Ebor Festival 2022 – Ebor Handicap Preview, Trends & History

Although it is not part of the Group action, the final big race of the Ebor Festival 2022 is the Ebor Handicap. This is a stunning piece of UK flat racing action and for the 2022 renewal, our betting experts take a look ahead to the race.

This Heritage Handicap contest is a testing 1m 6f trip for entrants that are at least 4 years old. Our betting experts look at the ante-post odds for this year’s renewal of the Ebor Handicap from York.

We also scope out some of the latest racing trends for horse racing betting. Some history of the York race will also be looked at.

Ebor Handicap Details Ebor Festival 2022

Date: Class 2 Heritage Handicap
Time: 15:35
Grade: Class 2
Distance: 1m 6f
Age: 4-year-olds plus
Entries: 84

Ebor Handicap Favourites and Outsiders

The first thing to look at in this Ebor Handicap preview is how recent favourites in the race have fared.

The most recent winning favourite in the Ebor Handicap was FUJAIRA PRINCE in 2020 at 11/2.

Where does that fit into the trend?

Well, he is the only favourite to win in the last 10 renewals of the contest.

Expanding the look at favourites back a little further, only four of the last 22 Ebor Handicap favourites have finished in the top three.

This year’s current favourite is EARL OF TYRONE who is a 6/1 contender* (odds recorded at 23:02 GMT on August 15th, 2022 at William Hill)

This is a bigger field, obviously making it more unpredictable and so there have been bigger prices coming into play.

The 2021 Ebor Handicap winner was a 10/1 shot SONNYBOYLISTON and in a good time as well.

Six of the last renewals of the fixture have been won by a horse who was an SP of double figures.

The biggest of those was 2015 victor LITIGANT from 33/1 in 2015.

Half of the last ten renewals of Ebor Handicap have been won at 11/1 or bigger.

Ebor Festival 2022 Ebor Handicap Odds

While we can take a look at the ante-post Ebor Handicap odds for 2022, the market will likely take on a different complexion closer to the start of the Festival.

When the final declarations for the Ebor Handicap, which happens 48 hours out, are in, punters will know exactly who is going to the start.

For now, here is a list of current Ebor Handicap odds taken at the time of writing.

Earl Of Tyrone 6/1
Okita Soushi 8/1
Gaassee 8/1
Ever Present 10/1
Licence 11/1
Candleford 12/1
Euchen Glen 12/1
John Leeper 12/1
Alfred Boucher 14/1
Trawlerman 14/1
Enemy 16/1
Get Shirty 16/1
20/1 bar
* (odds recorded at 23:02 GMT on August 15th, 2022 at William Hill)

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About the Ebor Handicap

The Ebor Handicap is the richest flat handicap in Great Britain. The name of the race comes from Eboracum, which was the Roman name for York. That’s where the entire Festival gets its name from.

The inaugural edition of the race was in 1843. It used to be a longer race at a distance of 2m.

4-year-old and older horses are eligible for entry into the handicap fixtures. The distance of the race is now 1 mile 5 furlongs and 188 yards.

The most recent big change to the race came in 2019 when 3-year-olds were excluded from the contest.

The all-time leading jockey in the history of the race is Lester Piggott whose fifth and final win happened in 1983. The leading trainer remains Tom Dawson who is back from the 1800s.

Later in this Ebor Handicap racing preview 2022, we will bring things up to date. Our racing experts will examine the current trends for trainers and jockeys in the race.

Ebor Handicap contenders – 20th August 2022

EARL OF TYRONE brings some red hot current form to the table. He completed a hattrick last time out with a score at Limerick in June (Listed).

Each of his last three victories for the son of Australia, has been as the race favourite. He is the current 6/1 favourite for the Ebor Handicap 2022* (odds recorded at 23:02 GMT on August 15th, 2022 at William Hill).

OKITA SOUSHI is expected to get involved as well for trainer Aiden O’Brien. The 4-year-old colt won his debut but hasn’t added to his tally. But there has been good competitive progress made by him.

Another that could be in the frame is GAASSEE, a leading contender from Willie Haggas. He does have the proven four and completed a four-time with a score here at York in May.

Gaassee was not far away from a five-timer with a third at Haydock on his latest. He lines up at a current quote of 8/1 alongside Okita Soushi* (odds recorded at 23:02 GMT on August 15th, 2022 at William Hill).

This is a big field, so it’s going to take a huge effort from someone. Other key names that may be in the picture include JOHN LEEPER and EUCHEN GLEN. They both have solid handicapping claims.

EVER PRESENT, CANDLEFORD and TRAWLERMAN are all other names who will be on the radar for Ebor Handicap odds 2022.

Ebor Handicap Trends Ebor Festival 2022

For the next part of this Ebor Handicap Preview 2022, we are going to dive into some of the trends surrounding the event. To do that, we cast an eye back over the last 20 editions of this handicap fixture.

