MOST people talk about it every day and it will have a big say in the outcome of events at York’s prestigious three-day Ebor festival next week. It’s the weather, if you hadn’t guessed. Luca Cumani is hoping for a relatively dry few days to ensure that the ground is no worse than good, preferably faster, for his Totesport Ebor candidate Purple Moon. If he gets his conditions, it’s difficult to look beyond him for Wednesday’s showpiece. Luca Cumani has won the prize twice before with Vicious Circle and Mephisto and, although he didn’t commit the horse immediately to the Ebor after lifting a Listed event at Goodwood, I think the Newmarket trainer was playing his cards close to his chest. He may regard him as a Group performer in the making, but it makes sense to go for the premier York handicap officially 8lb well in under a 3lb penalty rather than step up into Group company at Newbury today for the Goeffrey Freer Stakes, with less prize money. Purple Moon, who changed hands for a fortune as a potential hurdler, didn’t live up to expectations over timber for Nicky Richards and was sent to Cumani to resume his Flat career and has only run twice for the stable. He has plenty of time to raise his game in pattern class and I shall not be looking elsewhere for the winner provided the Knavesmire doesn’t become a mudbath which seems highly unlikely at this stage. Connections of Dandy Man are also hoping the rain stays away for another tilt at the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes on Thursday. The heavens opened before last year’s race for which he started favourite and could only finish 12th. While he raced a bit too freely early on, the ground was the main contributor to his downfall and trainer Tracey Collins is hoping her Irish raider will be able to get his revenge on the 2006 hero Reverence given his optimum conditions. On the other hand, Eric Alston is praying for rain for Reverence who is at his best when there is cut in the ground. Last year’s champion sprinter went on to lift the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock nine days later before going down by a neck to desert Lord in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp. He has yet to hit top form this season, but his trainer feels that the six-year-old has needed both his runs after a belated return to action. Lumbered with a Group One penalty, he was short of fitness at Sandown, while he was probably found out by the six stiff furlongs at Ascot. Reverence has a bit to prove on the evidence of this season’s performances, but I am confident he will turn up at the Knavesmire as the one to beat. | 
