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

Won 1m6f handicaps this term at Goodwood (good) and Royal Ascot (good to firm), in the latter blinkered first time and passing 11 of 15 rivals in the last 2f for a clearcut success, for which he's 8lb higher today; slow-starting fifth of eight in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup but that was creditable, particularly as it looked as if he was stretched by 2m; resumption of progress from this lightly raced 4yo in first-time visor may be possible.

8-1 for this race (good to firm) last year but it was all a tale of "if only" and "what might have been", as he was held up from his low draw and met repeated traffic problems, restricting him to a token effort in the final 1f but that still took him into fifth of 20; has a 3lb higher mark today but made a satisfactory Flat reappearance and ran away with a 2m6f Galway maiden hurdle (made most) last month; he's dominated the Ebor betting this week.

Seventh (career-best form) and 18th off today's mark in the last two Ebors for Jessica Harrington; given wind surgery and tongue tied for new connections this season, which he started with a bang when winning a slowly run, four-runner Group 3 at Ascot (2m, good to firm) but he had a remote finish in the Gold Cup next time and was tailed off again when he tried cheekpieces in a French Group 2 (made most) six weeks ago; others look more solid.

Sole win (ten races) was a 2023 maiden; twice second to star stayer Kyprios over 1m6f in spring 2024 and Curragh Group 2 on latest outing was up with his best form, albeit finishing only sixth of seven; last year's 17th in the Ebor and 11th in the Cesarewitch, both off only 3lb higher than today, suggest it is best to turn elsewhere despite his illustrious connections.

Dual York winner and he was second in last year's Ebor (good to firm) off 9lb lower than today; never better on Flat than when winning at Musselburgh this April and a badly hampered fifth of ten at Newmarket in May, both also over 1m6f; another career best as a hurdler when second in July, so he has strong each-way prospects at the very least.