15:35 York

Saturday 23 August 2025

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 59.16s

(22)

French Master^v1²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 108| D

11/2

Winner of 1¾m handicaps at Goodwood and Royal Ascot at the start of the summer. Respectable fifth of 8 when stepped up to Group 1 level for the Goodwood Cup since. A first-time visor replaces the blinkers worn last twice. A very smart performance will be needed under top weight from stall 22.

Form: 11-2115

(9)

Hipop De Loire²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 106| D

7/1

Unlucky not to finish closer than fifth in this last year race having been repeatedly denied a clear run. Seemingly been campaigned with this race in mind again since, finishing fourth in a listed event on the Flat in July before winning a Galway maiden hurdle. Bold show likely.

Form: 2347/5-4

(3)

Yashin^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Archie Young⁽⁵⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 105| D

66/1

Goes well fresh and, following another breathing op ahead of return for new yard, proved at least as good as ever when seeing off Coltrane in 4-runner Sagaro at Ascot (2m, firm) on reappearance in May. Nowhere near that level in the Gold Cup back at Ascot and a French Group 2 since.

Form: 006-176

(5)

Queenstown^b³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

25/1

Smart at his best but well beaten in this last year and below par in a listed and Group 2 events in Ireland this summer. Others are more obvious.

Form: 2200-66

(7)

Kihavah^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: P J McDonald| T: A Keatley| OR: 104| C| D

25/1

Has been a cracking flagbearer for this yard, including second in this race off 9 lb lower 12 months ago. Winner on the Flat at Musselburgh in April and arrives on the back of a career-best effort over hurdles when runner-up for a second time in the valuable summer handicap at Market Rasen.

Form: 9021-15

(21)

Ethical Diamond^h⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: W P Mullins| OR: 104

5/1

Developed into a smart dual-purpose performer for Willie Mullins, returning to the Flat to win Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot (1½m, good to firm) in June. The handicapper hasn't missed him with an 8 lb rise and is stamina isn't assured now up in trip (can race keenly).

Form: 431/24-1

(18)

London City³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Levey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| C

22/1

Looked a colt firmly on the up when taking a 1½m course handicap at the 2024 Dante meeting but hasn't progressed in a light career since, albeit he ran as well as could be expected when 6¾ lengths fifth (Queenstown sixth) of 7 to Al Riffa in Group 2 Curragh Cup 5 weeks ago.

Form: 6/115-05

(1)

Onesmoothoperator⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 104

40/1

Won the Northumberland Plate and an Australian Group 3 in a strong 2024 campaign but has found life tougher this year, his penultimate eighth of 20 in the Northumberland Plate showing he has work to do from this sort of mark.

Form: 5-73584

(12)

Subsequent^t1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 104| D

40/1

Progressive sort last term, including Ascot listed win over this trip, but has been unable to continue the good work in 2 outings this year. His hopes are pinned on a first-time tongue tie sparking a revival.

Form: 5121-60

(20)

Real Dream⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Joe Leavy| T: Ian Williams| OR: 103| D

25/1

Showed smart form at best for Sir Michael Stoute and mostly creditable efforts in defeat for Ian Williams this year, including third of 13 to stablemate Oneforthegutter in 1¾m handicap at the Newmarket July meeting. 3 lb higher here, though.

Form: 7-34833

(14)

Roaring Legend^t⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H Palmer| OR: 102| D

33/1

Has thrived returned to Flat for new yard, bringing up a hat-trick on AW at the start of the year. Better than bare result when ninth of 20 in Northumberland Plate and confirmed he's still on a competitive mark when fourth of 13 in valuable 1¾m handicap at the Newmarket July meeting.

Form: 116694

(10)

Stressfree²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 101

28/1

Hurdles winner in February and has continued the good work in this sphere, posting several creditable efforts in defeat prior to striking at Haydock in May. Better than result in Old Newton Cup back at Haydock and the 1¾m handicap at Glorious Goodwood since. Enters the reckoning.

