2022 Ebor: 'He's ready to roll' - who will land the day's big betting race?

Saturday: 3.35 York
Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) | 1m6f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

William Haggas bids to end his brilliant four days at York with success in the track's most prestigious handicap, with the progressive Gaassee heading a two-pronged attack for the trainer as he attempts to win the Sky Bet Ebor for the first time.

Haggas famously struck in the meeting's day one feature with Baaeed and aims to end the Ebor festival on another notable high in the £500,000 handicap.

The Newmarket trainer, who has had 13 runners in the race without any reaching the first three, has strong claims with Gaassee, who landed the Jorvik Handicap at the Dante meeting over 1m4f before suffering defeat in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock last month.

Gaassee (yellow silks): already a winner at the track this seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The four-year-old steps up to 1m6f for the first time but will not have the assistance of Haggas's regular number one rider Tom Marquand, with Kieran Shoemark called up for the mount.

Marquand partners the yard's other leading hope Candleford, who was an impressive six-length winner of the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot but disappointed at Newmarket's July festival on his latest start.

Haggas said: "They're both drawn a bit wide. Candleford will like the ground but I've always believed he's better right-handed. Gaassee is a useful horse and should run a good race. You'd think the trip should be ideal for him."

Earl Of Tyrone flying up the charts

Earl Of Tyrone has been one of the big improvers of the season in Ireland and bids to continue his remarkable progress with his most lucrative victory.

Having finished third on his first run for Paddy Twomey off a mark of 77 at Leopardstown in April, the son of Australia will race off a mark of 103 after rattling off a hat-trick, including a 'win and you're in' race for the Ebor at the Curragh before striking at Listed level at Limerick.

The four-year-old has been Ireland's leading hope for the race since those victories and Twomey said: "He travelled over well and rode out well on Thursday morning on the track. He's in good form. We're happy with the draw and he's ready to go."

'I'm expecting to win!' – Goldie keen on Euchen Glen

A bullish Jim Goldie expects his popular stable star Euchen Glen to put his previous Ebor disappointments firmly behind him.

The nine-year-old, whose first major success in his prolific career came on the Knavesmire in the 2018 John Smith's Cup, finished fifth in the 2020 Ebor before failing to fire when 11th last year.

However, Euchen Glen showed his spark remains when an unlucky third at Glorious Goodwood last time and Goldie is confident he is back to his prime.

Euchen Glen: looked in good form at Goodwood on his latest startCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm expecting to win! But on a serious note, he should run well. He was unlucky at Goodwood, but the best thing about that was he showed he was close to his old self," Goldie said.

"It's very competitive, as usual, and it's often the ones who get the clearest runs who go the closest or win. We'll ride him as we usually do off the pace and behind the leaders, ride our luck and see what happens."

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What they say

David O'Meara, trainer of Get Shirty
He's had a great year, winning four of his five starts including at Royal Ascot. He's drawn right on the wing and I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing, but he's in great form.

Ian Williams, trainer of Enemy and Alfred Boucher
Enemy has run in Group company the last few times, including in the Goodwood Cup last time, but he should be suited to the track, trip and early fast pace. They'll help enormously. Alfred Boucher came out of his race really well on Wednesday and it's not often you can go for an Ebor. The 4lb penalty he picked up puts him in the race. You usually need a year to prepare for an Ebor and we've had 48 hours, but he's in great shape.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Ever Present
He has a good draw but it's a bit of a lottery. I'm very happy with him and he's in very good form, so hopefully he can give a good account of himself.

Ed Dunlop, trainer of John Leeper
He seems fine. It's the Ebor, so you can expect it to be very competitive, but he already has good form this season.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Okita Soushi and Benaud
Benaud is shaping up well. His preparations have gone smoothly. He's in form and we're hoping he can run very well. Okita Soushi ran a cracker at Royal Ascot. He came through his prep run well at Leopardstown and everything has gone well since. We're hoping for a good run.

Alan King, trainer of Raymond Tusk
We've tried to freshen him up since his last run but he's exposed and there are probably horses coming in who are still on the up. It's a great race to have runners in and we'll keep trying for it.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Trawlerman
He had to have a stalls test after his last run, which he passed at Newmarket last week, and he's ready to roll. He won well first time out this year, then after a couple of blips was back in business at Goodwood last time, and he's towards the bottom of the handicap.

David Probert, rider of Valley Forge
I think he's got a very strong case. He won the Melrose last year to qualify automatically for this and it's been the aim since day one at the start of the season. He keeps progressing and, while it's the softer the better for him, we know he loves the track.

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 York: can Mighty Ulysses emulate one of Gosden's greats en route to Group 1 glory?

2.25 York: 'We've always had the Melrose as a target' – who's been laid out for York prize?

2.40 Sandown: could Haggas have another super son of Sea The Stars on his hands?

3.00 York: 'If everything goes right he could do it' – City of York Stakes trainer quotes

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