The Ebor Handicap is the feature race on the final day of York’s Ebor festival and this year’s renewal of the Group 1 looks like a wide-open contest. Check out our runner-by-runner guide below, alongside bet365’s latest offer where new customers can claim £50 in free bets when they bet £10.
All odds are bet365 – Prices correct at the time of publish
1. GET SHIRTY (David O’Meara, Daniel Tudhope) 16/1
Listed winner in France for Christophe Ferland and although he didn’t achieve much in three starts for this yard last season, he has really come good in 2022, winning four of his five starts including the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot. Up 5lb for landing the Old Newton Cup at Haydock last time but stepping back up to 1m6f will suit and his yard targets handicaps at this meeting.
2. ENEMY (Ian Williams, David Egan) 16/1
Has gained exactly one win for all three trainers he’s had in an 18-race career to date, impressively landing the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh for his current stable earlier this year. Has been campaigned at Group level since then, struggling in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup last time out. His sights are lowered considerably here but he remains 11lb above that Musselburgh winning mark.
3. MAX VEGA (Ralph Beckett, Rob Hornby) 25/1
Broke a nine-race losing run when landing the Group 3 John Porter at Newbury in April, his second win at that level. Failed to beat a rival home in the Yorkshire Cup here afterwards but was admittedly better when sixth in a Glorious Goodwood Group 3 last time. Finished fifth in this race last year but he’s 3lb higher this time around and would probably prefer an easier surface, so others are preferred.
4. FANCY MAN (Richard Hannon, Sean Levey) 50/1
Had the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Alenquer behind when landing a Haydock Listed event back in September 2020, but he is 0-7 on turf since then. Finished just over 2l behind Get Shirty in the Old Newton Cup before running up to a similar level in a Glorious Goodwood Group 3 last time; form franked. Returns to handicap company here but he’s yet to tackle 1m6f and softer ground would almost certainly be preferred.
5. EVER PRESENT (Jessica Harrington, Shane Foley) 10/1
Classy bumper performer earlier in his career and has produced impressive form figures of 11214 since switched to the level by the same connections. Landed the “Petingo” Premier Handicap at Leopardstown on final 2021 start, and he shaped with plenty of promise when fourth in the Listed Her Majesty’s Plate at Down Royal on seasonal debut. Strong stayer who’d probably appreciate this turning into a test of stamina.
6. JOHN LEEPER (Ed Dunlop, Adam Kirby) 12/1
Enigmatic sort who’s not quite lived up to his exceptional pedigree; by Frankel out of multiple Group 1 winner Snow Fairy. Sent off a single-figure price for last year’s Derby but he could only finish a distant ninth there and he’s 0-9 since. Has shaped with promise on a couple of occasions this season, mainly staying on past beaten horses when the race has finished. A difficult horse to weigh up at the minute.
7. OKITA SOUSHI (Joseph O’Brien, Mikey Sheehy) 8/1
Smart pedigree being by Galileo out of an Australian Group 1 winner. Fairyhouse maiden winner on debut last June and although 0-4 since he’s seldom run a bad race, finishing within 2l of Get Shirty in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot. Didn’t have the race run to suit when second at Leopardstown last time and he’s best forgiven that. Low on experience but still plenty of improvement left in the locker and he won’t fail for stamina.
8. GLOBAL STORM (Charlie Appleby, William Buick) 33/1
Has scored exactly once in each of the last four years, gaining his 2022 success in a handicap in Dubai back in February. Has run to an admirably consistent level in all four starts since then, mixing it between handicaps and Group races. Has probably seen his campaign revolved around this race, but he could only finish tenth last year and he’s 2lb higher this time around. Probably up against it off this mark.
York Racecourse,
Knavesmire Rd,
York,
North Yorkshire YO23 1EX.
United Kingdom.
