This lucrative contest takes place on day four of the Ebor Festival at York on Saturday 23rd August
Naqeeb and My Mate Mozzie feature in our selections
Expired
York races. (Getty)
One of the biggest handicap races staged in Europe takes place on day four of York's Ebor Festival, as 22 talented stayers take part in the Ebor Handicap. This contest was first run on the Knavesmire in the 1840s and legendary names like Lily Agnes, Brown Jack, Sea Pigeon and Further Flight feature on the glittering roll of honour.
I've taken a look through the betting for the Ebor Handicap, listed some key recurring trends and picked out my best betting tips.
Ebor Handicap Trends
16 of the last 17 winners were four, five or six-years-old
15 of the last 17 winners carried 9-00 or more
15 of the last 17 winners had all run over the Ebor trip or further
14 of the last 17 winners had run no more than 4 times that year
13 of the last 17 winners won or placed on their last handicap start
13 of the last 17 winners were drawn in stall 14 or wider
12 of the last 17 winners went off at a double-figure price
11 of the last 17 winners had been off the track for at least 30 days
62% of top four placers came from a double-figure stall
10 of the last 12 winners were rated 101 or more
2024 Ebor Handicap Odds
Name
Odds
Queenstown
5/1
Epic Poet
8/1
Hipop De Loire
8/1
Fairbanks
10/1
Magical Zoe
10/1
Naqeeb
10/1
Burdett Road
12/1
Bar
14/1
Aidan O'Brien's Queenstown has been backed into favouritism for Saturday's Ebor. O'Brien's four-year-old finished behind Kyprios twice earlier in the season, but was withdrawn from the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot on veterinary advice. The favourite hasn't been seen for 99 days and, more interestingly, Ryan Moore has opted to ride at the Curragh on Saturday, rather than a fourth appearance at York.
Absurde won this handicap for Willie Mullins 12 months ago. Ireland's Champion Jumps trainer will be represented this year by Hipop De Loire, who wasn't done any favours on Thursday when drawn in stall two. Fellow raider, Magical Zoe has been handed the worst draw of all in stall one. Epic Poet, on the other hand, has been drawn kindly in stall 16, but David O'Meara's star has questions to answer regarding his stamina.
Gavin Cromwell's star has always been a powerful traveller, but is usually found wanting in the finish. In the Copper Horse Handicap, Gary Carroll was hard at work on his mount turning for home, but My Mate Mozzie found plenty late in the piece, and might even have run down Belloccio had the finishing line come 200 yards later.
16 of the last 17 winners of the Ebor were aged between four and six. However, My Mate Mozzie isn't your typical eight-year-old. Cromwell's gelding has only run nine times in flat races, recording career-best RPRs in each of his three most recent appearances.
Carroll's mount received a two-pound rating hike for that third-place finish at Royal Ascot, meaning he'll enter this handicap off a mark of 98. My Mate Mozzie warmed up for his trip to York with another placed effort in the Galway Hurdle and looks well-weighted with just 9-2 on his back.
My Mate Mozzie (second right) and Naqeeb both finished behind Belloccio (yellow cap) at Royal Ascot. (Getty)
2024 Ebor Handicap Tip 2 - Naqeeb
The last of the trends above illustrates that the Ebor has become a race for classier types. A triple-figure rating, a double-figure draw and proven form over this sort of distance are essential to success in this valuable handicap.
One who ticks all of those boxes is NAQEEB (10/1) for William Haggas, who would dearly love to add the Ebor to his glittering resume.
Naqeeb progressed well last summer, winning a big handicap at Haydock before a third-place finish in the Noel Murless Stakes. Following another third in the Jockey Club Stakes on his reappearance, Haggas took the tongue-tie off for the Yorkshire Cup, where Naqeeb was lit up at the front and faded rapidly down the home straight.
Haggas gave cheekpieces a go in the Copper Horse Handicap, where Jim Crowley's mount was still full of running as he continually hit traffic in the closing stages. Crowley held Naqeeb up for a little too long again at Newbury the last day, where his powerful late charge came up a head short of Temporize.
The cheekpieces go back on for this assignment, so clearly, the team are still trying to work Naqeeb out. What is evident is that this powerful gelding still has untapped potential and Haggas' four-year-old has more than enough ability to contend in a race like the Ebor.
Verdict
Naqeeb and My Mate Mozzie are our two tips for the 2024 Ebor.
1: Naqeeb E/W 2024 Ebor Handicap Tip 1 @10/1 at bet365 - 10 Units
2: My Mate Mozzie E/W 2024 Ebor Handicap Tip 2 @16/1 at BoyleSports - 10 Units
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