Ante-post Ebor favourite Live Your Dream only first reserve for big handicap

Backers of ante-post Ebor favourite Live Your Dream remain uncertain over the leading fancy's participation as he is the first reserve for Saturday's showpiece following declarations on Thursday.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained four-year-old will need one of the 22-runner field to be declared a non-runner by 1pm on Friday to contest the £500,000 handicap.

Live Your Dream comes in at 22nd at the weights, but is superseded in the line-up by Shanroe, who earned a starting place with victory in a 'win and you're in' trial at the Curragh in June.

Saturday 3.35 York: Ebor racecard and betting

Live Your Dream has won three of his four starts in handicap company this year, most recently landing the bet365 Trophy at Newmarket's July meeting. The Keith Dalgleish-trained Sextant is the second reserve.

Sonnyboyliston heads the betting at 13-2 with race sponsor Sky Bet after declarations and is one of two runners for Johnny Murtagh, who won the race with Mutual Regard in 2014 and also saddles 11-1 chance Mirann.

Princess Zoe, Passion, Deja and Saldier were not declared, while Rodrigo Diaz, who was towards the head of the market at 10-1, did not make the cut.

William Haggas: saddles four runners in bid to land the EborCredit: Edward Whitaker

William Haggas bids for a first victory in the prestigious handicap and has declared four runners, including Ilaraab, the mount of Kieran Shoemark, and the Tom Marquand-ridden Hamish. Both horses are unbeaten on the Knavesmire.

Apprentice Adam Farragher claims 5lb off Pablo Escobarr and Kevin Stott rides Roberto Escobarr, also owned by Hussain Alabbas Lootah. There is also a big-race opportunity for Saffie Osborne, who takes 5lb off the Alan King-trained On To Victory.

Ismail Mohammed intended to run Melbourne Cup hope Away He Goes in the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville on Sunday, but the Goodwood Cup second instead tackles the Ebor due to the better ground at York.

Mohammed said: "We intended to run him in the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville this weekend but the ground is too soft out there for him. The decent ground will be ideal for him and he's in great form. It's a competitive handicap but he'll love the track and big field. Hopefully he has a good chance."

Last year's winner Fujaira Prince bids to become the second horse to win two runnings of the race, a feat achieved only by Flint Jack in 1922 and 1923.

He is a 10-1 chance and was drawn in stall 19, with eight of the last ten winners coming from a double-figure stall. Sonnyboyliston (stall 14), Hamish (15), Live Your Dream (16) and Ilaraab (20) are among the market principals with such berths. Topweight Euchen Glen is in stall one, while Eagles By Day has the outside draw.

Sky Bet Ebor
Sky Bet: 13-2 fav Sonnyboyliston, 7-1 Hamish, Live Your Dream, 10 Fujaira Prince, Ilaraab, Tribal Craft, 11 Mirann, Mt Leinster, 12 Global Storm, Shanroe, 14 bar

Ebor confirmed runners and riders

Euchen GlenPaul Mulrennan
Fujaira PrinceAndrea Atzeni
IlaraabKieran Shoemark
Away He GoesDane O’Neill
Eagles By DayDanny Tudhope
HamishTom Marquand
AlounakSilvestre de Sousa
MekongLuke Morris
Blue CupDavid Egan
SonnyboylistonBen Coen
Roberto EscobarrKevin Stott
Max VegaHector Crouch
Pablo EscobarrAdam Farragher (5)
HumanitarianJames Doyle
Mt LeinsterJason Watson
Global StormWilliam Buick
Tribal CraftDavid Probert
On To VictorySaffie Osborne (5)
MirannAdam Kirby
QuickthornJason Hart
MakaweeDavid Nolan
ShanroeRobbie Colgan

First reserveLive Your DreamPat Cosgrave
Second reserve SextantBilly Garritty (3)

Read more on the York Ebor festival:

Nervy time for Cosgrave as Ebor favourite Live Your Dream not guaranteed a run

York Ebor: day-by-day guide to the key races, star horses and best tips

Marco Ghiani cleared to return to ride 'Group 1 horse' Real World at York

ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each race on ITV on day two of York

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