York Racecourse
Known as ‘The Knavesmire’, racing has been staged over this turf since 1731 and is without question one of the most attractive racecourses in the world. The highlight of each season is the prestigious three-day Ebor Meeting in August which features three Group 1 races. The Dante Meeting in May, also over three days, is another immensely popular fixture featuring a mix of classic trials, pattern races for older horses and top-class handicaps.
9. RODRIGO DIAZ (David Simcock, Jamie Spencer) 33/1
Form figures in handicaps currently read 1112132, and he’s developed into a fairly consistent performer in pattern company since then, albeit without managing to get his head in front. Has run well in defeat over 2m at Sandown the last twice, but he returns to handicap company 22lb above his last winning mark in this sphere and this trip might prove on the sharp side nowadays.
10. SHANROE (Karl Thornton, Robbie Colgan) 25/1
Has a healthy strike rate of 9-21 under all codes and he outran 20/1 odds when fourth in this race last year, beaten just 3l. Has only made the track twice since then, bouncing back from a modest November Handicap (Naas) run when landing a three-runner race at Galway on seasonal reappearance just over three weeks ago. Has a 4lb penalty to contend with for that success, however, and he’d probably want the ground a little softer than this.
11. RAYMOND TUSK (Alan King, Martin Harley) 25/1
Kicked off this turf season with a 4l Doncaster conditions race victory, that breaking a 14-race losing run. Chased home Max Vega in the John Porter here afterwards but his form since has been in and out, finishing down the field in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock last time. Not dropping down the handicap enough to make him of significant interest in a race this competitive.
12. CANDLEFORD (William Haggas, Tom Marquand) 12/1
Had some smart form to his name last term which included a 3l Kempton victory over Coltrane. Started this season with an impressive 6l Duke Of Edinburgh victory, but the handicapper shoved him up 13lb as a result and he was only midfield off this mark at Newmarket’s July Festival last time. That race wasn’t really set up to suit him, but even still off this weight burden, he might find things tough.
13. LICENCE (Ger Lyons, Gary Carroll) 11/1
Wide-margin Gowran maiden winner on his sole start at 3, and he bumped into the classy Layfayette on seasonal reappearance at Naas in March. Gelded after struggling in Group 2 company subsequently and showed the benefit of that when fourth in a Leopardstown Group 3 just over a fortnight ago. Clearly open to improvement on the back of just four starts and there’s also potential for more now tackling 1m6f.
14. EARL OF TYRONE (Paddy Twomey, Billy Lee) 6/1
Took ten attempts to get off the mark but he’s now won each of his last three starts, justifying favouritism in a Bellewstown maiden and Curragh handicap before taking a Listed contest at Limerick last time out; form franked. Looked like a potential Group performer on the back of that success, and after just four starts he’s still open to improvement for this stable. Expect him to be bang there at the business end.
15. GAASSEE (William Haggas, Kieran Shoemark) 8/1
Yet to be sent off bigger than 9/4 in his six-race career to date, winning four times including a competitive 1m4f handicap here in May where he looked a potential Ebor candidate. Couldn’t add to that when 11/8F for the Old Newton Cup last time but certainly wasn’t beaten far and a 2lb rise looks workable. Stable going great guns and they hold this colt in high regard (Irish St Leger entrant), so he’s of definite interest here.
16. CALLING THE WIND (Richard Hughes, Pat Cosgrave) 28/1
Enjoyed an excellent 2021, ending the campaign with placed efforts in the Cesarewitch and November Handicap. Hasn’t managed to score in four starts this season but has run to a consistent level on each occasion, coming into this on the back of a third to Coltrane in the Coral Marathon. Back handicapping off what is clearly a workable mark, but he’d probably prefer it a little softer, especially dropped back to this trip.
17. EUCHEN GLEN (Jim Goldie, Paul Mulrennan) 12/1
Admirable sort who’s a nine-time winner, including twice at this track. No victory to his name since last July, but he comes into this on the back of a fine third in the Coral Summer Handicap at Glorious Goodwood. Currently 3lb well in on his revised mark and his campaign may well have revolved around this race. More experienced than most but despite his age, he’s one that you can’t dismiss lightly.
