2017 Ebor

Despite a few each way returns in this over the years, I just cannot find the winner, but I’ll keep on trying, and this year boasts a very strong entry.

Shrewd got me a small return last year, but the damage was already done when Ivan Grozny went lame on the morning of the race. As per, he’s on my shortlist again, but he does come with risks attached, as he clearly wasn’t 100% last time out, and I suspect that for a good part of last campaign, he wasn’t 100% either. Willie Mullins pulled him from The Northumberland Plate pretty late on, as he wasn’t happy with him, and he might just be hard to keep right, having already had a lengthy spell on the sidelines. When he’s good though, he’s very good, and I haven’t totally written off an early go on him at the 20’s. There’s just the thought that he might not make it though. I’ll maybe wait and see if he appears at Galway before deciding.

He’s not the only entry from the Mullins yard, and of the others entered up, the one who really catches the eye, is Open Eagle. I really like the way he got the better of a very strong field in the finale at The Punchestown Festival, and if in the same mood here, he could make a mockery of the 25’s. Like his stablemate, he could easily trap at Galway, and might be advisable to check him out there first of all.

Galway might also be on the agenda for the very versatile, and very likeable Swamp Fox. Tidy winner at Killarney this week, continuing a decent run from him, and no surprise to see him shine at The Festival in a fortnight, certainly considering the range of targets open to him. He looks very good value at the 33’s, though, like Ivan, I got my fingers burnt on him Ante-Post last year, when he didn’t make it to The Greatwood Hurdle, but I’m still seriously considering him as my first play here.

It’s hard to be too negative about Top Tug, he usually runs his race, he should head here, and 25’s looks a very generous price.

Not a typical horse for me to be interested in, and I’m not that clued up with how AOB targets horses such as this guy, but there’s no doubting that Spanish Steps is an intriguing entry, and he’ll surely in time, prove to be better than he showed last time. I suspect that he won’t head here, but he interests me nonetheless at 33’s.

One horse who I continually give a nod to is Prince of Arran, and I was reasonably happy with him in The Ascot Gold Cup. He’s high enough in the weights, but as competitive as this will obviously be, he won’t be quite facing the same grade of opposition this time. Plenty of runs that give him a squeak there, and I’d place faith in him lumping the weight here, and 40’s looks a fair each way price.

Sam Missile got me a decent payday in The Northumberland Plate, and I was delighted for him, as I had him down as very decent from an early stage. To be fair, he didn’t quite seem to want it enough that day when it really mattered, but he came there with every chance, and that run was enough for me to consider him again here, but he has his work cut out to get in. The same applies to Nicholas T, who should have won on Monday, but who now needs a miracle to get in. He’s a horse I like, and I think he’ll become more high profile over the next couple of seasons. I don’t know when the weights are framed for this, but with both horses having no immediate entries, then time is surely running out for them unfortunately.

Gibbs Hill is another who keeps jumping off the page to me, going the right way, this looks perfect for him, and I’m amazed the 16’s is holding.

I’ll hold fire for the timebeing, but these are the ones who immediately caught my attention. There’s 106 entries in total, so probably makes sense to wait, at least until the next forfeit stage, and I could very easily go in a different direction anyway in this, but if I have a change of heart early, it’s likely to be Ivan Grozny 20’s, or Swamp Fox 33’s.

GL