British Spot Plays: York for Aug. 20

The four-day Ebor Festival at York, one of England's classiest multi-day fixtures outside Royal Ascot, kicks off Wednesday and runs through Saturday. The Wednesday card features three Group events with plenty of star power, particularly from Coolmore, but I'll be trying to find value elsewhere in a pair of those spots.

After the conclusion of the Goodwood Festival earlier this month, my English betting bankroll for the flat season stood at $408.50 from its original starting point of $500. I will bet 5% of the outstanding balance to win on each of the following selections, beginning with a $20 win play.

Race 3: Great Voltigeur (G2), 10 a.m. ET

Lambourn, who bolted to the top of England's middle-distance three-year-olds with back-to-back wins in the Epsom Derby (G1) and Irish Derby (G1), is the obvious class of this race, a 1 1/2-mile event often used as a prep for the St Leger (G1). I can't say much, however, about the depth of the class among those who relish this distance, and Lambourn's win at the Curragh was hardly the authoritative victory it should have been.

#2 Carmers (6-1), the second choice here after maintaining his unbeaten record in the Queens Vase (G2) at Royal Ascot, is a logical alternative. Although he hasn't run this short before and perhaps is indeed more of a Leger (14-furlong) type, he seems to have the requisite class to spring a minor upset. Especially so after going better at Ascot than the Coolmore-owned Scandinavia, who has franked the Queens Vase form with victories in the Bahrain Trophy (G3) and Goodwood Cup (G1).

Race 4: Juddmonte International (G1), 10:35 a.m. ET

Delacroix and Ombudsman, one-two in the Eclipse (G1) in early July, are the standouts on paper, with Danon Decile bringing Group 1 form from Japan and Dubai, and the filly See the Fire has an extreme fondness for this course. However, an interesting entrant with a high ceiling is #5 Daryz (8-1).

Most observers would question whether Daryz is up to this task just yet. Having debuted only in early April, Daryz has reeled off four straight wins, only one of which was by more than a length. His signature win to date was the Prix Eugene Adam (G2) at Saint-Cloud, a far cry from the Eclipse. Nonetheless, connections are reportedly optimistic enough to give him the call, rather than stable star Calandagan, the 2024 International runner-up.

Much like his legendary father, Sea the Stars, Daryz loves to win, but only by as much as he wants. His dam, too, was a top-level type, winning the Hong Kong Vase (G1) and narrowly missing in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1). Daryz is her sixth stakes-winning offspring, with Prix Ganay (G1) hero Dariyan and Knickerbocker (G2) winner Devamani among the others.

At the odds, I'll take Daryz to outperform expectations in what figures to be a potentially tactical affair.