Ebor Handicap: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

Ebor Handicap
15:35 York, Saturday
Live on ITV

1. Get Shirty (David O'Meara/Danny Tudhope)
Has been much improved for his current yard, winning the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and the Old Newton Cup at Haydock on his last two outings. Dangerous to rule out further progress but he'll need a very smart effort to defy this mark and he's been allotted the outside stall.

2. Enemy (Ian Williams/David Egan)
Another who has improved for the switch to the Ian Williams stable, bagging a nice prize at Musselburgh over Easter and then finishing a close third in the Group 3 Sagaro at Ascot next time. Found the Goodwood Cup too hot to handle last time and this isn't much easier under his big weight.

3. Max Vega (Ralph Beckett/Rob Hornby)
Failed to win at three or four but emphatically put it right on his reappearance in the John Porter at Newbury in April. Respectable sixth to Rebel's Romance in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood since but more will be needed if he's to defy such a lofty mark.

4. Fancy Man (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey)
Smart colt who was value for extra when landing the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfield in February. Has run two crackers back on turf when fifth of 17 in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock and third in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood. Reopposing trio Global Storm, John Leeper and Max Vega were all behind him at Goodwood.

5. Ever Present (Jessica Harrington/Shane Foley)
Was a big improver on the Flat in 2021, winning three of his four starts, and he may have needed the run after 10 months off when fourth on his Down Royal reappearance in July. No surprise were he to resume his progress here.

6. John Leeper (Ed Dunlop/Adam Kirby)
Smart colt who has come up short at listed/minor pattern level this season and the suspicion is he'll also find a few too strong now moving into handicap company for the first time.

7. Okita Soushi (Joseph O'Brien/Mikey Sheehy (3))
Has just a maiden win to his name but he has posted some smart efforts in defeat, notably when third to Get Shirty in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot in June. Enjoys a 9 lb swing in the weights with David O'Meara's charge here and he's one to consider despite being drawn wider than ideal.

8. Global Storm (Charlie Appleby/William Buick)
Smart performer who was a game winner in handicap company at Meydan in February and has run creditably in defeat since, finishing fourth in the Glorious Stakes last time. Likely to give his running again.

9. Rodrigo Diaz (David Simcock/Jamie Spencer)
Smart performer who has been placed in Group 3 and listed events over two miles at Sandown since being equipped with a tongue tie. More will be needed if he's to come out on top here, though.

10. Shanroe (Karl Thornton/Robbie Colgan)
Useful over hurdles and on the Flat. Didn't need to be at best to make a winning reapperance in a Galway conditions event last month but it sets him up nicely for a second attempt at this race (fourth 12 months ago).

11. Raymond Tusk (Alan King/Martin Harley)
Fourth in this in 2019. Doncaster conditions event win in March shows he's still capable of smart form but he found a few of today's rivals too strong for him in the Copper Horse Handicap and Old Newton Cup on his last two outings.

12. Candleford (William Haggas/Tom Marquand)
Progressive throughout last year and took another sizeable step forward when easily landing the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot on his reappearance. May have found the run coming a bit soon when only midfield over a mile and three-quarters at Newmarket three weeks later. One of two strong contenders for his yard.

13. Licence (Ger Lyons/Gary Carroll)
Low-mileage sort who made a winning debut at Gowran last summer and has shown useful form in defeat since, finishing fourth to Gear Up in a Group 3 at Leopardstown earlier this month. Very much unexposed for the yard which won this in 2019.

14. Earl of Tyrone (Paddy Twomey/Billy Lee)
Big improver for this yard, completing a hat-trick when seeing off Raise You by a length and a quarter in a Limerick listed race in June. Seemingly saved for this since and his yard continues in very good form. Big player.

15. Gaassee (William Haggas/Kieran Shoemark)
Highly progressive colt who made it four wins in a row when taking a mile-and-a-half handicap at the Dante meeting here in May. Had his winning run ended when third to Get Shirty in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock but he would have gone closer had he got in the clear sooner. A mile and three-quarters should suit. Player.

16. Calling The Wind (Richard Hughes/Pat Cosgrave)
Smart and consistent gelding who was second in last year's November Handicap off this mark and has posted respectable efforts in defeat in conditions/listed races this season. Probably more of a place than win contender.

17. Euchen Glen (Jim Goldie/Paul Mulrennan)
Veteran who has been a tremendous servant to connections and he ran up to his recent best when third over a mile and three-quarters at Goodwood last time. Big-field handicaps tend to bring out the best of him (former winner of John Smith's Cup here).

18. Benaud (Joseph O'Brien/Jim Crowley)
Was shaping up well prior to making the most of a good opporunity in a Bellewstown minor event at the end of June. One of two runners for his much-respected stable and is yet another who can't be discounted.

19. Trawlerman (John & Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori)
Lightly raced four-year-old who had excuses when down the field in competitive handicaps at Royal Ascot and Newmarket's July meeting and it all came together for him over this trip at Glorious Goodwood last month. 4 lb penalty demands further improvement.

20. Quenelle d'Or (Hugo Palmer/Neil Callan)
Posted a solid effort returning from eight months off when fifth to Get Shirty in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot but was unable to make any sort of impact in a Group 3 at Leopardstown six weeks ago. Others more obvious.

21. Alfred Boucher (Ian Williams/PJ McDonald)
Another fine example of this yard's skill with stayers, comfortably winning the two-mile handicap here on Wednesday. He's a player under a 4 lb penalty if coping with the quick turnaround.

22. Valley Forge (Andrew Balding/David Probert)
Struck in the Melrose on this day last year. Landed another nice prize at Hyadock over two miles in May and was a bit better than the result in the Northumberland Plate and a Glorious Goodwood handicap since.

23. Not So Sleepy (RESERVE)
Very useful dual-purpose performer who has run with credit in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and a Sandown listed race this season but others arrive with more compelling claims. RESERVE.

24. Dark Jedi (RESERVE)
Back to winning ways over a mile and five furlongs at Ayr in June and good efforts in defeat twice since, going down only narrowly at Musselburgh latterly. Engaged 1.50 here Friday. RESERVE.