem wait in the wings.

Back or avoid?

While Royal Aclaim's York success last time was impressive, she looks too short in the Nunthorpe. Fellow course-and-distance winner The Platinum Queen broke the course record at Goodwood in July and I'm not sure the favourite will be able to give her 22lb. Avoid.
Robbie Wilders

Sacred

Sky Bet City of York Stakes (3.00 Saturday)

Odds: 11-4

There is not a lot between the market leaders for Saturday's seven-furlong Group 2, but it was Sacred who was priced up as favourite following confirmations on Monday and that could appear a generous position.

After almost a year off the track, she returned with a cracking effort to finish fifth in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot over six furlongs, but disappointed next time out when a beaten favourite in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

Fellow City of York entrants Sandrine and Kinross finished one-two that day and Sacred could again be vulnerable to the pair.

Back or avoid?

After what happened at Goodwood in the Lennox Stakes it's hard to consider Sacred a banker in the City of York, although admittedly she was unlucky in fifth. I'd like to see Rohaan run here as I suspect seven furlongs will really suit. Avoid.
Robbie Wilders

2022 Ebor festival offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money-back offers. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here and benefit from their money-back offers here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

Read more on York's Ebor festival:

I'm taking on Baaeed - and here's why this horse can give him a proper fight

Confirmed runners and riders for York's Juddmonte International on Wednesday

Who wins the 2022 Juddmonte International at York based on previous trends?

New customer offer. Bet £10, get £30. Credited as 3 x £10 bets. 18+. Play safe. From 00:01 on 13.04.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook. Further terms apply.