Sky Bet Ebor preview: Horse-by-horse guide and tips for York feature

RELENTLESS VOYAGER

Seven pounds higher than when winning a competitive handicap at Epsom on Derby day but ran well behind Klondike in the Grand Cup here in June and when chasing home a revitalised Al Aasy at Goodwood next time. One for the shortlist.

QUEENSTOWN

Won a Curragh maiden at the back end of last season but has been spending much of this year as Kyprios’ work and racing companion. Second to his stable companion at Navan and Leopardstown in the spring, he’s been freshened up, kept away from the star stayer on the Ballydoyle gallops, and targeted at this for some time.

WISE EAGLE

Flagbearer for the Adam Nicol team and right back to his best when third behind Alsakib in the Silver Cup here last time. Doesn’t look to have a lot in hand of the assessor from a mark of 107 mind.

NAQEEB

Half-brother to Baaeed and found his level now, nearly running Temporize down having conceded first run at Newbury last time. Up two pounds but a race of this nature could well play to his strengths.

CRYSTAL DELIGHT

Started life for Harry Eustace with back-to-back wins at Epsom and at this track but well below form in a Listed race at Newmarket last time. Career high mark to contend with, unproven at the trip and might find some pressure for the lead are three negatives.

YASHIN

Not at his best in the Northumberland Plate last time but ran creditably when seventh in last year's Sky Bet Ebor and his shrewd team believe there are reasons he can finish closer still this time around.

HIPOP DE LOIRE

Second in a Galway novice hurdle on sole start to date for Willie Mullins last month but had smart form on the level in Germany before that. An unknown quantity for last year’s winning yard.

MAGICAL ZOE

Smart hurdler who has come a fair way in three career starts on the Flat, finishing well having to thread through rivals when third in the Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse last time. This is an altogether different test but she’s interesting.

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR

Gave Brian Ellison his long-awaited winner in the Northumberland Plate last month and the style of his defeat of Evaluation suggests an eight-pounds rise might not be unsurmountable. The surface might be though, as he remains a maiden on turf.

BURDETT ROAD

Made up into a smart juvenile hurdler over the winter but don’t forget he won the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot last season on the level and his return over a mile-and-a-half back at the Berkshire track last time screamed a prep race for this. Another to consider.

ZIGGY

Picked up a four pound penalty when beating Ron O here at the end of last month. Had previously shaped well in competitive handicaps at Epsom and Ascot and he's in very good hands.

FAIRBANKS

Tenacious winner of the bet365 Trophy at the July Meeting and went down all guns blazing when second to Align The Stars at Goodwood from this revised mark. You’ve read it before, but he’s another player.

EPIC POET

New to David O’Meara and a massive player on Saturday. He’s had three starts for current connections, shaping well when sixth in a competitive heat over 10 furlongs at the Dante Meeting and finishing second to Crystal Black when thundering home from the rear of the field in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot. He was back at a mile-and-a-quarter and doing all his best work at the finish when fifth in the John Smith’s Cup and that body of work all suggest he’s well worth a crack at this trip – in this race.

SEA KING

Things didn’t fall his way when third at Ripon last time and he’s a well-bred, progressive stayer trained by Sir Mark Prescott. These are the deepest waters he’s been in but you dare not draw a line through him.

ALFRED BOUCHER

He was second in this race back in 2022 when appearing for the second time at the meeting that week but only been seen twice since and looked very rusty on his return at Ascot earlier this month.

NOT SO SLEEPY

Wonderful servant to connections and a pound lower than when fourth behind Relentless Voyager at Epsom in June. Goes without saying he lacks the scope for improvement of several rivals but will give it his best shot.

MY MATE MOZZIE

Ran a cracker when third behind Belloccio in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot before finishing third in the Galway Hurdle. Has to be respected and will be coming home well but was outpaced at a crucial stage at the Royal Meeting and that’s just at the back of my mind.

CHILLINGHAM

Haven’t seen him since finishing third behind Crystal Delight at the track in May and while hardly a prolific winner, this has looked an ideal target for him for a couple of seasons. The problem is the ground, he wants cut and looking at the forecast, that’s very much in the lap of the gods.

KIHAVAH

Really good dual-purpose performer for his team and likes this track but was brushed aside by Crystal Delight at the Dante Meeting and while he understandably found the John Smith’s Cup too sharp a test last time, this one might be too taxing.

IRON LION

Stablemate of Epic Poet and on an upward curve himself having won three times this season. He travels strongly which always helps at York but this is an altogether different test to the ones he’s been sitting to date.

Reserves:

ONEFORTHEGUTTER

Ran a cracker to chase home Fairbanks at Newmarket but not as good the last twice and overall profile suggests he’s up against it.

FORZA ORTA

Won the two mile race at the meeting last season and heads back there on Wednesday. Alfred Boucher nearly completed the double by winning the same races in 2022 – but this fellow will do well to get nearly as close as he did given his patchy profile this term.

Conclusion

A maximum field looks likely and the strong Irish challenge has to be respected. Queenstown is undoubtedly a fascinating runner and My Mate Mozzie ticks a lot of boxes, but EPIC POET is fancied to keep the prize in Yorkshire.

He’s been shaping all season as if this might be his race and if gets a clear shot of things down the straight he has to be a player.

This is very deep as you’d expect but Burdett Road also merits a look on the back of his promising comeback run over shorter at Ascot.

Updated at 1025 BST on 22/08/24

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