EBOR HANDICAP
Saturday 23rd August, 3:35pm
Queenstown @ 13/2
Hipop De Loire @ 7/1
Epic Poet @ 8/1
Magical Zoe @ 9/1
Fairbanks @ 10/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
THE RACE
There are heritage handicaps and there are heritage handicaps, and York’s £500,000 Ebor Handicap (3-35) is one of the absolute gilt-edged type, especially now it’s a ‘win and you’re in’ race for Australia’s Melbourne Cup in November.
The heritage effectively goes back to the times when the Romans staged racing in York – or Eboracum – though the race itself has been staged since the mid-nineteenth century.
THE MARKET
The Aidan O’Brien and James Doyle combo has proved potent in the past, and they have Queenstown, a clear second behind Kyprios in his two most recent races. Though probably flattered by his proximity to the Gold Cup winner, a mark of 107 could prove attractive.
Willie Mullins looks for a third Ebor win with Hipop De Loire, something of a dark horse for York having been formerly Polish-trained and a decent winner in Germany; his sole run for the Closutton team was a solid second in a maiden hurdle at the Galway Festival.
Last year Absurde was successful having been turned over at odds-on in a Galway novices’ hurdle. Epic Poet is up to the mile and three-quarters after three very promising runs over shorter since joining David O’Meara.
The well-bred Naqeeb kept on well from behind at Newbury last time and his stamina will still be there when others cry enough. Fairbanks is up two more pounds after narrowly missing out, conceding nearly a stone, at Goodwood.
Magical Zoe, another from Ireland, is a top-notch hurdler that has done little wrong in three flat races. Burdett Road thrived for seeing a set of hurdles, but he also relishes the hustle and bustle of a big flat handicap, and limbered up promisingly over shorter at Ascot in July.
Relentless Voyager, trained like Fairbanks by Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy’s mount, has enjoyed an excellent year, including an emphatic defeat of Ziggy on Derby day and a solid trial for this over course and distance in June.
My Mate Mozzie finished third in the Galway Hurdle having held his own in a competitive handicap at Royal Ascot.
Onesmoothoperator bolted up in the Northumberland Plate for which he’s been raised eight pounds; he’s never won on turf. Wise Eagle was better last time but previous exploits mean lots of weight.
THE WINNER
I don’t know…maybe take a chance with well-drawn Burdett Road – you?
CORN’S QUARTET
How versatile is See The Fire (1-50)? After two superb efforts over further she’s back to the distance of a fine fifth in the Coronation Stakes.
The Melrose (2-25) is a target race for William Haggas and Dramatic Star would be higher in the weights and his odds a lot shorter if not losing all chance after slipping late on at Haydock when running a pretty good trial last time.
Opponents of Audience (3-00) will be simply an audience again if he shows up like he did at Goodwood.
Commanche Falls (4-10) is almost the definition of getting a run for your money.
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