Ebor handicap 2022 date: TBD
Racecourse: York
Type: heritage handicap
Age of the horses: 4 years old and older
Distance: 1 mile 5 furlongs 188 yards
The phrase Heritage Handicap is made for the Ebor which was first run on the Knavesmire at York in 1843. Originally contested over two miles, it was cut by about two furlongs. It has developed into the big betting race of the eponymous Ebor Festival held during the summer holidays towards the end of August. The Ebor Handicap is on the fourth and final day of the meeting. Although initially open to three-year-olds and up, in more recent times it is only older horses that are allowed to take part.
By far the most famous winners in the 175 years plus history of the Ebor are Sea Pigeon in 1979 and Further Flight in 1990. The former has claims of being the most versatile racehorse ever, as he also won the Chester Cup on the Flat and the Champion Hurdle twice at the Cheltenham Festival. Further Flight, meanwhile, won five subsequent renewals of the Long Distance Cup (then called the Jockey Club Cup). The Ebor Handicap is seen as the British equivalent of Australia’s Melbourne Cup.
Coming soon…
A big betting Heritage Handicap like the Ebor is tailor made for bookmaker offers. Extra places may even be available ante post on the race, but it is well worth checking nearer the time of the race to see what the latest promotions relating to the Ebor Handicap are.
Meanwhile, take advantage of Best Odds Guaranteed offers and Non Runner No Bet when placing your ane-post bet.
With a valuable and historic race like the Ebor Handicap, it makes sense to research trends and statistics. There will be a large field declared for the race, so anything that helps you to eliminate some of the horses from contention can only help. While the stats don’t guarantee you will pick out the winner, they do allow you to reach better informed conclusions about the Ebor and who to bet on:
Nine of the last 10 winners of the Ebor carried 9 stone or more around York to victory.The table below has all of those and underneath are the last three results in detail for your reference:
Mustajeer competed in the Ebor Handicap of 2018 and finished a fine fourth off the same official rating of 108. That mark equated to carrying 3lb less weight on his second attempt at the race for Irish trainer Ger Lyons. Sent off at half the odds, 16/1, he was returned at the previous year, the six-year-old Medicean gelding was held up in midfield and started marking headway three furlongs from the finish.
Once Mustajeer began chasing the leaders two out, he soon challenged and was ridden to take things up approaching the last. Jockey Colin Keane drove him out as he kept on well for a three-quarters of a length victory over Godolphin’s 25/1 shot Red Galileo. The Saeed bin Suroor trained veteran was half-a-length in front of David Elsworth’s Desert Skyline, who was sent off at the same price. Richard Hannon’s Raymond Tusk, a 16/1 shot, was fourth ahead of Barsanti and True Self with just three lengths covering the first six home in the Ebor.
After making very smooth headway three furlongs from home, Logician switched towards the stands’ side to continue his run. He led two out when asked and was ridden clear approaching the final furlong before staying on strongly for a ready 2¼ lengths victory over 7/1 chance Sir Ron Priestley, who was just a head in front of Mark Johnston’s other runner, the 40/1 outsider Nayef Road. Irish raiders filled the minor places with Sir Dragonet fourth at 11/4 and 8/1 shot Il Paradiso fifth.
Trainer John Gosden saddled a one-two in the Ebor as Muntahaa defeat stable companion Weekender on the Knavesmire. The five-year-old Dansili gelding raced wide in the early stages under owner Hamdan Al Maktoum’s retained rider Jim Crowley to get him settled before re-joining the field. After travelling well in midfield, he made further progress before the three-furlong marker to track the leaders still on the bit.
Muntahaa, an 11/1 chance, was ridden to take things up approaching the last. He was soon clear and stayed on strongly for a 3¼ lengths victory over 15/2 shot Weekender. Irish raiders Sea The Lion, backed into 9/1, and Mustajeer (a 33/1 outsider) completed the places – just ahead of Roger Charlton’s Blakeney Point (12/1) and Whiskey Sour for Willie Mullins at 6/1.
Scottish trainer Iain Jardine’s Nakeeta landed odds of 12/1 in the Ebor Handicap just holding on in a dramatic finish where jockey Callum Rodriguez, taking 5lb off the horse’s back with his claim, dropped his reins close home. After holding the six-year-old Sixties Icon gelding up early on, he took closer order with half-a-mile still to race. Nakeeta tracked the leaders approaching two out, and was then ridden to squeeze through a gap and throw down a challenge.
He was then driven inside the final furlong and kept on well to lead near the finish. Nakeeta landed the Ebor spoils by just a head from Sir Mark Prescott’s 7/1 favourite Flymetothestars. The front pair pulled a couple of lengths clear of Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor trained 14/1 shot Natural Scenery in third. Amanda Perrett outsider Arch Villain came fourth at 50/1 with 15/2 chance Magic Circle in fifth for Ralph Beckett.
Trials for the Ebor take place up to 12 months before the race, as it isn’t open to younger horses. As this Heritage Handicap is so competitive, you will find that black type races can provide you with clues: