15:35 York

Saturday 26 August 2017

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

Betfred Ebor Handicap

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 2m 56.54s

(4)

Soldier In Action²¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R Kingscote| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| D

20/1

Winner over this trip at Goodwood last time on soft ground, and carries a 4lb penalty here. Is top weight as a result which is usually a tall order in this race, and would probably prefer softer conditions.

Form: 610231

(8)

Lord Yeats²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 108| C

12/1

Denied a hat-trick at Goodwood last time and steps up in trip here. Mark is 20lb higher than when last winning a handicap, though, and he has plenty to prove in a much more competitive race than he's used to.

Form: 720-115

(16)

Winning Story^v1⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Martin Lane| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 108

33/1

Hasn't won over shorter than 2m since his debut and possibly better on the all-weather, but remains an interesting proposition in a first time visor, though his mark looks high enough.

Form: 61-2150

(9)

Scarlet Dragon^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 108| C

15/2

Not disgraced since winning the Rowley Cup last October. Steps up to this trip for the first time but should run a big race if staying this far and his talented apprentice rider claims a useful 3lb.

Form: 210-603

(7)

Elidor⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M R Channon| OR: 108| D

33/1

Well-beaten in this race off a similar mark last year when never managing to get involved. More encouraging since including when third in a Curragh Group 2 last year. Has to overcome last year's poor showing.

Form: 107-163

(17)

Clever Cookie^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: G Lee| T: P D Niven| OR: 106| CD

20/1

Would be easily good enough to win this off his current mark in his best form (won the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over C&D last year), but he hasn't been at his best since, and came up short in Listed company last time.

Form: 57-6993

(15)

Battersea¹¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 105| D

11/1

Fourth in this race last year but restricted to two runs since, both of which have been sub-par. Needs to return to something his best now but is below last year's mark and can't be discounted.

Form: 44545-6

(11)

Ivan Grozny^h²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 105| D

12/1

Dual-purpose performer who has run well in top hurdles so far this year and secured a Grade 2 victory at Tipperary in October. Winner over this trip when last seen on the Flat, this is much more competitive but he's still of interest.

Form: 1135/91-

(2)

Top Tug⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 105| D

12/1

Won over this trip at Goodwood two starts ago off 5lb less having also run well over hurdles last winter. Has a chance on his fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh last time but low draw may not be a help.

Form: 730-214

(6)

Natural Scenery^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Edward Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 105

14/1

Ran a massive race to finish second in the Northumberland Plate in July. Ground was probably soft enough when running just a fair race at Goodwood last time, and he has a big chance returning to a sounder surface.

Form: 3-11624

(20)

Star Storm⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 104

10/1

No win since completing a hat-trick in October 2015 in an Ascot Group 3. Form has tailed off since but last couple of efforts over shorter at Ascot have been more like it, not at his best on his one attempt over further than 1m4f.

Form: 8274-23

(12)

Arch Villain³⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: P J Dobbs| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 104| D

50/1

Inconsistent sort who returned to form with a fine effort at Ascot last time out over further than this. Up just 4lb which seems fair but strike-rate generally is encouraging, but returns after an absence.

Form: 2/11001-

(18)

Nakeeta^h⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 103| D

12/1

No win since September 2015 but has gone close on a number of occasions, including over further at this meeting last year. Mark looks like a maximum for him but jockey's 5lb claim will help.

Form: 202-024

(19)

Dubka²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 102

12/1

Only just denied over this trip at Goodwood last time out on soft ground, but also has form on quicker. On the same mark as for that run at Goodwood and well drawn in a race where it can pay to come from a high stall.

Form: 15-6272

(21)

Flymetothestars⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 102| BF

7/1

Has run very well in staying races on the all-weather since making his belated debut in February, and should still be on a workable mark based on a close third in the Northumberland Plate. Leading claims if handling surface on turf debut.

Form: 161-13

(14)

Wild Hacked⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Hanagan| T: M Botti| OR: 102

16/1

Unraced beyond 1m4f and looks below Group/Listed level, but every chance he'll stay this far and has won and gone close in some good handicaps over the past year.

Form: 41-2165

(22)

Seamour⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 102

20/1

Possibly better over further than this, but managed fifth in this last year and has run well in Listed company since. Ground fine and the highest draw could be a help from him here.

Form: 9522-30

(3)

Maleficent Queen^p1⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 101

40/1

No win since May 2016 (when completing a five-timer), and has seemed some way short of the required standard for this recently. First time cheek pieces may bring about some improvement, but surely not enough.

Form: 2436P4

(5)

Magic Circle³^{(ex 4)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 97| C

15/2

Justified favouritism in a race at this course on Wednesday and gets into the race under a 4lb penalty. Still progressing and should be on the premises on the basis of that performance.

Form: 43-5571

Non-Runners

(13)

Cohesion¹¹⁸

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: D G Bridgwater J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Flymetothestars (7/1), Magic Circle (15/2), Scarlet Dragon (15/2), Star Storm (10/1), Battersea (11/1), Nakeeta (12/1), Dubka (12/1), Top Tug (12/1), Ivan Grozny (12/1), Lord Yeats (12/1), Natural Scenery (14/1), Wild Hacked (16/1), Clever Cookie (20/1), Seamour (20/1), Soldier In Action (20/1), Cohesion (25/1), Winning Story (33/1), Elidor (33/1), Maleficent Queen (40/1), Arch Villain (50/1)

A traditionally competitive renewal of Europe's biggest Flat handicap. Magic Circle arrives off the back of a gutsy victory in a handicap at this meeting on Wednesday and has to have a say at the weights, while Dubka is a well-drawn contender who did well to go close at Goodwood last time out. However, the filly NATURAL SCENERY was even more impressive when finishing second in the Northumberland Plate and should have more to offer given her profile now returning to a better turf surface. She is probably drawn a little lower than ideal given the trends for this race, but she can overcome that to come home in front here. Flymetothestars and Sir Chauvelin, if he gets a run, are others who ran well in that Newcastle highlight to consider.