Willie Mullins relies on new recruit Hipop De Loire in his bid to land the lucrative Ebor Handicap for the second season in a row.
The Jumps king saddled Absurde to glory in last year’s £500,000 contest and will be hoping his sole runner in Saturday’s 15:35 – a Listed winner on the Flat in Germany – can build on an encouraging stable debut when second over hurdles at Galway earlier this month.
It looks like being a competitive renewal as a maximum field of 22 runners are set to take their chance and Relentless Voyager – trained by Andrew Balding – heads the weights.
The Kingsclere team boast a second live chance in the form of bet365 Trophy winner Fairbanks, who was only beaten a neck in the Coral Summer Handicap at Glorious Goodwood three weeks ago.
It is 23 years and counting since Aidan O’Brien’s last victory in the Ebor but Ballydoyle’s sole representative Queenstown brings high-class form to the table on handicap debut, although he has been given the widest draw of the lot.
Jumps fans will recognise a stack of names in the line-up including Grade 2-winning juvenile hurdler Burdett Road, Henry de Bromhead’s classy mare Magical Zoe, last month’s Galway Hurdle third My Mate Mozzie and popular old boy Not So Sleepy on what could be his final start.
Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator also takes his chance but is winless from nine previous starts on turf.
The latest Ebor Handicap odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Ebor Handicap 2024 verdict
Timeform: A typically-competitive renewal of the most valuable Flat handicap in Europe and its EPIC POET who shades the vote having been shaping up well for David O’Meara this season. Queenstown, who got within a length of Kyprios in the Saval Beg at Leopardstown when last seen in May, heads up the dangers making his handicap debut, while Magical Zoe, Sea King and Hipop de Loire (who represents last year’s winning trainer) are just a handful of others worth considering, too.
*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
Ebor Handicap 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Ebor Handicap 2024.
Relentless Voyager
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 4 Weight: 9st 12lbs Draw: 20
Confirmed the promise of his reappearance when ready winner of 14-runner handicap at Epsom on Derby Day and acquitted himself well up in grade since, latest when second to Al Aasy in Glorious Stakes at Goodwood (12f) 3 weeks ago. Low-mileage and could still have a bigger performance in him.
***
Queenstown
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: James Doyle Age: 4 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 22
Off the mark returning from 6 months off in a back-end maiden at the Curragh last year and has taken his form up a notch this year, managing to get closer to stablemate Kyprios in Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown (14f, good) when last seen in May. Commands respect on return/handicap debut.
****
Wise Eagle
Trainer: Adam Nicol Jockey: Ben Robinson Age: 7 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 12
Struggled on his first couple of starts back this season but back to his very best in a race which set up perfectly for him when 3 lengths third of 8 to Alsakib in Silver Cup at this C&D (good to soft) 6 weeks ago. Tough task back in a fiercely-competitive handicap.
**
Naqeeb
Trainer: William Haggas Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 11
Superbly bred (closely related to top-class pair Baaeed and Hukum) and returned to action with a solid third in Jockey Club Stakes. Excuses on his next couple of starts but proved better than ever having his first crack at 2m when second in handicap at Newbury 5 weeks ago. Headgear back on.
***
Crystal Delight
Trainer: Harry Eustace Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 5 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 17
Plenty of creditable efforts last year for William Jarvis and ran out an emphatic winner from the front on debut for new yard at Epsom in April. Found another chunk of improvement when bolting up here 3 weeks later but unable to reproduce that form upped to listed level at Newmarket 8 weeks ago.
**
Yashin
Trainer: Mrs J. Harrington Jockey: Oisin Orr Age: 5 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 21
Got within 2¾ lengths of Kyprios when third in Saval Beg at Leopardstown in May (won 2023 renewal) but returned to a big-field handicap, underperformed on his first all-weather start when mid-field in Northumberland Plate. Finished close 7th in this last year from same mark and has had a wind op.
***
Hipop de Loire
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: C. T. Keane Age: 7 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 2
Useful stayer on the Flat in Poland/Germany for Marlena Stanislawska and made an encouraging yard/hurdling debut after 9 months off when runner-up at Galway (16.8f, soft) 3 weeks ago, keeping on when switched after last. Very interesting handicap debutant for trainer who won this last year.
***
Magical Zoe
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: William James Lee Age: 6 Weight: 9st 6lbs Draw: 1
Smart hurdler who landed the odds on her second outing in this sphere in 8-runner maiden at Down Royal (12.8f, good) in June. Picked up some valuable black type when third to Grateful in Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse (14f, good) last month and this Irish raider warrants considerable respect.
****
Onesmoothoperator
Trainer: Brian Ellison Jockey: Connor Beasley Age: 6 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 5
Bagged a second major handicap at Newcastle within the space of 7 months when scooting clear late in 20-runner Northumberland Plate (16.2f) 8 weeks ago, tanking through the race and quickly sealing matters when leading 1f out. 8 lb higher here and worth remembering he’s still a maiden on turf.
