*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Copper Horse and Old Newton Cup winner Get Shirty co-heads the weights with Enemy for the lucrative Ebor Handicap.
A maximum field of 22 runners go to post in Saturday’s 15:35 at York and, rather fittingly, last year’s Melrose scorer Valley Forge sneaks in at the bottom of the weights.
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Plenty of Irish raiders have landed the Ebor, the most lucrative handicap in Europe, in recent years and leading fancies including Earl Of Tyrone, Ever Present and Okita Soushi make the trip.
If you’re planning to have a punt on the Ebor Handicap then you can study the field by reading through Timeform’s snazzy runner-by-runner guide below. You’ll also find an early tip from the racing boffins.
Ebor Handicap runners and riders
Get Shirty
Trainer: David O’Meara Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 6 Weight: 9st 12lbs Draw: 24
Much improved for current yard, winning Copper Horse at Royal Ascot and Old Newton Cup at Haydock on his last 2 outings. Dangerous to rule out further progress but he’ll need a very smart effort to defy this mark and he’s been allotted the outside stall.
***
Enemy
Trainer: Ian Williams Jockey: David Egan Age: 5 Weight: 9st 12lbs Draw: 16
Another who has improved for the switch to the Ian Williams stable, bagging a nice prize at Musselburgh over Easter and close third in Group 3 Sagaro at Ascot next time. Found the Goodwood Cup too hot to handle latest and this isn’t much easier under his big weight.
**
Max Vega
Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Rob Hornby Age: 5 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 1
Failed to win at 3 or 4 yrs but emphatically put it right on reappearance in the John Porter at Newbury in April. Respectable 5 lengths sixth of 8 to Rebel’s Romance in Glorious Stakes at Goodwood since but more will be needed if he’s to defy such a lofty mark.
**
Fancy Man
Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 4 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 14
Smart colt who was value for extra when landing Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield in February. Has run 2 crackers back on turf when fifth of 17 in Old Newton Cup at Haydock and third in Goodwood Group 3. Reopposing trio Global Storm, John Leeper and Max Vega were all behind him in the atter.
***
Ever Present
Trainer: Mrs J. Harrington Jockey: Shane Foley Age: 6 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 6
May have needed the run after 10 months off when fourth on his Down Royal reappearance in July and he was a big improver on the Flat in 2021, winning 3 of his 4 starts. No surprise were he to resume his progression here.
***
John Leeper
Trainer: Ed Dunlop Jockey: Adam Kirby Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 13
Smart colt who has come up short at listed/minor pattern level this season and suspicion he’ll also find a few too strong now moving into handicap company for the first time.
**
Okita Soushi
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: M. P. Sheehy Age: 4 Weight: 9st 8lbs Draw: 22
Just a maiden win to his name but he has posted some smart efforts in defeat, notably when 2 lengths third of 16 to Get Shirty in Copper Horse at Royal Ascot in June. Enjoys a 9 lb swing in the weights with David O’Meara’s charge here and he’s one to consider despite being drawn wider than ideal.
****
Global Storm
Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: William Buick Age: 5 Weight: 9st 8lbs Draw: 10
Smart performer who was a game winner in handicap company at Meydan in February and has run creditably in defeat since, finishing fourth in Goodwood Group 3 on latest. Likely to give his running again.
***
Rodrigo Diaz
Trainer: David Simcock Jockey: Jamie Spencer Age: 5 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 21
Smart performer who has been placed in Group 3 and listed events over 2m at Sandown since being equipped with a tongue tie. More will be needed if he’s to come out on top here, though.
**
Shanroe
Trainer: Karl Thornton Jockey: R. C. Colgan Age: 8 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 3
Useful over hurdles and on the Flat. Didn’t need to be at best to make a winning reapperance in a Galway conditions event last month but it sets him up nicely for a second attempt at this race (fourth 12 months ago).
