York Ebor Update winners 10/1 & 3/1

Magical Zoe (advised @ 10/1) became the third Irish trained winner in the last four years of the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York on Saturday. Rated 143 over timber and placed twice at the Cheltenham Festival, the daughter of Shantou looked a well handicapped mare off 102 on the Knavesmire under Billy Lee. Drawn on the rail, the six year old was pulled off the fence early in the home straight before picking up well on the outside. Leading over a furlong out, she stayed on strongly to provide Henry De Bromhead with more big race success at York following the victory of Term of Endearment in the Group 3 Bronte Cup over C&D in late May. Already Group placed on the level, there is every chance she will be steered towards the Melbourne Cup in November.

Of those in behind, a number of the runners were impeded when the front running Crystal Delight suffered a fatal injury including Epic Poet who eventually finished fourth. David O'Meara's runner had to take evasive action to avoid Harry Eustace's runner and was therefore shuffled further back than ideal. If there was an unlucky horse, it appeared to be the Willie Mullins' trained Hipop De Loire. Trapped on the far rail, Colin Keane's mount didn't see daylight until it was too late having been drawn next to Magical Zoe. Pulled to the outside in the homestraight, the ex-Polish and German runner came home strongly in fifth and was only beaten four and a half lengths. Fourth in the German St Leger in a former life, the seven year old is entered in the Irish and English Cesarewitch at the Curragh (29th September) and Newmarket (12th October) and is very much shortlist material.

Thank you very much to all those clients who have emailed over the weekend, it is greatly appreciated. Magical Zoe (10/1) and See The Fire (3/1) were two more winners for the York Ebor Update and their victories rounded off a successful week which got better as it went on. In total, there were 6 winners over the four days from 14 races - Content (3/1), Shadow Dance (6/1), Bradsell (8/1), Angelo Buonarroti (2/1), See The Fire (3/1) and Magical Zoe (10/1) - plus Elim (7/1), Al Anoud (8/1), Shadow of Light (6/1) and Believing (8/1) were placed.

The Top 40 Prospects produced a winner at York on Saturday, too, with Elmonjed (7/2) becoming the first three year old to win the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap. William Haggas' gelding has improved since fitted with blinkers and he was following up his victory at Windsor twelve days earlier. Raised two pounds for that success, she quickened up smartly inside the final furlong to wear down Strike Red late on. Not entered in the Ayr Gold Cup, the son of Blue Point is at his best on fast ground and the underfoot conditions are likely to dictate his programme. It will be interesting to see if he is considered for something like the Listed Garrowby Stakes over C&D (8th September).

Twenty hours later, another Top 40 entry Endless Victory (9/1) returned to form to win a valuable ten furlongs handicap at Yarmouth on Sunday. A full brother to the stable's Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, the son of Teofilo made all under a fine front running ride by Dougie Costello and fended off the persisent challenge of older horse Terwada to prevail by a neck with four lengths back to the third. Charlie Appleby's gelding will have no trouble staying further and will hopefully build on this during the Autumn. 

It was a thoroughly enjoyable week at York and Chief Executive William Derby does a superb job - everyone who works at the track know their roles and they do it so well. As Henry De Bromhead said after the Ebor, a lot of tracks should take note and try and follow suit. 

Its time to crack on with One Jump Ahead now......