The final day of York’s Ebor Meeting contributes five of the seven races on this Saturday’s ITV Racing transmission, including the meeting’s eponymous handicap at 3.35.
Powerhouse jumps handler Willie Mullins fields two of market leaders in the Ebor in Hipop De Loire and Ethical Diamond, but we’re taking him on with another Irish-trained entrant. Elsewhere at the Knavesmire two three-year-olds getting weight from their older rivals catch the eye.
ITV Racing: Gosden colt can make his mark down in grade and back in trip
Likely Strensall Stakes (1.50) favourite King’s Gambit is on a seven-race winless run dating back to May 2024 and is readily opposed as a result.
Three-year-olds get 7lbs from their elders in this Group 3 contest and that puts Gladius, King Of Cities and BOWMARK under serious consideration, with the latter preferred.
William Buick comes in for the ride aboard the John and Thady Gosden trained colt, who finished down the field in the Group 1 French Derby over 1m2f last time after running too keenly early in the race.
Prior to that, the selection scored a very comfortable victory in a York novice stakes over a mile. Given an extended break of 83 days to get over his Chantilly exertions he can take advantage of the drop in trip and grade to resume his upward trajectory.
1.50 York Bowmark to win
@ 9/2
ITV Racing: French raider well treated after Group 1 neck second last time
Rosallion’s entry in the 7f City Of York Stakes (3.00) has added plenty of intrigue to the race’s first running as a Group 1 but despite Richard Hannon’s dual top-flight-winning miler being 5lbs clear of the field on official ratings, his runs this term have been more suggestive that a step up in trip might be on the cards.
That means he’s got to be worth taking on and while the race looks sufficiently competitive that a case could be made for half the field, Christophe Head’s MARANOA CHARLIE gets the vote.
As a three-year-old, the 115-rated Wootton Bassett colt gets 5lbs from Rosallion, effectively putting them level at the weights. Beaten just a nose in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat over 7f last time, there’s every chance enough further improvement can be found to justify his trainer’s trip across the channel.
3.00 York - Maranoa Charlie to win
@ 7/1
ITV Racing: Trainer’s race record highlights Siege Of Troy’s Ebor chance
Willie Mullins fields favourite Hipop De Loire, second favourite Ethical Diamond and Charlus as he bids to win the Ebor Handicap (3.35) for the third time.
However, while the master of Closutton has fielded 14 runners in the pursuit of his first two successes in this £300,000-to-the-winner contest, Johnny Murtagh has equalled his tally from just three entrants.
Murtagh’s successful but selective approach to making entries in the race means SIEGE OF TROY has to be taken very seriously at a decent each-way price as he steps up in trip beyond 1m4f for the first time.
His staying on fourth behind Ethical Diamond at Ascot when giving that rival 3lbs reads intriguingly given that one’s high standing in the betting for this race and the booking of 7lb claimer Patrick McGettigan means he’ll be getting 12lbs from the same rival this time.
3.35 York - Siege Of Troy to win
@ 12/1
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