Bold bid expected from Ebor trial winner Shanroe as trainer seeks biggest win

It has been five years since dual-purpose star Heartbreak City registered a memorable victory for Ireland in the Sky Bet Ebor and another hurdler turned Flat performer may be flying under the radar this time around, with Shanroe bidding to provide Karl Thornton with the biggest win of his training career.

Having won British bumpers in three of his first four starts, the classy Shanroe took some time to find his feet over hurdles before progressing from a first handicap win off 109 last summer to competing off two and a half stone higher in Britain in May.

His Flat improvement has been striking too, now up to a mark of 101 after winning three of his five starts. The County Dublin-based Thornton believes he could be dealing with a Group-class performer.

Shanroe: bolted up in a competitive handicap hurdle on Irish Grand National day at FairyhouseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Shanroe is working well and as long as everything goes well between now and then it's all systems go," Thornton said of his 16-1 Ebor hope, one of 12 Irish-trained runners left in the race at Monday's confirmation stage.

"It's a race where you need a lot of luck but he goes there with every chance of showing up well.

"Robbie Colgan gets on very well with him so we're happy he's travelling over, although we'd like to see some rain because he'd probably like slower ground."

Pondus, the multiple Group-placed performer who Shanroe beat last time when landing a Curragh trial to secure an automatic Ebor berth, has since departed Joseph O'Brien to be trained in Australia for a tilt at the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Nick Williams, son of Pondus's owner Lloyd Williams, hasn't hidden his excitement about their Flemington candidate, saying this month he thinks Pondus "will take a lot of beating in the Melbourne Cup".

Thornton said: "After winning at the Curragh last time Shanroe got a guaranteed place in the race and it looks as though he's got a lovely weight [9st 1lb].

Karl Thornton on Shanroe's Ebor bid: 'It looks as though he's got a lovely weight'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's at the right end of things and if he didn't have his spot in the race he probably wouldn't be getting in because of how condensed it is in terms of the ratings."

The Brian Smyth-owned campaigner reportedly didn't travel to Britain well when finishing down the field in the Grade 3 Swinton Handicap Hurdle two starts ago, so alternative plans have been made this time around.

"Travelling is a concern but we're looking at heading over with him on Friday and stabling him away from the track," Thornton said.

"We'll let him stretch his legs over there and hopefully it will all help him to relax."

The Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Handicap, which Shanroe won when last seen in June, is one of four races offering a guaranteed spot in Europe’s richest Flat handicap, with this year the first time an Irish leg was included alongside the Melrose Handicap, Jorvik Handicap and Listed Grand Cup Stakes.

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