BHA defends system in light of dearth of Ebor three-year-olds

The BHA has defended the elimination system which has contributed to only one three-year-old making the cut for the Ebor in the past seven seasons, and which has often attracted criticism.

During the elimination process, priority is given to horses with higher weights, as opposed to those with higher ratings. This has meant that three-year-olds, who receive 12lb in a weight-for-age allowance, have struggled to make the cut for the richest Flat handicap in Europe.

Fields Of Athenry, who ran off a mark of 118 in 2015 before going on to finish third in the St Leger on his next start, is the only three-year-old in the past seven years who has competed in the race.