Ebor Festival’s final day from York: horse racing – live

Hello from the Knavesmire in York, where Dick Turpin came to a sticky end back in 1739 and racehorses have been contesting the Ebor Handicap since 1843. It’s the fourth and final day of York’s festival meeting and that, of course, means that the Ebor itself is the centrepiece of the card for a sell-out crowd.

Ever since its inception, the Ebor has been, unashamedly, a race for the punters – but also a handicap that is more than “just” a handicap.

Top-class stayers have been winning this race for much of its history. Way back in 1983, Jupiter Island landed the spoils on the Knavesmire with Lester Piggott in the plate, before going on to become the first European-trained winner of the Japan Cup under a power-packed Pat Eddery drive.

And a big boost to the prize fund in recent years has seen the standard improve still further, with Trawlerman, a subsequent Gold Cup winner at Ascot, landing the spoils in 2022 and Ethical Diamond picking up last year’s race en route to a remarkable success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Willie Mullins, Ethical Diamond’s trainer, will be going for a third win in four years this afternoon with two contenders – Love Me Tender and Mr Hollywood – but at least a dozen of the 22 runners will seriously fancy their chances.

The Ebor is due off at 3.35 and the Group One City Of York Stakes at 3.00 is the main supporting race on a card that is underway with the Strensall Stakes at 1.50. Felix dies Eboracum, as they might have said around these parts back in the day.