15:40 York

Saturday 25 August 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:20

Sky Bet Ebor Handicap

Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 2m 53.50s

(13)

Weekender⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 112| D

15/2

Appeared not to stay 2m when weakening (third) in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May, but only gamely repelled by a neck by Marmello over C&D in the Listed Grand Cup Stakes since; talent not in question, hence the big weight.

Form: 12D-132

(11)

Dylan Mouth⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: G Mosse| T: M Botti| OR: 110| CD

22/1

Won almost 50% of his career starts (14-30) - heavily influenced by his days in Italy; came up short in 1m4f races earlier this season, but kept on well to score by a neck (beat Dal Harraild) in a Group 3 C&D contest in July.

Form: 103-621

(21)

Muntahaa⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 109

11/1

His best effort this season came when finishing 2L third in the Listed Wolferton Stakes (1m2f) at Royal Ascot in June; yet to really prove he stays this far, although his 2017 Group 2 Yorkshire Cup C&D seventh of eight was on very soft ground.

Form: 796-434

(10)

Scotland²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 108

33/1

No win since his juvenile days and regardless of his solid numerous placed efforts, his overall record of 1-16 is a concern in this kind of company; third beaten less than 1L by Dylan Mouth over C&D on his penultimate start.

Form: 20/6537

(20)

Mustajeer^h⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 108| BF

33/1

Irish raider who appears best suited by some cut in the ground, emphatically landing a 1m2f Naas handicap in October 2017 (soft); shown improvement this season (competitive in Listed races) but stamina is a concern over this new trip.

Form: 413-424

(19)

Crowned Eagle⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Botti| OR: 107

12/1

Stablemate of Dylan Mouth; has continued on an upward curve since his head defeat by Hamada in a 1m4f Class 2 handicap here in May; just denied by a neck in the Old Newton Cup (1m4f, Haydock) latest; bred to stay 1m6f.

Form: 3-41262

(15)

Nakeeta^h,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 107| CD

12/1

4lb higher than when winning this in 2017 (good); acquitted himself and his trainer admirably in the Melbourne Cup (fifth) in November; competed exclusively in top staying handicaps including the Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate since.

Form: 415-005

(14)

Lord Yeats⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 106| C

50/1

Front-runner who is generally suited by some cut underfoot; had a quiet campaign overall (off the track since late May), and could only finish 17th of 19 to Nakeeta in this race in 2017; looks vulnerable.

Form: 1505-25

(9)

Time To Study^v1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| D

33/1

Not beaten all that far (over 8L) when finishing sixth of 20 to Withhold in the Northumberland Plate in June, and 3lb lower now; disappointing on his last visit to York (plenty to find with Dylan Mouth) and the visor is applied.

Form: 544640

(2)

Blakeney Point^b1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 105

12/1

Recorded back-to-back late season 1m4f wins (Newbury & Leicester), so that's forced the step up into stronger races in 2018; staying on fifth (beaten 5L) in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock in July (good/fm); stays well; of interest in added blinkers.

Form: 411-D54

(7)

Montaly⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 105| C

25/1

Enjoyed a fine 2017, winning the 2m2f Chester Cup (May) and the 2m Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (August); has struggled to recapture that kind of form this season, but is easing in the weights and rates as a more appealing outsider than some.

Form: 167-475

(3)

Teodoro¹⁴^{(ex 4)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 101| BF

14/1

His progress has been relentless since winning a 1m1f Class 5 at Redcar in May 2017 (rated 69); improved again since scoring at Newbury (1m4f) in June, making all to dispatch his six rivals in the Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes a fortnight ago.

Form: 10-4141

(8)

Saunter⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Fran Berry| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98| D

14/1

2017 November Handicap winner (1m4f Doncaster, soft) who has bounced back to his best and arrives seeking a hat-trick following decisive victories at Compiegne (1m6f) and Newmarket (1m4f); quick ground not ideal, but fully respected off 5lb higher.

Form: 21-4811

(17)

Sea The Lion⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P Fahey| OR: 104

9/1

Fine overall career record (6-13), including a hat-trick of 1m4f wins in ultra-competitive Irish handicaps in 2018 (Leopardstown and Cork x2); 11lb higher on his first start in England, but certainly merits a crack at a major prize.

Form: 300-111

(1)

Platitude²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 104| D

25/1

With Sir Michael Stoute when finishing a close up fifth in a Class 2 2m handicap at York in August 2017 (My Reward second); bought for 12,000 gns in November and very well campaigned this season; no complete back number despite his likely odds.

Form: 655-128

(5)

My Reward²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 103

66/1

Made all when landing a small field 1m4f handicap at Pontefract in June (good to firm), but fairly modest since and difficult to see him being heavily involved; runner-up over 2m at York in August 2017.

Form: 301050

(18)

Whiskey Sour²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: W P Mullins| OR: 103| BF

6/1

Stablemate of Stratum; better known for his hurdles exploits of late (finished third of 24 in the County Cup at Cheltenham in March), but equally capable on the Flat as twice shown at the Galway Festival of 2017 (1m4f-2m); player.

Form: 078/11-5

(22)

Fun Mac^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: H Morrison| OR: 102| D

50/1

Placed in each of the last two renewals of the Chester Cup (2m2f), but was beaten 6L by Magic Circle in May; held his form in the main since and difficult to knock overall, but looks likely to find a few sharper today.

Form: 09-2843

(4)

Stratum^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: W P Mullins| OR: 102

3/1

Stablemate of Whiskey Sour; has come on in leaps and bounds since switching from hurdles; third, beaten in excess of 2L in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes in June (by Lagostovegas), and a ready winner of the JLT Cup at Newbury (2m+) latest; 8lb higher.

Form: 3122/31

(6)

Mountain Bell⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Beckett| OR: 102| BF

25/1

Fairly lightly raced for her age after just 11 starts; three-time winner, including at Listed level and over 2m (Newcastle, December 2017); the suspicion is that this race represents a step too far.

Form: 441-563

Forecasts

Stratum (3/1), Whiskey Sour (6/1), Weekender (15/2), Sea The Lion (9/1), Muntahaa (11/1), Blakeney Point (12/1), Nakeeta (12/1), Crowned Eagle (12/1), Saunter (14/1), Teodoro (14/1), Dylan Mouth (22/1), Montaly (25/1), Mountain Bell (25/1), Platitude (25/1), Mustajeer (33/1), Scotland (33/1), Time To Study (33/1), Lord Yeats (50/1), Fun Mac (50/1), My Reward (66/1)

The Iain Jardine-trained Nakeeta bids to become the first successive winner of the Ebor since Flint Jack (1922-23) in what promises to be a fiercely run race. Willie Mullins is doubly represented with his Ascot Stakes third (Stratum) and fifth (Whiskey Sour), with the latter preferred at the forecast odds given the toughness he displayed in twice winning at the Galway Festival in 2017. Both Saunter and Crowned Eagle are also respected despite minor question marks (ground and trip respectively). However, the first-time blinkered BLAKENEY POINT should relish this return to 1m6f, with his Haydock Old Newton Cup fifth representing rock-solid form.