Ebor Handicap

The Ebor is a handicap for four-year-olds and upwards over a mile and three-quarters and lends its name to York’s August Festival. Prize money reached a staggering £ 1 million for the Ebor in 2019 making it the richest handicap on the flat in Europe.

The Ebor Handicap takes place on Saturday 26th August 2023.

The 2023 Ebor Handicap takes place at York Racecourse on the 4th day of the Ebor Festival.

It is a very popular betting heat but no favourite has obliged in the Ebor since Purple Moon in 2007. Notable previous winners include Sea Pigeon (1979), Jupiter Island (1983), Further Flight (1990) and Sergeant Cecil (2005).

In our Ebor Handicap 2023 guide, we provide the latest odds, betting tips and betting offers for the group three horse racing event.

Find out more about the Ebor Handicap:

Ebor Handicap

Race Overview – The Ebor

The Ebor Handicap is a flat handicap race for horses aged four and above. It is run at York and is 1 mile 5 furlongs and 188 yards long (2,787 metres), annually every  August.

Check out our guides to all the other UK Premier Handicap horse races.

Ebor Handicap Odds 2023

Ebor Handicap
  • Date: Saturday 20th of August 2022
  • Time: 15:35
  • Details: 12 Runners
Earl Of Tyrone
6/1
Okita Soushi
9/1
Ever Present
12/1
John Leeper
14/1
Trawlerman
16/1
Valley Forge
20/1
Zoffee
25/1
Inchicore
33/1
Star Caliber
40/1
Solent Gateway
50/1
Quenelle D'or
66/1
Tashi
100/1

Ebor Handicap Tips 2023

Here are some tips for Ebor Handicap in August 2023:

  • 2 points to win for TBC
  • 1 point each way on TBC

Some of the horses taking place in Ebor Handicap can be spotted in more races through this year. Keep a look out for the horses to see how they place or wager your bets on ante-post betting.

Famous Ebor Handicap Winners

The Ebor Handicap was first run in 1843 over two miles which was later reduced to its current distance.

It was formerly open to three-year-olds but this age group was excluded in 2019. It derives its name from the Roman name for York, Eboracum.

Flint Jack won the race in successive seasons in 1922 and 1923. No other horse has managed to win the race more than once.

One of the most remarkable performances in the Ebor was that of Sea Pigeon in 1979. Then aged nine and better known for his exploits over hurdles, defied the top weight of 10 stone to win for Peter Easterby and Jonjo O’Neill.

1983 winner Jupiter Island was trained by Clive Brittain and ridden by Lester Piggott. He became a real globetrotter and gained his most famous victory in the 1986 Japan Cup.

Further Flight won in 1990 and would become one of the most popular stayers in training. The grey was trained by Barry Hills to win the Jockey Club Cup for a record five successive seasons from 1991 to 1995. He also won the Goodwood Cup in 1991 and 1992.

Sergeant Cecil (2005) was another very popular winner, trained by Rod Millman and ridden by Alan Munro. He achieved a remarkable treble by winning the Northumberland Plate, Ebor Handicap and Cesarewitch Handicap in the same season. He returned to York to win the Lonsdale Cup in 2006, as well as the Doncaster Cup and the Prix du Cadran.

Irish-trained winners had been relatively rare until Sesenta’s success in 2009. Sonnyboyliston’s narrow 2021 success provided the Emerald Isle with a seventh Ebor victory in thirteen seasons.

