Yesterday morning Willie Mullins withdrew the ante-post favourite Ivan Grozny from today’s feature race The Betfred Ebor at York this afternoon. The horse was said to be lame, so unable to run today, which obviously pleased the bookmakers.
This is Europe’s richest flat race with a prize pot of £280,000 not to be sniffed at and today the new favourite is Charlie Appleby’s Antiquariam, the Northumberland Plate winner. He came first on his last outing at Newcastle and looks in fine fettle, ready for the track conditions. Odds on Antiquariam today are 9/1 with Boyle Sports. Appleby also has Oceanographer running today, also heavily tipped by tipsters with odds of 25/1 with Coral, if he comes in you could see a great return today.
It’s worth mentioning that out of the last seven years all but one winner has not been the favourite and has odds in double figures. Ten years ago, trainer Jane Chappel-Hyam struck with a 100/1 winner Mudawin. Today she is back with The Twisler, currently with odds of 66/1 with William Hill. She will be hoping to pull another big winner out of the bag today.
The big outsiders should not be ruled out of this race. There are twenty runners and riders today over one mile and six furlongs, there have been 7mm of rain overnight and the course is expecting some showers this morning. The going is good at the moment though.
Ralph Beckett has She is no Lady running today with Dettori riding her, coming a close second on her last outing at Sandown, he will be hoping for her to step up to the plate later. Odds on She is no Lady this morning are 9/1 with Skybet.
Heartbreak City is next up on the favourites list, with a mixed bag of fortunes in previous races, in his last two races he has finished first, but previous to that he has finished right at the end of the field. So not awe inspiring. But if he gets clear of the field who knows, odds today on Heartbreak City are 10/1 with Paddy Power. Pop back Monday for next week’s round-up of all that’s happening around the country.
Good Luck today.