15:40 York

Saturday 22 August 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1016:4017:10

Sky Bet Ebor Handicap

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 3m 4.22s

(23)

Deja⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Harry Bentley| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 112

12/1

Progressive sort who built on excellent reappearance second in Royal Ascot handicap when winning Old Newton Cup at Haydock last month. Will stay 1¾m. Draw not ideal but has potential for even better.

Form: 11/15-21

(9)

Trueshan³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 109

6/1

Rapid improver during second half of last season and has picked up where he left off, shading tight finish in 1½m Haydock listed last month. Unexposed at 1¾m. Should give another good account.

Form: 1211-41

(12)

Fujaira Prince⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 108| D

11/2

Back from a year off with a bang when impressive winner of Copper Horse at Royal Ascot in June, his first attempt over 1¾m. Saved for this since and 9 lb rise unlikely to prevent a prominent showing.

Form: 11/123-1

(20)

Pablo Escobarr^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 108

12/1

Consistent sort who bagged a Glorious Goodwood Group 3 last month. Steps up to 1¾m for the first time now. Likeable attitude should continue to hold him in good stead.

Form: 1-24331

(7)

True Self^h,t1⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: W P Mullins| OR: 108| D

14/1

Smart mare. Yet to find her top form this year but this may have been the target all along (sixth off 2 lb higher last year). First-time tongue tie added to hood she wore last time.

Form: 217-646

(10)

Ghostwatch^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 106| CD

11/1

Steadily progressive in 2018, including C&D Melrose win at this meeting. Has shown he retains his ability in 3 comeback runs this year but will need to raise his game a little to take this.

Form: 121/023

(5)

Pondus¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 106| BF

15/2

Winner of heavy-ground 1½m Roscommon listed event on just second run for this yard. Disappointing in Leopardstown Group 3 since but interesting contender if that's forgiven. First run over 1¾m.

Form: 239-214

(16)

Stargazer⁵⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: P A Kirby| OR: 104

125/1

Has a good record on Newcastle's AW but hasn't been seen since winning over 2m there in April 2019. This a very big ask after such a long lay-off.

Form: 021/231-

(22)

Scarlet Dragon^h⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A King| OR: 104| C

40/1

Gained first win on Flat since 3-y-o days when swooping late to collar Deja in Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot. Shaped as if still in good form when behind that same rival in Old Newton Cup since.

Form: 034-517

(17)

Alright Sunshine⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S A Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 104| D

22/1

Highly progressive last term, winning 4 times at up to 17.5f. Improvement has stalled this year, though, finishing only midfield behind Fujaira Prince in Copper Box at Royal Ascot.

Form: 1121-58

(2)

King's Advice²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103| D

50/1

Form: 062005

(24)

Shailene²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 103

33/1

Twice a winner over shorter last season. Ran as well as she's ever done when ½-length second to Hochfeld in Glorious Goodwood handicap over this trip last time but this demands more again.

Form: 14-4062

(21)

Monica Sheriff³⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 102| D

11/1

Most progressive at 3, winning all 5 starts after her debut, culminating in heavy-ground 1¾m Saint-Cloud Group 3 win in October. Rather belated return but likely has more to offer for top yard.

Form: 911111-

(18)

Ranch Hand³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 102| D

22/1

Low mileage 4-y-o who shaped well in Copper Box and Old Newton Cup on first 2 runs this term. Ran as well as could be expected when fourth in C&D listed latest and could get involved back in handicap.

Form: 510-654

(13)

Verdana Blue⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: N J Henderson| OR: 102| BF

9/1

Grade 1 winning hurdler who ran a cracker back on Flat when second of 19 in 2½m Ascot Stakes at Royal meeting. Unexposed on the Flat and she certainly has the speed to cope with drop back to 1¾m

Form: 12/24-2

(8)

Euchen Glen²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 102| C

25/1

2018 John Smith's Cup winner here. Has shown he retains his ability since returning from an absence but latest Goodwood Cup fifth may flatter him slightly. Others stronger.

Form: 21/3965

(15)

Island Brave¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: David Egan| T: H Main| OR: 99| D

66/1

Back to winning ways over 2m at Ascot 14 days ago but 6 lb higher here and there's little in his record suggest he'll be capable of defying such a mark in a race as competitive as this.

Form: 5-35381

(19)

Jeremiah^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Fellowes| OR: 99| BF

22/1

Unable to land a blow behind Deja in Old Newton Cup but reacted positively to blinkers when scoring at Ascot 3 weeks later. Shaped as if still in form in messy race back there since. Unexposed at 1¾m.

Form: 01/8818

(14)

Glencadam Glory^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 99

25/1

Step back in right direction for new yard when sixth in Old Newton Cup and not beaten far into fifth at Ripon since (both 1½m). Return to 1¾m will suit. One who could go well at bigger odds.

Form: 65/4065

(4)

Dash Of Spice²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Cieren Fallon⁽³⁾| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 98

40/1

Most progressive in 2018, winning at Royal Ascot. Has shaped as if retaining ability in 2 starts following long absence but not enough to suggest he'll playl eading role here.

Form: 2110/95

(6)

Hochfeld²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97| D

33/1

Down in weights and back to form with a bang when fending off Shailene in 1¾m Glorious Goodwood handicap 3 weeks ago. Back up 5 lb but remains well treated on old if getting a run. RESERVE.

Form: 07-0041

Non-Runners

(3)

Communique⁷

Weight: 9-11| Age: 5

T: C & M Johnston J: Non Runner

(1)

Floating Artist⁶⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: R Hannon J: Non Runner

(11)

El Misk³⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: J & T Gosden J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Fujaira Prince (11/2), Trueshan (6/1), Pondus (15/2), Verdana Blue (9/1), Monica Sheriff (11/1), Ghostwatch (11/1), Pablo Escobarr (12/1), Deja (12/1), True Self (14/1), Floating Artist (20/1), Ranch Hand (22/1), Alright Sunshine (22/1), Jeremiah (22/1), Glencadam Glory (25/1), Euchen Glen (25/1), El Misk (25/1), Shailene (33/1), Hochfeld (33/1), Communique (33/1), Scarlet Dragon (40/1), Dash Of Spice (40/1), King's Advice (50/1), Island Brave (66/1), Stargazer (125/1)

TRUESHAN knuckled down really well to win a Haydock listed last time and his campaign looks to have been geared around this race, with the return to 1¾m potentially seeing him in an even better light. There are any number of possible dangers, headed by easy Royal Ascot winner Fujaira Prince, the thriving Deja and very classy hurdler Verdana Blue. Jeremiah is one who could go well at bigger odds