Hanson: Spot Plays for York Aug. 21

The four-day Ebor Festival at York, which runs Wednesday through Saturday, is the last of the multiday summer festivals on the English racing calendar. It's also another opportunity for me to start getting out of a hole that has gotten progressively deeper as the flat season in Britain has worn on.

My original $1,000 bankroll is down to $487. As is customary, I'll devote 5% of the outstanding balance to advised win plays, beginning with these two races on Wednesday's opener.

Race 2: Acomb (G3), 9:25 a.m. ET

This straight seven furlongs for two-year-olds perhaps will evolve into a two-horse show involving Godolphin and Coolmore, who respectively have the top two choices in Ruling Court and The Lion in Winter. There was absolutely nothing wrong with either of their respective debuts over this distance, and both look top-notch prospects.

However, value-seeking leads me to give #11 Yaroogh (15-1) a look for trainer William Haggas. 

Despite showing little on debut back in early May, the Dubawi colt looked far more impressive in his second start later that month, winning at Haydock by a length from Seagulls Eleven, who subsequently finished a commendable second to Ancient Truth in the Superlative (G2) at Newmarket.

Yaroogh had an interim start two weeks ago, making all in a novice over the all-weather at Kempton. He obviously meets a far higher grade of rival here, but his potential and form lines are best judged by the Haydock score two back. For pedigree aficionados, he's out of a winning daughter of Invincible Spirit and the multiple Group 1 winner Sajjhaa.

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

All eyes will be on odds-on favorite City of Troy as he seeks to win his third Group 1 in succession, following the Derby at Epsom and the Eclipse at Sandown. Given the manner he won the Eclipse, though, I sense a minor upset brewing at York.

#11 Calandagan (7-1) was never going to be allowed the opportunity to display his talents in the classics either in France, where he is based, or England. Being a gelding, he is prohibited from running in those important races.

Thankfully, a race like the International allows him the chance to test his class against some of the best three-year-old colts on the continent. And having watched him win the King Edward VII (G2) at Royal Ascot by six lengths after winning a pair of French Derby (G1) trials at Longchamp, it's safe to say he's a talent truly on the rise.

As a Breeders' Cup Challenge prep for the Turf (G1) at Del Mar, the International is the perfect spot for Calandagan as the gelding is not eligible for Europe's best race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). This will be his chance to shine, and I will bet him on not squandering the opportunity.