Sky Bet Ebor preview & expert tips for Saturday's York feature
Views from connections and the selections from our expert team ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Ebor at York.
3.40 York - Sky Bet Ebor Handicap
Views from connections:
Withhold must give weight to all his rivals if he is to come out on top in the first £1million running of the Sky Bet Ebor at York.
The six-year-old made a winning comeback at Newbury after a 269-day absence and is reported by his trainer Roger Charlton to be in top form, although the Beckhampton trainer feels being burdened with 9st 10lb is not ideal.
"It would be nice if he wasn't top-weight, but there we are," said the Beckhampton handler.
"I'm happy with him. I think it's an extremely good race, as you'd expect, and it's going to be very tough. The draw (six) looks fine. I don't know what's a good draw or a bad draw. In the Ebor a lot of high numbers seem to have run well in the past, but I'm happy with that."
King's Advice, winner of eight of his nine races this year, leads Mark Johnston's assault on Europe's richest handicap.
"What more is there to say about him? He's won eight out of nine for us," said Johnston.
"We know how tough this is going to be, and it should be for this sort of prize-money, but he more than any horse has earned the right to run in it.
"You love the way he sticks his neck out and Joe (Fanning) is unbeaten on him.
"Every time you think he might have peaked, he pulls out a bit more."
The Middleham handler also has Chester Cup winner Making Miracles and Baghdad, a winner at Royal Ascot, chasing a share of the big pot.
Weekender found only his stablemate Muntahaa too good last year, but connections of the John Gosden-trained gelding accept this will be harder to win.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He went close last year, but it looks a tougher contest this year.
"It's effectively a Group race, but it should be with the money on offer. I'd like to have seen him coming in on slightly better form, but the target has always been this race."
Trainer Ger Lyons reports Mustajeer to be in tip-top shape as the six-year-old bids to build on his fourth place 12 months ago, before going for the Melbourne Cup.
"Mustajeer is in good form and we have been happy with his preparation," said the County Meath handler.
"He ran very well last year to finish fourth. We rode him to get the trip that day, and we were delighted with his effort and how he saw out the distance. We have been really pleased with him so far this season and he ran well to finish fifth last time out, which was a nice stepping stone."
Willie Mullins, successful with Sesenta 10 years ago, provides the other two Irish raiders in Max Dynamite and True Self.
Max Dynamite won the Lonsdale Cup here in 2015 and has twice been placed in the Melbourne Cup.
"Max has been in good form lately. He won last time out (at Killarney). It was a lesser amateur race. He was well-in and he'd run well at Ascot when he was a bit keen," said assistant trainer David Casey.
"The nature of this race allows him to run in a handicap now for the first time for a while. He's in good order. He's won round the track before and likes the place."
Casey also expects True Self to run a big race despite a poor run at Leopardstown on her latest start.
He said: "She's very well. It was a probably a bit too soft when she got beat by Klassique in Haydock, but she's run well since in a Group Two. She was drawn very wide and ran a bit keen the last day at Leopardstown. We think she's better than she showed that day. We're hoping for a very good run from her as well."
Kelly's Dino has been in tremendous form this season for Karl Burke, but has to contend with the widest draw of all - as well as a 4lb penalty for his latest success at Newmarket.
"He's in good form, but it's sod's law that we didn't need the penalty to get in after all. Then we've been drawn widest of all which will do us no favours, but we've got to overcome it," said Burke.
"He had a wind op at the end of last year and it has really helped. He will improve again from Newmarket in terms of fitness."
Raymond Tusk takes a drop in class and trip after being down the field behind Stradivarius in the Ascot Gold Cup.
Tim Palin, director of owners Middleham Park Racing, said of the Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old: "Raymond Tusk has been freshened up since the Gold Cup and his preparation has been good.
"Stepping back into handicap company over this trip will really suit and he goes there with a fighting chance."
Charlie Fellowes has targeted this race for last year's Melbourne Cup third Prince Of Arran and was satisfied with the comeback run of his globetrotter at Goodwood.
"Prince Of Arran is in good form and the Ebor has been the long-term plan - the two races we have focused his year around are the Ebor and the Melbourne Cup," said the Newmarket handler.
"I was pleased with his performance at Goodwood over a mile and a half on a track he didn't really like. That race should have put him spot on for the Ebor."
Sky Bet Ebor tips
Fran Berry:
With the sponsors offering eight places for each-way punters it's fair to have at least a couple of darts but my number one pick would definitely be MEKONG. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore, he was fourth in the Melrose from a wide draw here last year, having cut out much of the running that day. He's mixed in pretty warm company this season and his only blot came on bad ground when he just completely over-raced. I'm happy to put a line through that despite it coming here at York. He's better judged on his close second to Falcon Eight at Sandown last time and it was great to see him get back on track. He's got a good draw (stall three) on the inside which should ensure he gets cover and relaxes in the early stages. He's capable of winning the race from a mark of 110 and rates serious value at around 16/1 at the time of writing.
