🏇 York Ebor: The Full Report

How’s it going?

Split screens all set for York’s Ebor at 3.35pm on Saturday afternoon, along with the Premier League’s live scores coming in?

Let’s have it.

👉 Europe’s most valuable handicap takes place at York on Saturday with the Ebor (3.35).

👉 ITV’s cameras cover five races from York and two from Chester – it’s on the soft side at both courses.

👉Trainer Andrew Balding has already sent out six winners at York this week, with a memorable four-timer on Thursday.

👉 Newmarket’s July Course puts on its final meeting of the summer - The Kaiser Chiefs play after racing.

👉 Billy Loughnane leads Oisin Murphy by 13 winners in the jockeys’ title race – 103-90.

👉 There could be Classic clues at the Curragh on Saturday when the Derby and Oaks favourites appear, namely Alpha and Giant Sequoia.

👉 There could be more Classic clues in France on Sunday when a host of juveniles cross the English Channel for a big Group 1 sprint at Deauville, including: Great Barrier Reef, Man’s Best Friend, Senorita Bonita and Orthodox.

Here goes …

🔢 Favourites and second favourites on York Ebor Saturday boast an excellent record during the last five years with 18 wins from 61 runs for a profit of £30 to a £1 stake (during the last five years).

🔢 On Chester’s Saturday card, trainer Ralph Beckett had 4 wins from 8 runs for a profit of £6 to a £1 stake (during the last five years).

🔢 Third favourites also came out best on Chester’s Saturday card with 9 wins from 34 runs for a profit of £20 to a £1 stake (during the last five years).

🔢 On Newmarket’s Saturday card, runners from Ascot or Goodwood last time produced 10 wins from 45 runs for a profit of £51 to a £1 stake (during the last five years).

🔢 On Redcar’s Saturday card, last time out winners followed up for 8 wins from 30 runs for a profit of +£8 to a £1 stake (during the last five years).

Featuring the latest big-race roll of honour alongside ten-year trends analysis, our ‘Super Trends’ reveal the key stats for all the big races.

Use these trends to find your own selections, or if you’re short of time and can’t access a formbook, check our short-list of selections below each race.

🏅 Yanifer

🏅 Infraad
🏅 Limestone
🏅 Into The Light

🏅 Notable Speech
🏅 Ten Bob Tony

🏅 Daiquiri Bay
🏅 Emit

We’re informed that last Saturday night’s kebab – large, apparently – went down well after Addison Grey’s 9/2 win on the box ensured The Purist didn’t go hungry.

Apparently, he’s a Hog Roast man when at the track – plenty of stuffing and apple sauce. That’s next on his radar.

Here’s who The Purist is backing on Saturday . . .

York 3.35 Poetic Sound

This is only my second bet of the week at York as the rain put me right off – some strange results, with yards like the Gosdens not getting a sniff. They don’t call it the Knavesmire for nothing, especially once rain hits. Having said that, Poetic Sound won’t mind it and has already won an Ebor Handicap in Ireland in June before 2m on fast ground didn’t suit last time. He’s trained by Ger Lyons, who only sent three horses across the Irish Sea for the Ebor down the years, resulting in a winner and a runner-up. His wide stall in 22 may also turn out to be an advantage as three of the last four Ebor winners emerged from stalls: 21, 24 & 20.  He’s well worth an each-way stab at 25/1+.

ps. The 4.10 sprint handicap is a red-hot renewal featuring several that have done me a favour this season, but I'll be watching only, looking for autumn clues.

Lingfield 5.10 Orchard

Luke Morris isn’t my favourite jockey, as his ‘all-over-the-place’ style of riding is just ugly to watch. That said, he rides plenty of winners, and can hopefully do enough to get Orchard home, who twice caught my eye at Ffos Las over a mile before finishing 3rd of 4 over 1m2f last time. However, a watch of the replay shows he was coming back for more at the end, and having already won on the all-weather, Lingfield’s track that favours late-finishers should suit. Over to you Morris. 

Redcar 7.30 Bonnie's Boy

Bonnie’s Boy has run some creditable races since moving up to class 4 races in November, including a strong-finishing 4th of 21 at York last time when racing away from the first three home. He's dropped a generous 1lb for that effort, and will enjoy this drop down to class 5 company for the first time in 2026.

This week’s theme involves the lower end of the scale.

An improving type facing modest rivals are the ones we like.

Legendsoftheland (4yo)

Won three of his last six races, and finished placed in the other three. His latest third saw him set to make a promising challenge when the door closed at Windsor. He stays on the same mark of 56 and can still get into a 0-60 handicap.

Ice Cube (3yo)

A career-best win at Epsom last month in which the fourth has since won and is now rated 66. Ice Cube may have followed up off 62 back at Epsom last Friday but for being short of room when coming with a good run, finishing with petrol in the tank.

May Encounter (4yo)

Still 0-11, but showed more promise the last twice when fitted with a hood. Was creeping into the race nicely at Windsor last week when the door closed (backed into 4/1), and there is clearly some ability there.

📌 The formbook – we don’t think the paper format exists anymore – changes on a daily basis during the summer, and one race from Glorious Goodwood several weeks ago is smokin’ hot 🔥

The 26-runner Charlton Handicap won by French Affair on July 29 has seen three of the first seven home win since . . .

Goodwood - 6f handicap

1st – French Affair (won next time at 13/8)
2nd – Under The Twilight (won next time at 7/2)
3rd – Wreck It Ryley 
4th – Mae Amor 
5th – Cashbox
6th – Expert Agent
7th – Supreme King (won next time at 4/1)

Wreck It Ryley ran on Friday evening, while Mae Amor and Cashbox – both originally entered this weekend but now non-runners – remain two names to note.

► ITV: York: 1.50, 2.25, 3.00, 3.35, 4.10; Chester: 2.05, 2.40.

It’s the August Bank Holiday next weekend, which means Goodwood’s Celebration Mile on TV while the barbecue sizzles in the garden.

Until then…

..keep ‘em peeled 👀

The Paddock Report Team.

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