***
Burdett Road
Trainer: James Owen Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa Age: 4 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 3
Won 3-y-o handicap at last season’s Royal Ascot and subsequently developed into a useful hurdler for this yard, winning Cheltenham Grade 2 before chasing home Sir Gino there in January. Shaped well on his return to the Flat at Ascot last month and this extra distance looks sure to suit.
***
Ziggy
Trainer: Harry Eustace Jockey: Richard Kingscote Age: 6 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 4
Sparsely campaigned in recent seasons but has returned as good as ever, gaining reward for a series of very good efforts this year when landing 6-runner handicap at this course (11.8f, good to firm) 4 weeks ago. This just his second start at the trip and further progress not ruled out.
***
Fairbanks
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: David Probert Age: 4 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 15
Most progressive equipped with headgear, registering a clear-cut success from the front at Newcastle in May before regaining the winning thread at Newmarket (14f, good) fitted with blinkers last month. Edged out only by an improving 3-y-o at Goodwood last time and limit not yet reached.
***
Epic Poet
Trainer: David O’Meara Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 5 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 16
Smart in France. Disappointed in 3 outings for the Meade stable last year but back on track for this yard, finishing an excellent second in Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot. Shaped well in John Smith’s Cup here 6 weeks ago (had to weave way through) so rates a major player if getting the trip.
*****
Sea King
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott Bt Jockey: Luke Morris Age: 5 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 9
Made a winning return in the mud at Ripon in April and having found the Duke of Edinburgh too much, he scored again at Ayr (13f) in first-time blinkers last month. Ran at least as well in defeat despite not being seen to best effect when third at Ripon 5 weeks ago and he remains of interest.
****
Alfred Boucher
Trainer: Ian Williams Jockey: Callum Shepherd Age: 8 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 6
Developed into a smart handicapper for this yard in 2022 (won stayers handicap at this meeting) but was pulled up having gone wrong at Chester in September of that year. No surprise he shaped as if needing the run after 23 months off at Ascot recently, but this is a monumental ask.
**
Not So Sleepy
Trainer: Hughie Morrison Jockey: David Allan Age: 12 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 14
Gained a first Flat win in over 3 years at Newbury last September and went down on his sword for all he failed to make the frame for the first time in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket (18f) 3 weeks later. Grade 1 Hurdle winner since, and solid efforts in this sphere earlier in the summer.
***
My Mate Mozzie
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Jockey: G. F. Carroll Age: 8 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 13
Useful on Flat and even better form over jumps, runner-up in Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Below best in the Arkle at Cheltenham in March but placed in a handicap at Royal Ascot and again ran well having a rare hurdles start at Galway (16f, good to soft) recently.
***
Chillingham
Trainer: Edward Bethell Jockey: Callum Rodriguez Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 18
Useful handicapper who has finished a creditable third over 1½m at Ripon and at this venue on his last 2 starts, latterly in a hood/cheekpieces combination. Former left off on this occasion and every chance he will be competitive.
***
Kihavah
Trainer: Adrian Keatley Jockey: P. J. McDonald Age: 7 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 8
Thrived last summer and has carried on the good work this term, including a fine second at the Dante Meeting here. Ran a cracker when runner-up in Summer Handicap at Market Rasen 5 weeks ago and with this sure to be strongly-run, he’s worth a second look at forecast big price back on the level.
***
Iron Lion
Trainer: David O’Meara Jockey: Rossa Ryan Age: 4 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 19
Bagged his third win this year with a career best in 9-runner handicap at Ripon (12f, good) 5 weeks ago, quickening up well off steady gallop but getting a smoother run compared to most. Yard (1 of 2 runners) already tasted success here this week and not ruled out stepping back up in trip.
***
Oneforthegutter
Trainer: Ian Williams Jockey: Joe Fanning Age: 5 Weight: 8st 8lbs Draw: 10
Dual winner in 2023 and he’s been operating at the top of his game of late, close-up third of 9 in handicap at Yarmouth (14.1f) last month. Possibly found the race coming too soon having his third start in as many weeks at Wolverhampton recently so others preferred.
**
Forza Orta
Trainer: Kevin Ryan Jockey: Cam Hardie Age: 6 Weight: 8st 4lbs Draw: 7
Winless in 2024 but was shaping up quite well until going too keenly in cheekpieces when beating only one in 14f Goodwood handicap earlier in the month. Didn’t get the best of runs but made no impression once in clear bidding for back-to-back win in stayers handicap on Wednesday. Tongue tie on.
**
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for York and Goodwood
- A 7/1 play leads the way for Rory Delargy’s York betting tips
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for York include an 8/1 bet
- 10/1 shot tops Jason Weaver’s ITV Racing tips for Saturday
Read More
- Ebor Handicap trends and stats for York 3.35 on Saturday
- How to watch the York Ebor Festival: TV channel guide and free live stream
- York Ebor Festival race times and day-by-day schedule
- When is the Ebor Handicap? York date, start time, runners and betting
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