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The 2025 Ebor Handicap

Is the next action insofar as possible runners go the confirmations on the Monday before the race, guys?

I'm just wondering if there is a confirmation stage before then?
 
As the race is now just 15 days away that would be my guess, but the operative word in this sentence is "guess," which now appears twice (for emphasis). 😂
 
...and Shadow Dance has an entry for the Lanark Silver Bell. Which is mildly worrying. Enough have come out of the Ebor already to guarantee a run, I think. I would suspect the ground is a worry, and RV may go where it's 'softer', if anything. No rain unless the dark clouds to the west of us speed up, it will possibly come a few hours too late.

Looks like French Duke goes for the 12f race on Friday, has a named jockey.
 
Depending on your exposure to Shadow Dance, it gets worse. Now has an entry for a Goodwood hcap, too. Roger V is making us (or some of us, at least)) sweat for it. Although all available evidence suggests that Good to Firm would make a run anywhere pointless.
 
Shadow Dance has SDS named for the Ebor. Still in the other two races, and I guess could yet switch, but it's clear that the preferred target remains the Ebor (as it will have been since last year).

DOM has pulled Mirsky from the Clipper, but the other 5 look set to have places if he wants them to. Likely at least 2 he has other ideas for, so a reasonable chance they will be not-off runs if they line up. But which two?! So the wily old fox (read 'bstardo of the year') still has the upper hand.

Some of the doubles are still alive (just). Except I made a call to rule out Cerulean Bay a couple of weeks ago, who then went on to run a big race against EBT's last week - a run that you could argue strongly-enough marks CB out as having a chance to make an impact at York.
 
According to Graham Cunningham’s own words, what age would you infer from this article that London City is?

But LONDON CITY and ETHICAL DIAMOND appeal as likely sorts at 8-1 and 10-1 respectively.

Aidan wasn’t chuffed when the Classic generation were on the wrong end of an Ebor expulsion tool in 2019 and his sole success in the race came when Mediterranean thwarted gambled-on fellow three-year-old Foreign Affairs in 2001.

But London City is less exposed than many a three-year-old – with just seven runs including an impressive York success last spring – and the way he shaped under considerate handling in the G2 Curragh Cup last month was very encouraging.

It's fair to say there was plenty o’buzz around this hulking grey when the hardworking Sportinglife team visited Ballydoyle recently and the same could be said about Ethical Diamond during a similar jolly/serious journalistic assignment to Closutton.

“What we see on the gallops is way better than what we’ve got on the racecourse” was the key message as Willie Mullins assessed this lad’s Ebor prospects.

But we saw plenty from Ethical Diamond when he forged clear of several rivals who have run very well since in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot.

An 8lb hike has followed but this Diamond is shining brighter now he’s finally learned to relax and, granted some cover and a true pace, the demands of the Ebor should suit him very
well indeed.
 
Slim said:
According to Graham Cunningham’s own words, what age would you infer from this article that London City is?

But LONDON CITY and ETHICAL DIAMOND appeal as likely sorts at 8-1 and 10-1 respectively.

Aidan wasn’t chuffed when the Classic generation were on the wrong end of an Ebor expulsion tool in 2019 and his sole success in the race came when Mediterranean thwarted gambled-on fellow three-year-old Foreign Affairs in 2001.

But London City is less exposed than many a three-year-old – with just seven runs including an impressive York success last spring – and the way he shaped under considerate handling in the G2 Curragh Cup last month was very encouraging.

It's fair to say there was plenty o’buzz around this hulking grey when the hardworking Sportinglife team visited Ballydoyle recently and the same could be said about Ethical Diamond during a similar jolly/serious journalistic assignment to Closutton.

“What we see on the gallops is way better than what we’ve got on the racecourse” was the key message as Willie Mullins assessed this lad’s Ebor prospects.

But we saw plenty from Ethical Diamond when he forged clear of several rivals who have run very well since in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot.

An 8lb hike has followed but this Diamond is shining brighter now he’s finally learned to relax and, granted some cover and a true pace, the demands of the Ebor should suit him very
well indeed.
Click to expand...
It doesn't say what age he is, it says he is less exposed than many 3yos.
 
There's a couple here with jockeys booked, who I think are way overpriced.
Small stakes, I may go with Subsequent ( 125/1 ) + Faylaq ( 100/1 ).
Obviously, hoping my original fancy Siege Of Troy, makes the journey.
 
Slim said:
It's poorly written. He's wrong about the horse too. It's anything but a plot.
Click to expand...
I can see why a person might misread it, but you have to insert words that aren't there to actually make it say that, so for me the error is on the part of the reader not the writer.
 
The ground would be my only actual concern regarding Shadow Dance.

I'd be happy to have an "Ebfolio" of one (him) if there was give.

But there won't be.
 
My ebfolio is holding up.
hippo de loire 16/1
Shadow Dance 25/1
majestic warrior 25/1
Stressfree 100/1
and I'm adding
..siege of troy 20/1
finished behind ethical diamond at ascot but with the excellent Patrick McGettigan claiming 7 he is a stone better off.
 
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I’m not one bit surprised that Ryan Moore is not riding London City. The horse is a complete bust — the idea it was a year-long plot was laughable.
 
I did my figures for the race last night and have emerged al the more hopeful that Shadow Dance can win. I really do think they have not messed about with this horse at all and it might end up another of these mega-handicaps that are won by a heavily backed hotpot, ie Shadow Dance.

Over the last few weeks I've been much more selective in the races I've had bets in and place returns etc have kept losses light but if Shadow Dance does the biz it would probably cover me for the next month. That's how heavily I'm into it but I didn't get any better than 20/1.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I did my figures for the race last night and have emerged al the more hopeful that Shadow Dance can win. I really do think they have not messed about with this horse at all and it might end up another of these mega-handicaps that are won by a heavily backed hotpot, ie Shadow Dance.

Over the last few weeks I've been much more selective in the races I've had bets in and place returns etc have kept losses light but if Shadow Dance does the biz it would probably cover me for the next month. That's how heavily I'm into it but I didn't get any better than 20/1.
Click to expand...
I'm happy enough with my Shadow Dance bet, but remain concerned it might be too Firm for him.

And more worried still that he's the formbook anorak choice and vulnerable to some Irish plot job called Fill Yer Boots finding an extra leg (and a stone) when it matters most and storming home to win by half the Knavesmire.

Slim might have named the beast in question, but it's not the only such candidate.
 

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