ITV Racing Tips: Eyecatcher Euchen Glen to grab the spoils in hot Ebor
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The four-day York Ebor Festival comes to an end with the meeting’s signature race, the Ebor Handicap.
The 22-runner race is traditionally a huge betting event for which Earl Of Tyrone is favourite to deliver Ireland’s third victory in four years.
But there are a whole host of others who hold strong credentials, fittingly so when the first prize is £300,000.
The 1m6f race is the highlight but there is strong support from the Group 2 City Of York Stakes, Group 3 Strensall Stakes and the Melrose, the three-year-olds ‘Ebor’.
York shares the coverage with Sandown where the Group 3 Solario Stakes which often throws up a top two-year-old and Atalanta Stakes are the features.
There are seven televised races, five from York and two from Sandown, which will be shown by ITV from 13:25. We have previewed the three of the day’s significant races in our ITV Racing Tips.
It’s been a quiet meeting for Frankie Dettori but hopefully he has saved Ebor day to return to the TV spotlight. Dettori rides Mighty Ulysses who has come to the fore lately since stepping up from a handicap to the St James’s Palace Stakes where he ran fifth behind Coroebus.
Down in grade he won a Listed prize at Newmarket, beating Alflaila who franked the form by winning next time out. The two meet again over an extra furlong and Frankie should edge it.
Jumby, winner of the Hungerford Stakes seven days ago, goes again as does Pogo who ran below par at Newbury. This is a bit hotter with Sandrine and Kinross, who finished in front of Pogo at Goodwood last time among the field.
It could be a very tight affair with only 6lb between the ten runners. Brad The Brief, unbeaten this year for Hugo Palmer, is trying the 7f trip again and, despite having won all his races at 6f, it is a gamble worth taking.
The fact he has won on heavy over six suggests he has stamina for the distance, and it could pay to follow a horse in the best form of his career.
A massive pot up for grabs and plenty of horses have the form to take it. Whittling them down to just one is the hard part.
Earl Of Tyrone has earned favouritism after completing an impressive rise up the ranks since joining the thriving stable of Paddy Twomey. He ticks a lot of boxes.
Joseph O’Brien should never be underestimated and saddles two in Okita Sushi and Benaud, while Candleford is another with strong each way claims on his wide margin win at Royal Ascot.
It is hard to overlook the claims of one of the oldest horses in the field, the nine-year-old Euchan Glen. His form has been a bit up and down this year and as a result his handicap mark has dropped.
He is now 11lb lower than when he ran in the race last year and a better horse than when fifth in 2020. He goes well at the track as a former winner of the John Smith’s Cup. Expect him to finish late, and hopefully on time.
ITV Racing Schedule, Saturday 20th August
13:50 York – Strensall Stakes
14:05 Sandown – Atlanta Stakes
14:25 York – Melrose Handicap
14:40 Sandown – Solario Stakes
15:00 York – City of York Stakes
15:35 York – Ebor Handicap
16:10 York – 6f Handicap
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
