57 runners remain to try and fill 22 places for the Ebor on Saturday, 24th August. The 1m6f handicap is the richest of its kind across Europe and is often the classiest of its kind, with 2021 winner Sonnyboyliston following it up by winning the Group 1 Irish St Leger, and Trawlerman downing Kyprios the year after he won this in 2022.
No former winners are set to line up this year though, so plenty of new names have a chance to etch their letters into history. However, there are a number of intriguing names among the training ranks represented, with champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins set to compete against his flat counterpart Aidan O’Brien.
The former has five still in the race, with two guaranteed a run: Belloccio has long been towards the head of the market for this contest while German import Hipop De Loire, second on his hurdling debut recently, will also make the line-up if the yard decide he should take his chance. His conqueror that day, Jackfinbar, is just outside the top 22, with Plontier and Lot Of Joy requiring some fortune to make the final field.
O’Brien is responsible for only one runner for Ballydoyle, as he looks to claim just a second Ebor win 23 years after his previous. He appears to have a powerful chance though with Queenstown twice chasing home illustrious stablemate Kyprios earlier in the season and beating some classy horses on the way.
Other masters of both the flat and jumps in Ireland will be strongly represented, with Harbour Wind a consistent operator for Dermot Weld, while Magical Zoe has been a great dual purpose performer for Henry De Bromhead. Gavin Cromwell’s My Mate Mozzie is another with top form under both codes.
For the hosts, there has been a wave of market support for Royal Ascot runner-up Epic Poet, who may excel over this distance for handicap expert David O’Meara. On the other hand, Fairbanks has been running well over this sort of trip regularly for Andrew Balding this season.
One who may stand out for pedigree watchers is Naqeeb for William Haggas, who is a Nathaniel half-brother to Baaeed and Hukum. The Brits also have one of their own flat/jumps expert in the shape of Burdett Road, a Royal Ascot winner last season and Grade 2 scorer as a juvenile hurdler too.
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