18. BENAUD (Joseph O’Brien, Jim Crowley) 20/1
Gaining his first win since May 2021 when taking advantage of a good opportunity to bolt up at Bellewstown (4/7F) last time out. That victory came on yielding ground, however, and he was reported to have not let himself down on the good ground at the Curragh on penultimate run. Represents top connections and Jim Crowley is a fascinating booking but he’d ideally prefer it softer and is currently 23lb above his last winning mark.
19. TRAWLERMAN (John & Thady Gosden, Frankie Dettori) 14/1
Has a very all-or-nothing sort of profile but he has classy back form to his name which includes a sixth in a vintage renewal of the Sandown Classic Trial. Below his best at the Royal Ascot and Newmarket July festivals before bouncing back at Glorious Goodwood, where the addition of a hood appeared to help him. That headgear is retained today, and this big field should also be to his benefit, each-way claims.
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20. QUENELLE D’OR (Hugo Palmer, Neil Callan) 66/1
Useful filly who was the winner of a French Listed race last September. Made a promising seasonal debut when fifth in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot in June, but she was nowhere near that level in a Leopardstown Group 3 last time. That was clearly not her true running and she’d be interesting if back to her Royal Ascot form, albeit that would be for place purposes rather than winning ones.
21. ALFRED BOUCHER (Ian Williams, P J McDonald) 14/1
Sneaks into this having won impressively at this meeting on Wednesday, for which he receives a 4lb penalty. That came over an extended 2m but the way he travelled through his race suggests he’ll have little problem back at this trip and it’s worth noting that he has back form to his name behind the likes of Sir Busker and Mohaather. Only the fourth start for this stable and should this not come too soon he has to enter calculations.
22. VALLEY FORGE (Andrew Balding, David Probert) 28/1
Looked like a future Ebor candidate when landing the Melrose on this card 12 months ago albeit his level has somewhat plateaued since then. Appeared to appreciate the step up to 2m when scoring at Haydock in May, and he’s gone on to finish seventh in the Northumberland Plate and Coral Summer Handicap at Glorious Goodwood. Not disgraced on either of those starts and a true test at this trip will suit, but he’s 8lb wrong at the weights.
R23. NOT SO SLEEPY (Hughie Morrison, Hollie Doyle) 33/1
First reserve; smart dual-purpose performer who dead-heated for first in the Fighting Fifth last November. Didn’t replicate that in two subsequent hurdles starts, and he’s finished behind some of these rivals in both the Copper Horse Handicap and Coral Marathon since returning to the level. On a winning mark but he’d prefer softer ground and he appears to be a better hurdler than a flat performer nowadays.
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Verdict
The admirable veteran Euchen Glen was one of many Glorious Goodwood eyecatchers enduring absolutely no run in the Coral Summer Handicap and finishing seemingly still full of running in third. Jim Goldie’s charge must be respected for place purposes off the same mark, but the Irish appear to hold a strong hand here with EARL OF TYRONE a particularly interesting runner. This 4yo produced some smart form without winning for his previous trainer but has proven a revelation since joining Paddy Twomey, winning three of his four starts producing a strong run to land a Limerick Listed contest last time. That form’s been franked since and Earl Of Tyrone has since been freshened up with a tilt at this contest in mind, so rates the one to beat. William Haggas hasn’t managed to land the Ebor but his Gaassee must be considered here having always seemingly been held in high regard. Alfred Boucher must be respected on the back of Wednesday’s success, for all that this is a tight turnaround, so fourth place might be fought out between the Irish trio of Okita Soushi, Licence and Ever Present, with the Ger Lyons runner favoured.
- EARL OF TYRONE
- Gaassee
- Euchen Glen
- Licence
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