15:40 York

Saturday 24 August 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1016:4517:20

Sky Bet Ebor Handicap

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 2m 52.97s

(6)

Withhold^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 113

10/1

Landed huge gambles in winning 2017 Cesarewitch (2¼m) and 2018 Northumberland Plate (2m), and at least as good as ever when landing another valuable pot at Newbury on his return. Respected, for all the handicapper has had his say once more.

Form: 131/18-1

(13)

Wells Farhh Go²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 112| C

10/1

Group 3 winner here as a juvenile, and again at Newmarket last year. Landed a Listed race there on his return, and raced too freely trying 2m in the Goodwood Cup last time. Could bounce back, although does look handicapped to the hilt.

Form: 6614-18

(14)

Red Verdon^b⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: S Foley| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 112| CD

22/1

Won at Doncaster in March, and back from a couple of disappointing runs when winning Group 3 Silver cup over C&D last time. Clearly suited by this test, but another career-best required to defy his burden here.

Form: 00-1561

(19)

King's Advice²¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 108| D

7/1

Has gone from strength to strength this year, winning eight times this season, and rising 41lb in the handicap. Found more to extend his run at Goodwood last time, and folly to assume his progress has stopped just yet.

Form: 111611

(23)

Weekender⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: G Lee| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 111| D

14/1

Runner-up in this contest last year, and made all in a 4-runner event at Chelmsford in May. Only 2¾L fourth of 8 to Red Verdon in Silver Cup over C&D last time, albeit not best placed as it transpired, and needs to build on that.

Form: 237-614

(21)

Raymond Tusk⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J P Spencer| T: R Hannon| OR: 111

16/1

Group 2 winner in Italy who ran well when second under a penalty at Ascot in May behind Dee Ex Bee, and when third to Crystal Ocean at Newbury. Not beaten far in Gold Cup at Ascot last time, and unexposed as a handicapper.

Form: 61-6237

(9)

Raheen House⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 111| BF| C| D

5/1

Group 3 and Listed winner (beating Weekender) as a three-year-old for Brian Meehan, and back to his best since joining current yard, finishing in the frame in stakes races over C&D on both starts. Laid out for this, and interesting.

Form: 5444-23

(16)

Prince Of Arran²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 110

33/1

Won twice last year, a handicap at Meydan and a Group 3 in Australia prior to an excellent third in the Melbourne Cup. Well beaten this year, but probably needed the run after a break at Goodwood last time, and not taken lightly.

Form: 138-495

(10)

Max Dynamite^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Ronan Whelan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 110| C| D

33/1

Twice placed in the Melbourne Cup, but struggled in Group company since. Followed a defeat in the Queen Alexandra at Ascot with a win at Killarney (1¾m) faced with a simple task. Evidence suggests he's not quite the force of old.

Form: 7268-31

(3)

Mekong⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 110| D

14/1

Ran well in the Melrose on this card last year, and won at Haydock next time. Has twice finished second in stakes races at Sandown this year, and forgiven a poor effort over C&D in between when going off too hard. One to bear in mind.

Form: 412-272

(5)

True Self⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: D O'Brien| T: W P Mullins| OR: 110| BF| D

14/1

Has won a trio of Listed races at up to 1¾m in the past year, and creditable second in G3 Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock in June. Ran badly next time, however, and this ground could be too lively, even if back to form.

Form: 111-127

(12)

Red Galileo^h⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁵⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 109| D

25/1

Back to winning ways over this trip at Newmarket in June, and not disgraced in the Northumberland Plate last time, but he's fully exposed, and probably back in the grip of the handicapper.

Form: 228718

(18)

Baghdad²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 109| C

10/1

Has run creditably twice since winning the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot in June, and while his improvement seems to have levelled off at 1½m. he promises to stay this trip well, and could yet do better.

Form: 1-31153

(24)

Kelly's Dino^p¹⁵^{(ex 4)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 105

25/1

Has won two of his last three, and better than ever when beating Corelli at Newmarket (1½m) last time, but slight worry about this trip having weakened late when fifth in a Group 3 over C&D in July.

Form: 862151

(22)

Ben Vrackie⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 108| BF

8/1

Best effort when narrowly denied by Baghdad in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot on his return, and probably best to ignore a lesser run at Newmarket next time. Can start slowly, but should have the race run to suit, and still unexposed.

Form: 2033-20

(15)

Desert Skyline^v1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: G Mosse| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 108

25/1

Inconsistent, but best effort this term when 3¼L third to King's Advice at Newmarket on penultimate start, and now 10lb better off. Not disgraced at Goodwood since, and has a squeak if taking to a first-time visor.

Form: 8-55037

(2)

Mustajeer^h⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 108

16/1

Placed in this race last year, and highly tried since. Beaten a neck in the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan in April. and would have a chance if getting back to that form having run just respectably since.

Form: 41-7235

(8)

Barsanti^b1⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 107| C

25/1

Form figures look okay, but he's run just respectably at best when third of four in all starts at Listed level this season. Needs to raise his game markedly to win this, for all the fitting of blinkers could possibly galvanise him.

Form: 542-333

(11)

Dramatic Queen²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 107| CD

20/1

Beat Enbihaar over C&D in May, and ran well when second to that rival in the Lancashire Oaks on penultimate start. Something surely amiss at Goodwood last time, and dangerous to judge her chances on that rare poor effort.

Form: 11-8127

(4)

Making Miracles³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| D

66/1

In and out since landing the Chester Cup in a bog earlier this year, and again ran poorly when well behind Withhold in a valuable 2m handicap at Newbury in July. Readily opposable in these conditions.

Form: 114670

(1)

Cleonte⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 105

50/1

Relished the test of stamina when winning 2m5½f Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, and ran well when 4½L third of 5 to Falcon Eight in 2m Listed race at Sandown last time, but unlikely to have the tactical speed for this.

Form: 13-3613

(7)

The Grand Visir^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 105

50/1

Stays well and ran well when winning 2½m Ascot Stakes on penultimate start. Lacked the pace to be competitive last time, and this trip on fast ground is surely too sharp for him.

Form: 101-717

Forecasts

Raheen House (5/1), King's Advice (7/1), Ben Vrackie (8/1), Withhold (10/1), Wells Farhh Go (10/1), Baghdad (10/1), True Self (14/1), Mekong (14/1), Weekender (14/1), Mustajeer (16/1), Raymond Tusk (16/1), Dramatic Queen (20/1), Red Verdon (22/1), Red Galileo (25/1), Desert Skyline (25/1), Barsanti (25/1), Kelly's Dino (25/1), Prince Of Arran (33/1), Max Dynamite (33/1), Cleonte (50/1), The Grand Visir (50/1), Making Miracles (66/1)

A wide-open renewal, and conditions will put more emphasis on tactical speed than is often the case. King's Advice continues to improve, and can't be ruled out, while Raheen House and Ben Vrackie have both been laid out for this and merit respect, but a chance is taken on RAYMOND TUSK, whose yard is enjoying an excellent week, and who has been running creditably against some of the best horses around.