Hi all,
We’ve reached the final day of the Ebor Festival, and the stage is set for one of the most competitive races of the week – the Sky Bet Ebor (3.35). With £500,000 in guaranteed prize money and a maximum field lining up, it promises to be a thrilling climax to this year’s action at York.
But while the Sky Bet Ebor is the big betting race, it’s not the most valuable contest on the card. That honour belongs to Britain’s newest Group 1, the Sky Bet City of York Stakes (3.00), worth £665,000. Top miler Rosallion, who missed France last weekend with a bruised foot, heads the betting.
ITV are showing the first five races from York plus two from Goodwood.
As promised, on Wednesday, here’s my preview of the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap.
3:35 – Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) – 1m6f
First run in 1843 the Ebor is York’s oldest and most famous race. It’s also Europe’s most valuable handicap. A maximum field of 20 have been declared for this year’s race which will hopefully provide racegoers and those watching on TV a spectacle worthy of my all-time favourite flat race. Yes, I like it more than the Derby.
Mullins Duo Dominate Sky Bet Ebor Market
Willie Mullins fields the front two in the market. Hipop De Loire was unlucky when fifth in this last year’s race and has been aimed all year at this. Looks the most obvious winner. Ethical Diamond impressed when winning the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (1m 4f) at Royal Ascot last time. Despite being keen his was strong at the finish and should stay this far. Hipop De Loire is a worthy favourite and 4/1 would be a fair bet
Aidan O’Brien runs London City and Queenstown, with Ryan Moore’s choice of the latter raising eyebrows. Queenstown was sent off just 9/1 for last year’s race but finished a well beaten 17th. London City had looked like an Ebor horse when winning a handicap (1m 4f) here last May. Lightly raced since he should stay 1m 6f.
Shadow Dance
Off the track for 319 days, returned in the Chesterfield Cup Handicap (1m 2f) over a trip short of his best and shaped like a horse being brought along with this race in mind. Held up, he was making good late headway when denied a run inside the final furlong and, importantly, wasn’t given a hard race. Still relatively unexposed for a 5-year-old with just 10 career starts, he won over 1m 4f at last year’s Ebor Festival. I backed him at 20/1 after that Goodwood run and he still offered value at 14/1 on Friday but 9/1 looks skinny now.
Almosh’her
Has been gelded since a disappointing effort behind Ethical Diamond in the Duke of Edinburgh. Before that, the lightly raced 4-year-old had looked progressive when winning a 1m 4f handicap here at the Dante meeting. He’s on a fair mark if the gelding procedure brings improvement, but he’ll need to settle better to see out 1m 6f in a race of this nature.
French Master
Looked a little quirky when fifth of eight in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup, and connections now switch the blinkers for a visor. Carrying top weight won’t be easy, but a strongly run big-field handicap should play more to his strengths.
Kihavah
Runner-up in last year’s Ebor off a 9lb lower mark. He showed he retains ability when winning the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh over this trip in April. He may be vulnerable to better handicapped rivals this time, but he’s consistent, goes well at the trip, and looks a sound each-way contender.
Siege Of Troy
Shaped as though he needed further when finishing 4th of 18 behind Ethical Diamond in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot. He backed that up with a solid third in a Group 2 at Leopardstown just 16 days ago and could be very competitive back in handicap company, especially with a handy 7lb apprentice booked. Trainer Johnny Murtagh knows what it takes to win this race, having done so in 2014.
Majestic Warrior
One of the more intriguing runners. Lightly raced for a five-year-old, he’s had only four starts (form figures 1411). We haven’t seen him since his seasonal reappearance win at Thirsk in April. But he struck there after a 23-month absence so fitness shouldn’t be a worry. The bigger question is the ground. He's never run on anything quicker than good. He's clearly got talent if connections have managed to keep him sound and could still be well treated.
I’ll be back on Monday to start my look back at this year’s Ebor Festival.
Good luck with your Saturday bets.
John
Sun:
I don’t care what all of the experts think, Ryan Moore is most def NOT the best jockey out there.
Gstaad was clearly the best horse in the Prix Morny, but he didn’t pick up his stick until the race was lost.
He’d never ride a horse for me.