York racing tips as Willie Mullins backed to win £500k Sky Bet Ebor again

Willie Mullins can master the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor once again with his number one contender HIPOP DE LOIRE (3.35). The dual-purpose performer was an unlucky fifth a year ago when Colin Keane got no sort of run in the closing stages. One in the clear, the stayer motored home for fifth, four-and-a-half lengths behind fellow Irish raider Magical Zoe.

Brought to his peak with a spin in a Listed event on the flat and over hurdles, Hipop De Loire is fancied to finish ahead of stablemate Ethical Diamond, a smooth scorer in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. Shadow Dance looks to have had this as his big aim for the season, while Fleetfoot should not be underestimated either.

The Scout's Ebor Handicap Verdict

1 Hipop De Loire 2 Ethical Diamond 3 Fleetfoot 4 Shadow Dance

1 French Master

Blinkers did the job in the Copper Horse Stakes but is now 8lb higher and concedes weight to all in an ultra-competitive event.

2 Hipop De Loire

Met traffic in this a year ago when he was repeatedly short of room and comes here with a good draw - and full of confidence after a hurdles strike.

3 Yashin

Beat one home last year and out of form.

4 Queenstown

Unplaced after going forward in the most renewal of this when prominent in the market. Interesting they have another go with this former pacesetter for champion Kyprios.

5 Kihavah

Likeable dual-purpose thoroughbred who chased home Magical Zoe in 2024 but handicap mark has since suffered.

6 Ethical Diamond

Ran away from the rest in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes and still has more to offer on the level given his 140-plus hurdles rating.

7 London City

Lightly campaigned since landing a three-year-old handicap here in May 2024. Creeping into form and might be capable of a bigger effort.

8 Onesmoothoperator

Suited by big fields and took his team to the 2024 Melbourne Cup. Will run his usual honest race.

9 Subsequent

Lacklustre start to the season and unlikely to revive fortunes in a first-time tongue tie.

10 Real Dream

One of the more interesting outsiders if working into it from a wide stall. Running alright at present and was fancied when doing too much soon here in 2023.

11 Roaring Legend

Started winning by wide-margins of the all-weather which sets him a stiff task off a mark of 102.

12 Stressfree

4lb higher than when in front at Haydock in May. Gone off the boil a little of late with stamina to prove.

13 Shadow Dance

Unplaced on reappearance last term which helped him successfully go 12 furlongs at this track. Only had 10 career outings and looks laid out for a big run.

14 Siege Of Troy

Only filly in the 22-runner line-up for trainer Johnny Murtagh who scooped the trophy in 2021 with Sonnyboyliston. Suggests the longer trip will be a help not a hindrance.

15 Enemy

Broke a spell in the doldrums with a better effort at the Shergar Cup. Down the field in 2023 and 2022 and exposed now.

16 Oneforthegutter

Would keep galloping for much further than 1m6f if desired. Creditable third last year and 6lb extra for a recent win might see him struggle to confirm the form with Hipop De Loire.

17 Ascending

Back over an intermediate staying trip after just lasting home in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes. Retains scope after that career high.

18 Almosh'her

Gelded when he proved troublesome in the Royal Ascot prelims. Landed an Ebor trial previously and could play a hand.

19 Majestic Warrior

Half-brother to 2020 Ebor hero Fujaira Prince who overcame a long lay-off at Thirsk. Intriguing towards the foot of the weights.

20 Charlus

Fast ground the key variable to consider with him as flopped on it this summer when too free.

21 Fleetfoot

Rare runner in Britain for Jim Bolger who has captured four of the five Classics on these shores. Some have better form but needs a second look.

22 Mr Percy

An above-average horse on the flat and over obstacles. Widest draw a negative.

LAKE FOREST (3.00) is fancied to give Rosallion a race in the first Sky Bet City Of York Stakes with Group One status. The chestnut colt part-owned by Brighton FC chairman Tony Bloom caused a mini upset at this track in the 2023 Gimcrack Stakes.

As a three-year-old, Lake Forest charged home to snatch the Golden Eagle on turf at Rosehill while stationed in Australia. Given time to get over that, the classy member of the William Haggas string has not reached the winners' enclosure since.

But my selection was not too far behind Rosallion in the mile-long Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and showed plenty in a muddling renewal of the Lennox Stakes when he was given a lot to do.

Developing into a real seven-furlong specialist, 9-1 shot Lake Forest has a fighting chance here of bolstering his course record. Hamish (2019) and Coltrane (2020) are among the Group scorers to have come out of the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap over 1m 6f.

The latter's trainer Andrew Balding has FANTASY WORLD (2.25) in contention this year, 11-1 overnight with William Hill. He might not be as choicely bred as favourite Tarriance, a son of superstar Frankel and Group One-placed Visit, but he makes up for that with his excellent attitude.

A half-brother to a winner at today's distance, Fantasy World understandably needed all of the 1m 3f to get ahead in a Racing League event at Yarmouth, while his first ever success was recently advertised by runner-up Finalise.

BOWMARK (1.50) is tipped to stage a comeback in the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes, a race on from his French Derby disappointment.

The lightly-raced sort was too lit up on the continent and it is too soon to forget his all-the-way exploits at this track in May, with Will Buick back on-board.

Impressive Stewards' Cup hero Two Tribes will have to pull out more to land the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap off 8lb higher. The second Strike Red, fourth Run Boy Run, fifth Twilight Calls and seventh Commanche Falls take him on again.

Eighth-placed COMPLETELY RANDOM (4.10) could not make an impression after rain got into the ground - and his earlier ready defeat of the runner-up at Leicester and a fifth in the Wokingham shows he has the potential for a prize like this.

SILENT APPLAUSE (4.45) carries the second colours of Godolphin, but he is tipped for first in the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes.

Marhaba Ghaiyyath was headed close home by a useful sort at Goodwood and is on the Sky Bet Steve Birch Finale Handicap shortlist with Greek Order who has been knocking on the door.

However ERZINDJAN (5.20) seems rejuvenated by the move to Terry Kent's boutique stable and is too well-handicapped to desert.

At Goodwood, BACK IN BLACK (2.05) has a good turn of speed for a handicapper and covers seven furlongs after a 134-day absence.

Back on her last triumphant mark, WARDA JAMIL (2.40) showed an appetite for the course last summer and is worth chancing among a septet with plenty of questions to answer.