Ben Linfoot:
In a tight and compressed handicapped it could well be that the unexposed horses towards the top of the weights hold the upper hand here and with that in mind WELLS FARHH GO looks a big price at 16/1 (General). With just eight runs under his belt Wells Farhh Go is the least exposed horse in the field but he quickly attained a rating of 112 thanks to some classy efforts each season he’s been in training. As a two-year-old he won the Acomb Stakes at this very meeting where he had Dee Ex Bee in behind, while as a three-year-old he won the Bahrain Trophy in the style of a very good horse. Well fancied for the St Leger after that, his season ended in the Great Voltigeur, again at this meeting, so he perhaps wasn’t at his very best at York considering the long break he had afterwards. Even so, it was a terrific run in a red-hot race. Fourth behind Old Persian, Cross Counter and Kew Gardens, only beaten just under five lengths, the first horse won the Sheema Classic subsequently, the runner-up went on to land the Melbourne Cup and the third horse won the St Leger. Back from injury this year at Newmarket at the end of June, he was expected to need the run but won the Listed Fred Archer Stakes by four lengths from Walton Street and Barsanti in the style of a real stayer. That was on good to firm ground, easing fears that he needs a bit of cut to be at his best, and he’s well worth forgiving his blip in the Goodwood Cup last time. Rushed up to lead from a wide draw by David Allan, the downhill section in the early part of the race seemed to light him up and he just bolted, running far too freely to do himself any sort of justice. It was also his first go at two miles and, back in trip, on a more conventional track, it’s worth chancing he settles much better in a race that looks tailor-made for him.
Simon Holt:
There seem to be endless possibilities but, despite racing on the same mark (108) as when fourth behind Muntahaa 12 months ago, MUSTAJEER could be well handicapped. The Ger Lyons-trained gelding was given plenty to do that day - ridden to get the trip according to his trainer - and finished with a rattle despite not having much room in the closing stages. Ignoring two runs this season over a too-short mile-and-a-quarter (both races won by the high-class Magical), Mustajeer has shown possibly improved form at this trip, notably when worn down close home by the now 118-rated Master Of Reality in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in April. The 33/1 winner certainly proved that victory was no fluke when chasing home Stradivarius and Dee Ex Bee in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot next time. On a more recent occasion, again over this distance, in late June, Mustajeer was again given plenty to do before staying on into fifth behind the progressive Twilight Payment in the Curragh Cup, form that has been boosted subsequently by Latrobe (second) and Southern France (fourth). Off since, the selection has been trained for another bold bid and looks great each-way value in the hands of Colin Keane.
Catching Pigeons:
RAHEEN HOUSE is only one of two horses to have beaten the brilliant Enable, and he can bring what looks a long-held plan to a successful conclusion in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap. It was back in April 2017 that he chased home Shutter Speed with John Gosden's superstar a head back in third, and from that conditions event, Raheen House developed into a very useful three-year-old stayer, winning a Group 3 St Leger trial before reaching a high point of 114 in the ratings. William Haggas took over the reins from Brian Meehan at the start of this season and the son of Sea The Stars has run two very good trials for this race, in Listed and Group 3 company, on this course. Both races were in smallish fields, but Raheen House looks as though he would appreciate this much more competitive environment and he seems very nicely weighted to undertake the task. Gosden's Ben Vrackie could prove the danger after his break, despite an outside draw.
Keith Hamer:
WITHHOLD can show he is a stayer of the highest quality by scooping the pool in the first £1million Sky Bet Ebor at York. Roger Charlton's charge has already two big handicap prizes under his belt - the 2017 Cesarewitch and last year's Northumberland Plate - and displayed his well-being with a convincing all-the-way win at Newbury recently. That was his first run since a trip to Australia, where a blood vessel problem ruled him out of the Melbourne Cup. With that issue firmly behind him and a successful wind surgery to boot, Withhold is clearly as good as ever - if not better. He will probably have to be because of the strength of the opposition, but his prominent style of running should be suited to the track at York and he promises to be hard to beat.
Man On The Spot:
Weekender failed to threaten the winner when runner-up in last year’s renewal though still finished in front of Mustajeer, who didn’t get the best of runs. The former was fourth behind Red Verdon in a Group 3 contest over track and trip last time when Kelly's Dino and Raheen House were also beaten. Frankie has chosen Ben Vrackie today despite the latter finishing behind Mark Johnston’s duo Baghdad and King's Advice on his last couple of outings. Baghdad has been beaten in Group 3 company since winning at Ascot but King's Advice continued his remarkable rise through the weights with a victory over today’s trip at Goodwood last time and carries 4lb extra. Withhold returned to action with another success over 2m when making all at Newbury and can figure if allowed his own way up front but True Self would prefer some cut in the ground and the latter’s stablemate Max Dynamite won only a soft prep-race in Ireland last month. Mekong’s earlier poor effort on the Knavesmire is a worry but WELLS FARHH GO is another unexposed four-year-old with decent claims. He ran much too freely in the Goodwood Cup last time and that run can be dismissed but an earlier victory over 1m4f in Listed company at Newmarket, with Barsanti behind, implied there was much more to come from Tim Easterby’s colt this year so he gets the vote.
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