Today / 15.00 York

15.00

Good

Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £39697
  • 1m 5f 188y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

Form: 313-15 CD

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Uncharacteristically below par when well beaten at Chester last month and the track wasn't an excuse; four Group 3/Listed wins last year, including when making all in this under a 5lb penalty (same today), and he reappeared with a Listed win at Musselburgh in April; leading claims if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

OUR TIP

Form: -25534 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
0-11 since winning at Meydan last January but he has run really well in Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D; drops into a Listed race today and could be bang there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(3)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Epic Poet

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Beaten in Group races on his last ten starts but went close in the Yorkshire Cup at York (1m6f, good to firm) last May and he was a good third in that same Group 2 a fortnight ago (good); he should be fine back up in trip and might not be far away.

7/1

3rd

4

(5)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:05 York

Epic Poet

9st 3lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Beaten a head in this last year, despite a highly tactical race; has held his form well (back in Dubai and Saudi Arabia this January-March) and should again be seriously involved, but to win this may require a career best.

5/1

Form: 335/7- D

Last run: 476 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good) in 2023 and third in Group 2 Lonsdale Cup here (2m, good) in August 2024; absent since disappointing run in Saudi Arabia in February 2025 (wind op since) and returns with something to prove, but he's a major player if retaining his peak ability.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Gregory

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his six races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only flop; career-best form in the Goodwood Cup next time, beaten a head by Sweet William for second; third at York (again 2m on good) last time was not at that level but some of the stars of the division are missing today and he has to be considered seriously.

11/4

3rd

3

(1)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Gregory

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his five races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only disappointing show and he followed that with career-best form when third in the 2m Goodwood Cup late last month; effective here and he's one of the several leading candidates on form.

9/2

Form: 924-22

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
5yo who has been an improved performer on his two starts this season, going close behind Al Qareem at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft; Listed, same terms today) then runner-up in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester (13.3f, good) in which Al Qareem flopped; he's firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(7)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Mount Atlas

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Close second in Listed events at Chester (12.5f) last September and Musselburgh (1m6f) on reappearance, latter behind Al Qareem who gave 5lb and is now better off; further behind that opponent when fifth of six in this race last year; needs a personal best.

25/1

2nd

3

(1)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Mount Atlas

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Had a very solid campaign last season bar one blip (front-running was blamed); all but one of those races was at 1m4f, with a creditable fifth of six thrown in over the extended 1m5f at Chester in May (Group 3) but there is a bit for him to prove on this first foray over 1m6f.

4/1

Form: 03-226 D

Last run: 70 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Fine efforts when runner-up in 2m AW handicaps in February on first two starts since rejoining this yard; reportedly made a respiratory noise at Musselburgh in April and he's had a third wind operation since; however, even if returning to form, a career-best if needed from this 6yo today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(4)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Roaring Legend

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Olly Murphy

A poor show last May prompted a second wind operation and it was a solid campaign otherwise; never better than when second this February in 2m AW handicaps at Wolverhampton and Lingfield, but peak turf form isn't far behind it and he'll probably be on the premises.

7/1

2nd

1

(2)

27th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 2

15:45 Lingfield (AW)

Roaring Legend

9st 12lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Olly Murphy

Developed into a useful handicapper on the Flat for Hugo Palmer last year; having rejoined Olly Murphy, he continued the good work when second on 2m Wolverhampton reappearance three weeks ago, with reopposing pair Enemy and Brasil Power narrowly behind in third/fourth; likely to go well again.

11/4

Form: 632-25 CD

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won the Melrose Handicap here in 2024 (good to firm; for 3yos) and another good run over C&D (good to firm) when third in this last year, 4l behind Al Qareem; not at his best at Ascot last month following a break, and there's a suspicion he may find one or two too good even if back to his peak, but he might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(1)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

14:35 Ascot

Tabletalk

9st 4lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

No win since Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) in 2024 but he ran very well in 1m4f Group races on first three starts last season and returned to that form when a close second in Saudi Arabia (1m7f) 11 weeks ago; that puts him back in the picture even though he's unraced over this far.

5/1

4

(7)

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 87y

Class 1

14:40 Chester

Tabletalk

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

First run here; 1m6f Melrose Handicap winner at York last August who's raised his game again in defeat in Group races this year; leading player provided the first-time headgear does not have an adverse effect; below form both starts when the ground was softer than good.

7/4

Betting Forcast

2/1 Al Qareem, 7/2 Epic Poet, 9/2 Gregory, 3/1 Mount Atlas, 25/1 Roaring Legend, 7/1 Tabletalk

Verdict

Last year’s winner AL QAREEM flopped at Chester last month but he’s admirably consistent on the whole and is taken to return to form with a win. Mount Atlas pushed him close at Musselburgh in April and is feared most, ahead of Group 2 winner Gregory on his first outing since February 2025. The losing sequences of Epic Poet and Tabletalk continue to rise but they’re capable of running well.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Mount Atlas

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Qareem

NEWMARKET:

Tabletalk

POSTDATA:

Epic Poet

Telegraph:

Mount Atlas

D Express:

Mount Atlas

The Sun:

Mount Atlas

Daily Record:

Mount Atlas

The Times:

Tabletalk

RP RATINGS:

Al Qareem

Daily Mail:

Al Qareem

Daily Mirror:

Al Qareem

The Star:

Al Qareem

The Guardian:

Epic Poet