Ebor Handicap Trainer Statistics

There is only one trainer with an entry into this year’s renewal who has previously won the race. That is Ger Lyons who scored with MUSTAJEER in 2019 from a long quote of 16/1.

Lyons saddles 11/1 contender LICENCE in the 2022 renewal* (odds recorded at 23:02 GMT on August 15th, 2022 at William Hill).

It is such a tricky race to land and plenty of big names have had a fair crack at it, without success.

Andrew Balding, Hughie Morrison and Willie Haggas have all had 12 previous entries each. None of them has produced a winner.

Another notable name is Alan King who is winless from 10 previous entries.

Ebor Handicap Jockey Statistics

Now onto the jockey statistics for the Ebor Handicap 2022. The only jockey with a ride this year who has won the fixture more than once is Jamie Spencer.

His two victories were posted in 2007 on Purple Moon and then in 2010 with Dirar. Spencer is booked on RODRIGO DIAZ this year who is a big 33/1 outsider* (odds recorded at 23:02 GMT on August 15th, 2022 at William Hill).

We do have three other winning jockeys in the line-up. Frankie Dettori, Jim Crowley and Gary Carroll all have previous winning form in the contest.

The most recent winner out of those was Crowley in 2018 on Muntahaa.

Gary Carroll’s victories came in just three entries, so has the best strike rate. He has at least placed in all three previous rides.

Carroll may have a chance at adding to that as well. He goes for winning trainer Ger Lyons on 11/1 shot LICENCE* (odds recorded at 23:02 GMT on August 15th, 2022 at William Hill). Could that be a telling combo?

Other Key Ebor Handicap Trends

In the last 20 renewals of the Ebor Handicap 14 of the winners came from British trainers. The other six were from Irish handlers.

As for recent age trends, four of the last six winners have been aged six. Last year’s 4-year-old winner Sonnyboyliston was the first at that age to win the race since Tiger Cliff in 2013.

Since 1976 there has been only one 7-year-old winner of the Ebor Handicap, which was LITIGANT in 2015.

The last win was recorded in a field of at least 8 runners by each of the last 20 Ebor Handicap victors.

• Each of the last 20 renewal winners had placed within their last three starts
• No colt or filly has won in the last 20 renewals
• None of the last 20 winners was bigger than 16/1 last time out
• Last out the Ebor Handicap winner had been in a field of between 7-19 runners
• None of the last 20 winners had more than 4 previous runs at York
• Between 1-4 career wins on turf had previously been posed
• All but one of the last 20 renewals were won by a horse who had tackled at least 1m 4f last time out
• Fewer than 5 handicap wins had been recorded by 19 of the last 20 winners

Ebor Handicap 2021 Review

The 2021 Ebor Handicap was won by SONNYBOYLISTON, a 10/1 shot for trainer Johnny Murtagh, ridden by Ben Coen. Sonnyboyliston didn’t really get pushed along until around 3f from home.

Things were closing up for him so Coen pulled him left. That was when he started to make a big challenge. Sonnyboyliston gained some momentum and inside the final furlong had pulled into the lead. He just about held on.

QUICKTHORN was defeated by a neck in a thrilling finale. He was pushed into the lead 2f out and that’s when some heavy pressure arrived. Quickthorn kept on well however and did get his nose in front in the final furlong. He gave everything and came up just a tad short.

Taking the third place finish a furlong and a half back was ALOUNAK from a 33/1 SP. He has ridden patiently and took his chance in the centre when space opened. He moved up into third inside the final furlong and stayed comfortably.

Last year’s joint favourites MT LEINSTER and ILARAAB both had extremely poor days at the office. They both ran similar races, suffering slow starts and never getting any challenge going up the centre. Mt Leinster and Ilarrab finished 17th and 18th respectively.

Ebor Festival 2022 Day 4

 

 

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Ebor Handicap Former Winners

Year	Winner	Odds	Jockey	Trainer
2021	Sonnyboyliston	10/1	Ben Coen	J P Murtagh (IRE)
2020	Fujaira Prince	11/2F	Andrea Atzeni	Roger Varian (GB)
2019	Mustajeer	16/1	Colin Keane	G M Lyons (IRE)
2018	Muntahaa	11/1	Jim Crowley	John Gosden (GB)
2017	Nakeeta	12/1	Callum Rodriguez (5lbs)	Iain Jardine (GB)
2016	Heartbreak City	15/2	Adam McNamara (5lbs)	A J Martin (IRE)
2015	Litigant	33/1	Oisin Murphy	Joseph Tuite (GB)
2014	Mutual Regard	20/1	Louis Steward (5lbs)	J P Murtagh (IRE)
2013	Tiger Cliff	5/1	Tom Queally	Lady Cecil (GB)
2012	Willing Foe	12/1	Frankie Dettori	Saeed bin Suroor (GB)

 

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