Form: 321059

(8)

Shadow Dance²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 100| C

9/1

Progressive handicapper who landed a 1½m handicap at this meeting last year before close third in the Mallard over 1¾m at Doncaster on final start. Has possibly been laid out for this meeting again, with respectable reappearance over 1¼m at Glorious Goodwood likely to put him spot on now.

Form: 2/0213-9

(13)

Siege Of Troy^t,p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 99

11/1

Improved form in first-time tongue strap when fourth of 18 to Ethical Diamond in Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot (1½m, good to firm) in June. Backed that up with a third in a Leopardstown listed event (1½m again) since. First attempt at 1¾m for yard which won this with Sonnyboyliston in 2021.

Form: 37-4443

(6)

Enemy^p1¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98| D

50/1

Winless since landing a conditions event at Southwell at the start of 2024 and hasn't been at his best in his 3 outings this year. His stable is always respected in these sort of races but he needs first-time cheekpieces (and the removal of regular tongue tie) to have a revitalising effect.

Form: 866-066

(19)

Oneforthegutter^p⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Saffie Osborne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98| D

25/1

Third in this last year and better than ever when landing a big pot at last month's Newmarket July meeting (1¾m, good to firm). 6 lb higher now but still merits respect.

Form: 363-921

(16)

Ascending⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 98

12/1

Ended a frustrating run of seconds when a wide-margin winner at Dundalk (2m) in November and has picked up where he left off with wins at Cork (1½m) and the 2½m Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot this summer. The stable won this race last year.

Form: 2/221-11

(2)

Almosh'her⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 98| C

8/1

Won 3 of first 4 starts, including a 1½m course handicap at the Dante meeting in May on his first run for Karl Burke. Too keen out wide when well held in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot in June. Seemingly kept fresh for this but his enthusiastic nature raises doubts over his stamina for 1¾m.

Form: 1-2110

(17)

Majestic Warrior¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: J Tate| OR: 98

9/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who took his form up another notch with impressive 4¼-length handicap debut success at Thirsk (1½m, good) on reappearance in April. Off since. Inexperienced for a race of this nature but he's very much the unexposed one.

Form: 141/1

(11)

Charlus^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: W P Mullins| OR: 97

66/1

Won 2 of 4 flat starts in France and also a maiden hurdle for Willie Mullins in January. Pulled too hard when well held in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot on his first Flat start for this yard but settled better with a hood added when third in a Galway conditions race over this trip last month.

Form: 1/112-03

(15)

Fleetfoot^t,p1¹⁰^{(ex 4)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Ross Coakley| T: J S Bolger| OR: 93

10/1

Improved around 1½m on the Flat this summer, showing a willing attitude to win handicaps at the Curragh and Gowran. Carries a 4 lb penalty for the latter. Likely to be competitive now moving up in trip with first-time cheekpieces added to his tongue tie.

Form: 22-0141

(23)

Mr Percy^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 97| D

25/1

Useful novice hurdler last season and continued the good work back on the Flat with a 1¾m handicap success at the Curragh in June. Well held in the Galway Hurdle since, though, and a wide stall makes him opposable back on the Flat.

Form: 52/221-1

Forecasts

Ethical Diamond (5/1), French Master (11/2), Hipop De Loire (7/1), Almosh'her (8/1), Majestic Warrior (9/1), Shadow Dance (9/1), Fleetfoot (10/1), Siege Of Troy (11/1), Ascending (12/1), London City (22/1), Queenstown (25/1), Real Dream (25/1), Kihavah (25/1), Mr Percy (25/1), Oneforthegutter (25/1), Stressfree (28/1), Roaring Legend (33/1), Subsequent (40/1), Onesmoothoperator (40/1), Enemy (50/1), Charlus (66/1), Yashin (66/1)

Roger Varian and Silvestre De Sousa have combined for a few notable handicap wins this summer and SHADOW DANCE, a winner at this meeting in 2024, looks to have been plotted up for this. Second choice is Hipop de Loire, who was an eye-catching fifth last year and looks to have had his campaign geared around this race again. Stressfree has a hold-up style which dictates that things need to drop right but he can go close off his mark if they do. Unexposed Majestic Warrior also makes the shortlist.