Ebor Handicap Previous Winners

Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer SP Time
1976Sir Montagu38-00Willie CarsonRyan Price1002.75 11/4 F
1977Move Off48-01Jimmy BleasdaleJ. Calvert1009 9/1
1978Totowah48-01Paul CookMichael Jarvis1020 20/1
1979Sea Pigeon99-14 10-00Jonjo O'NeillPeter Easterby1018 18/1
1980Shaftesbury48-05Greville StarkeyMichael Stoute1012 12/1
1981Protection Racket38-01Mark BirchJeremy Hindley1007.5 15/2
1982Another Sam59-02Brian RouseRichard Hannon Sr.1016 16/1
1983Jupiter Island49-00Lester PiggottClive Brittain1009 9/1
1984Crazy38-13Walter SwinburnGuy Harwood1010 10/1
1985Western Dancer48-06Paul CookCon Horgan1020 20/1
1986Primary38-07Greville StarkeyGuy Harwood1006 6/12:55.34
1987Daarkom49-03Michael RobertsAlec Stewart1006.5 13/23:05.08
1988Kneller38-01Paul EdderyHenry Cecil1009 9/12:53.67
1989Sapience38-04Pat EdderyJimmy FitzGerald1007.5 15/22:57.03
1990Further Flight48-08Michael HillsBarry Hills1007 7/1 JF2:55.04
1991Deposki37-03Francis NortonMichael Stoute1012 12/13:03.48
1992Quick Ransom48-03Dean McKeownMark Johnston1016 16/12:55.48
1993Sarawat58-02Richard QuinnReg Akehurst1014 14/12:59.20
1994Hasten to Add49-03George DuffieldSir Mark Prescott1006.5 13/2 F2:56.56
1995Sanmartino37-11Willie CarsonBarry Hills1008 8/12:53.62
1996Clerkenwell37-11Fergal LynchMichael Stoute1008.5 17/22:53.47
1997Far Ahead58-00Tyrone WilliamsLes Eyre1033 33/12:58.21
1998Tuning38-07Kieren FallonHenry Cecil1004.5 9/2 F2:51.89
1999Vicious Circle58-04Kevin DarleyLuca Cumani1011 11/12:54.48
2000Give the Slip38-08Pat EdderyAmanda Perrett1008 8/12:55.62
2001Mediterranean38-04Michael KinaneAidan O'Brien1016 16/12:55.85
2002Hugs Dancer58-05Dean McKeownJames Given1025 25/12:55.12
2003Saint Alebe48-08Richard QuinnDavid Elsworth1020 20/12:54.96
2004Mephisto59-04Darryll HollandLuca Cumani1006 6/13:06.10
2005Sergeant Cecil68-12Alan MunroRod Millman1011 11/12:54.56
2006Mudawin58-04John EganJane Chapple-Hyam1100 100/12:57.78
2007Purple Moon49-04Jamie SpencerLuca Cumani1003.5 7/2 F2:59.26
2008All the Good [a]59-00Dane O'NeillSaeed bin Suroor1025 25/12:52.05
2009Sesenta58-08Gary CarrollWillie Mullins1025 25/12:57.52
2010Dirar59-01Jamie SpencerGordon Elliott1014 14/12:57.13
2011Moyenne Corniche68-10Dale SwiftBrian Ellison1025 25/13:01.60
2012Willing Foe59-02Frankie DettoriSaeed bin Suroor1012 12/13:00.75
2013Tiger Cliff49-00Tom QueallyLady Cecil1005 5/13:03.36
2014Mutual Regard59-04Louis StewardJohnny Murtagh1020 20/12:56.48
2015Litigant79-01Oisin MurphyJoseph Tuite1033 33/13:00.16
2016Heartbreak City69-01Adam McNamaraTony Martin1007.5 15/22:56.13
2017Nakeeta69-00Callum RodriguezIain Jardine1012 12/12:56.54
2018Muntahaa59-09Jim CrowleyJohn Gosden1011 11/12:53.48
2019Mustajeer69-05Colin KeaneGer Lyons1016 16/12:52.97
2020Fujaira Prince69-08Andrea AtzeniRoger Varian1005.5 11/23:04.22
2021Sonnyboyliston49-08Ben CoenJohnny Murtagh1010 10/12:56.10
2022Trawlerman49-03Frankie DettoriJohn & Thady Gosden1009 9/12:58.03

Ebor Handicap Previous Result

Key Ebor Handicap Trials

Previous form at York is a positive factor with around half of recent winners having run at the Knavesmire.

The big summer festivals provide the best clues to the Ebor with winners often having raced at Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood or Galway.

Fujaira Prince won the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot in 2020 before defying a 9lbs weights rise in the Ebor.

2021 winner Sonnyboyliston had finished third at York in the Group 2 Silver Cup on his previous start. He went on the gain Group 1 success in the Irish St Leger for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen.

Ebor Handicap Betting Trends

Three-year-olds enjoyed great success in the Ebor in the 1980’s and 1990’s but the last winner from that age group was Aidan O’Brien’s Mediterranean in 2001. They were already a fading force prior to being excluded in 2019.

Horses aged five and six have the best recent record, although Sonnyboyliston won as a four-year-old in 2021.

The 2021 renewal extended the losing run of Ebor favourites to fourteen. There have been well-supported winners during that spell including Tiger Cliff (2013), Heartbreak City (2016) and Fujaira Prince (2020). Long-priced winners include All The Good (2008), Sesenta (2009) and Moyenne Corniche (2011) at 25-1 and Litigant (2015) at 33-1.

Eclipsing all of those was 100-1 outsider Mudawin who stunned punters in 2006 for Jane Chapple-Hyam and John Egan.

Ebor Handicap – Top Trainers and Jockeys

The most successful trainer in the history of the Ebor Handicap is Tom Dawson who won it five times between 1844 and 1867.

No trainer has managed to dominate this race in modern times.

Sir Michael Stoute and Saeed bin Suroor have two victories apiece, although their most recent came in 1996 and 2012 respectively.

Luca Cumani managed to win it three times, his last being Purple Moon in 2007 who remains the last successful Ebor favourite.

Johnny Murtagh, a relative newcomer to the training ranks, has already bagged this prize twice. He won it with 20-1 chance Mutual Regard in 2014 and Sonnyboyliston in 2021.

It is a similar story with the leading jockeys with the late Lester Piggott still leading the figures with five winners. His successes were Gladness (1958), Primera (1959), Die Hard (1961), Tintagel II (1970) and Jupiter Island (1983).

The last fourteen renewals have been won by different jockeys.

Best Ebor Handicap Betting Sites 2023

The Ebor Handicap is one of the most competitive handicap races of the season. The poor record of favourites speaks for itself but, with bookmakers offering enhanced each-way betting terms down to fifth or sixth place, there are always tempting betting opportunities. It provides a thrilling climax to the top class racing at the York Ebor Festival.

Here are the most popular free bets for Ebor Handicap betting:

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    Full T&C's Apply

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Summary of Ebor Handicap

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the Ebor.

We have looked at the history, betting trends, tips and more. Whether watching at home or the stunning  Knavesmire we should you will enjoy this top class race.

Popular Questions

Where is the Ebor Handicap held?

The Ebor Handicap is held at York Racecourse.

Resources

2023 York Ebor Festival Posts

Here are all the related articles to the York Ebor Festival 2023:

If you do choose to bet, please bet responsibly.

Related August Articles

As the Founder of British Racecourses, I have a life-long passion for horse racing and have loved the sport as long as I can remember. I am also a keen racehorse owner and have worked in the gambling industry for several years. I set up British Racecourses with the desire to share my passion for racing with other like-minded people.