York 3:35 Ebor Handicap Tips – Emit Can Land The Big Prize

Tip: Emit — best available price 11/2 at the time of writing

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The Sky Bet Ebor Handicap is one of the biggest handicaps of the season and this year's 22-runner field contains plenty of progressive and proven stayers.

Emit gets the vote after producing a strong performance at Royal Ascot and looks capable of improving again now returned to 1m6f.

The Joseph Patrick O'Brien-trained gelding has a competitive handicap mark and his best piece of form came when finishing a close second in a French Group 2 over 1m7f on very soft ground last October.

That effort showed that he has both the stamina and ability to cope with a strongly run staying race.

He then produced another encouraging performance at Royal Ascot when staying on well from off the pace to finish fourth of 17 behind Opportunity over 1m4f.

That was a particularly useful run given the way he finished, and today's return to 1m6f should suit.

Ryan Moore keeps the ride, while Emit also holds an Irish St Leger entry, suggesting connections believe he can make his mark over this sort of trip.

At around 11/2, he looks the one to beat.

Main Danger: Love Me Tender

Love Me Tender heads the market and is a fascinating runner for Willie Mullins.

He has raced only a handful of times, winning his first two starts in Germany over 1m1f before finishing second in a Listed race at Chantilly on very soft ground.

That latest effort suggested he would improve considerably for a step up in distance.

He has been off since October, but the choice of the Ebor is highly significant given Mullins has won two of the last three renewals.

His low weight of just 8st 12lb is another major advantage.

The obvious question is whether he is ready to produce his best form after such a long absence, but his profile makes him extremely interesting.

Hopewell Rock Has Strong Handicap Claims

Hopewell Rock has been progressing steadily through the handicap ranks and arrives here after a particularly impressive victory at Glorious Goodwood.

He travelled smoothly before taking the lead over a furlong out and kept on well to win the 1m6f contest.

That came on good to firm ground, but he has already won on heavy and has shown plenty of promise on good to soft.

The 4lb penalty is offset to some extent by his continued progression, and he looks capable of another big performance.

Klassleader Can Bounce Back

Klassleader is another lightly raced 4yo with plenty of potential.

He finished second on his handicap debut at Haydock over 1m6f on good to soft before winning at York over 1m4f in May.

That York victory was particularly promising and suggested he had plenty more to offer.

He disappointed when a hot favourite at Newmarket seven weeks ago, but that run can be forgiven.

The return to 1m6f and softer ground could bring about a significant rebound, and his profile makes him one of the more interesting runners in the field.

Tarriance Has Course Form

Tarriance won the Melrose over this course and distance last year and returns to York with another chance.

He finished fourth behind Hopewell Rock at Goodwood three weeks ago, travelling smoothly before challenging two furlongs out.

That was an encouraging comeback after an 11-week break and he should be sharper here.

The concern is his record on softer ground, with his only previous run on ground softer than good resulting in a seventh-place finish in the St Leger.

Nevertheless, his York record means he cannot be dismissed.

Daiquiri Bay Is Unbeaten This Season

Daiquiri Bay arrives at York unbeaten in 2026.

He won over 1m4f at Newmarket before following up over this trip at Royal Ascot, showing plenty of determination to prevail by a head.

He has been raised another 5lb, but his progressive profile makes that understandable.

The major question is the ground. He has yet to race on good to soft or softer and disappointed on soft last season.

If handling the conditions, he remains a serious contender.

Opportunity Has To Defy A Big Weight

Opportunity carries the maximum 9st 12lb after a highly productive season.

He won at Carlisle before landing a valuable prize at Royal Ascot over 1m4f, where he showed a good turn of foot.

He then backed up that effort with a second in a Group 3 at Goodwood.

The step up to 1m6f looks worth exploring, but he is now 10lb higher than his Royal Ascot victory and has never raced on ground softer than good apart from his debut.

That makes him vulnerable enough at the price.

Square Necker Is Improving Quickly

Square Necker has only five races behind him and remains open to considerable improvement.

He won on his handicap debut at Hamilton before following up at Ayr over 1m5f on soft ground.

That latest victory was achieved with plenty in hand, and the way he travelled and finished suggested that 1m6f should suit.

He has another 6lb to carry and is drawn almost widest of all, but there could still be plenty more to come from this lightly raced 4yo.

Value Angle: Poetic Sound

Poetic Sound could be the one for bigger-price backers.

He recorded his highest rating when finishing in a 1m6f Listed race on soft ground and subsequently won a handicap over this trip at the Curragh on yielding ground.

His latest attempt over 2m didn't work out particularly well, but today's return to 1m6f on softer ground looks much more suitable.

First-time headgear is another interesting angle.

At a much bigger price, he has the conditions to outrun his odds.

Verdict

Emit is the selection.

His close second in a French Group 2 over 1m7f on very soft ground demonstrates that he has the stamina for this test, while his fourth at Royal Ascot showed he remains on a competitive handicap mark.

The return to 1m6f should suit and Ryan Moore retaining the ride is another positive.

Love Me Tender is the obvious danger given his unexposed profile, low weight and Willie Mullins' outstanding Ebor record.

Hopewell Rock and Klassleader are two progressive handicappers who could have more to offer, while Poetic Sound is the bigger-priced option for each-way backers.

Today's Selections

🏆 Best Bet: Emit — best available price 11/2 at the time of writing

⚔️ Main Danger: Love Me Tender

💰 Value Pick: Poetic Sound

Horse Racing Tips Today by AC

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