1m6f (1m5f188y) Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+)
They don’t come any tougher to pick than the Ebor handicap and whilst the overall quality of the field probably looks down on previous years, it’s easy to make a case for nearly half of the runners.
1m 6f at York is a unique stamina test, hence, National Hunt trainers are often competitive here. There are plenty to like, and to fear, especially from the Irish contingent of Magical Zoe, My Mate Mozzie and the leftfield entree from the Mullins yard. But James Owens might just have the pick of the jumps trainers with BURDETT ROAD, who was long-time ante-post favourite for the 2024 Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle before being put in his place by Sir Gino in a Trial in January.
That form could mature very well over time and Burdett Road was missing from action until last month when making his reappearance run in a 1m 4f handicap at Ascot. He was a bit keen, but I like how he stayed on from the rear without really being fully wound-up. That should have put him spot on for this which appears to have been the plan with the yard having targeted this race for some time. Add this to the fact his flat form from last season looks pretty decent with a win at Royal Ascot and a third place finish to Passenger in a Group 3 and you’d have to think he has mileage in his mark of 101 on ground he will love.
The other piece of form I want to follow includes Iron Lion and SEA KING with the latter just preferred based on a 4lbs swing from when they took each other on in a handicap at Ripon last month. Sea King has been a bit of a slow burner for Sir Mark Prescott, but he looks to be really coming to the boil now having put in three very good runs in four starts this season. Sea King opened his campaign with a nice success over 1m 4f before flopping at Royal Ascot. However Sea King bounced back in some style over 1m 5f at Ayr giving a lot of encouragement of his chances of staying the extra furlong here.
He got no run last time out when shaping well and whilst he could only manage third, it was still possibly a career best. The second placed horse Shadow Dance won a nice handicap on Day 3 of this meeting so the form looks solid so it’s more than likely Sea King could have more to offer from a helpful looking draw in stall 9 that will allow Luke Morris to take a handy position.
1pt win Burdett Road @11/1, 15:35 York, Saturday
1pt win Sea King @12/1, 15:35 York, Saturday