York Ebor Meeting 2009

The 4 day York Ebor Meeting returns to the Knavesmire this year and gets underway tomorrow Tuesday 18th August. Sea the Stars appears to have frightened most of the opposition away as there are now only four runners for the Group 1 Juddmonte Internatioal Stakes worth £600,000.00 and run over 1 mile 2 furlongs. Sea the Stars should show Mastercraftsman the way home again. The Totesport Ebor Heritage Handicap run over 1 mile 6 furlongs on Wednesday for 3 year olds and upwards is the centre piece of the whole meeting. This year the race is worth £210,000.00, making it the richest handicap in Europe. In my blog of two years ago about the Ebor I did list past winners of the race. In my opinion there is nothing of the quality that we use to see contest this great race. However it does take a really good three year old to win the Ebor. Aidan O'Brien very nearly won it two years ago with the then three year old Honolulu. This year he runs the three year old Changingoftheguard who is favourite and strongly fancied. The booking of Robert Hughes for Magicalmysterytour is interesting. Magicalmysterytour only just lost out in a photo finish over course and distance on his last run. This is tougher but he might well make the frame at a nice price. Before the Ebor we have the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup run over 2 miles for 3 yo's and above. Askar Tau ran a terrible race at Goodwood in the Goodwood Cup. On Wednesday he has the services of Ryan Moore and might be worth another chance. The Group 1 on Thursday is the Darley Yorkshire Oaks worth £310,000.00 run over 1 mile 4 furlongs for 3 yo's and above fillies and mares. Sariska looks as though she has also frightened the opposition away. The meeting concludes on Friday with the Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes worth £240,000.00 run over 5 furlongs being the main race. This looks as though it will be a cracking contest with Kingsgate Native, Borderlescott, Art Connoisseur, Amour Propre and Radiohead all declared to run. The winner should come from one of them. There were excuses for Amour Propre's poor run at Royal Ascot and he could be the each way bet. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".