***
Raymond Tusk
Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Martin Harley Age: 7 Weight: 9st 6lbs Draw: 12
Fourth in this in 2019. Doncaster conditions event win in March shows he’s still capable of smart form but he’s found a few of today’s rivals too strong for him in Copper Horse and Old Newton Cup on his last 2 outings.
**
Candleford
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 4 Weight: 9st 6lbs Draw: 17
Progressive throughout last year and took another sizeable step forward when easily landing Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot on his reappearance. May have found run coming bit soon when only midfield over 1¾m at Newmarket 3 weeks later. One of 2 strong contenders for yard.
****
Licence
Trainer: G. M. Lyons Jockey: G. F. Carroll Age: 4 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 19
Low-mileage sort who made a winning debut at Gowran last summer and has shown useful form in defeat since, 5¾ lengths fourth of 8 to Gear Up in 1½m Group 3 at Leopardstown 16 days ago. Very much unexposed for yard which won this in 2019.
****
Earl Of Tyrone
Trainer: P. Twomey Jockey: William James Lee Age: 4 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 8
Big improver for this yard, completing a hat-trick when seeing off Raise You by 1¼ lengths in 12.5f Limerick listed race in June. Seemingly saved for this since and his yard continues in very good form. Big player.
*****
Gaassee
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 4 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 15
Highly progressive colt who made it 4 wins in a row when taking a 1½m handicap at the Dante meeting here in May. Had his winning run ended when 1½ lengths third of 17 to Get Shirty in Old Newton Cup at Haydock but he would have gone closer had he got in the clear sooner. 1¾m should suit. Player.
****
Calling The Wind
Trainer: Richard Hughes Jockey: Pat Cosgrave Age: 6 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 11
Smart and consistent gelding who was a second in last year’s November Handicap off this mark. Respectable efforts in defeat in conditions/listed races this season. Cheekpieces refitted. Probably more of a place than win contender.
***
Euchen Glen
Trainer: Jim Goldie Jockey: Paul Mulrennan Age: 9 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 2
Veteran who has been a tremendous servant to connections and he ran up to his recent best when third of 13 over 1¾m at Goodwood last time. Big-field handicaps tend to bring out the best of him (former winner of John Smith’s Cup here).
***
Benaud
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 4 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 18
Shaping up well prior to make the most of a good opporunity in Bellewstown minor event at the end of June. One of 2 runners for his much-respected stable. Yet another who can’t be discounted.
***
Trawlerman
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Frankie Dettori Age: 4 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 20
Lightly raced 4-y-o who had excuses when down the field in competitive handicaps at Royal Ascot and Newmarket’s July meeting and it all came together for him over this trip at Glorious Goodwood last month. 4 lb demands further improvement.
***
Quenelle D’or
Trainer: Hugo Palmer Jockey: Neil Callan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 4
Posted a solid effort returning from 8 months off when fifth of 16 to Get Shirty in Copper Horse at Royal Ascot but unable to make any sort of impact in a Group 3 at Leopardstown 6 weeks ago. Others more obvious.
**
Alfred Boucher
Trainer: Ian Williams Jockey: Age: 6 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 9
Another fine example of this yard’s skill with stayers, comfortably winning the 2m handicap here on Wednesday. He’s a player under a 4 lb penalty if coping with the quick turnaround.
****
Valley Forge
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: David Probert Age: 4 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 7
Struck in the Melrose on this day last year. Landed another nice prize at Hyadock (2m) in May and bit better than result in Northumberland Plate and Glorious Goodwood handicap since.
***
Ebor Handicap tips
Timeform: EARL OF TYRONE hails from a yard which has really has started to make a name for itself in Ireland in the last couple of years and it would appear he’s been laid out for this since his Limerick listed win in June. He can take this valuable prize back across the Irish Sea for the third time in the last 4 years but there are any number of dangers, headed by William Haggas pair Gaassee and Candleford. Licence and Okita Soushi are other Irish raiders with likely profiles.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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