Sky Bet Ebor: what connections say and Video Tip

Hipop De Loire, Ethical Diamond and Charlus give the all-conquering Willie Mullins a formidable hand in his bid for a third victory in the Sky Bet Ebor at York on Saturday.

The Closutton maestro saddled the mare Sesenta to score in 2009, while high-class dual-purpose performer Absurde also landed Britain’s richest handicap two years ago.

Hipop De Loire (Colin Keane) heads the market, having suffered trouble in running on his way to finishing fifth 12 months ago. He warmed up for his second attempt with a dominant victory over hurdles at Galway.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “Hipop looked very unlucky last year and we’ve planned to get him back here in one piece and in good form.

“He had a good confidence booster in Galway, obviously he’s got plenty of weight (9st 10lb), but it looks like he has everything – he just needs to get the rub of the green he didn’t get last year.”

Ethical Diamond (William Buick) won the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, but does have to contend with an 8lb rise for that emphatic victory, while Charlus (Jamie Spencer) disappointed as a leading fancy for the Copper Horse Stakes at the Royal meeting and was well-held in third in a Galway conditions event.

Mullins added: “Ethical Diamond is stepping up a little bit in trip, but the whole thing with him is just getting him to settle.

“He’s drawn wide (stall 21) and William will probably have to get him settled and ride a race after that, I’d imagine.

“Charlus had a bad draw in Ascot and ran too keen. We might change tactics with him and we definitely haven’t seen the best of him, but it is going to be a big ask.”

There are plenty of other major contenders from Ireland including Aidan O’Brien’s pair of London City and Queenstown, Joseph O’Brien’s Mr Percy and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Ascending, who has won his last three Flat starts including the Ascot Stakes on his most recent appearance.

The home team is headed by John and Thady Gosden’s French Master, winner of the Copper Horse for the Wathnan Racing team before coming up short in the Goodwood Cup.

Connections are hoping the application of a visor might help raise his game on his return to handicap company, with Wathnan’s racing manager Richard Brown saying: “He’s got a wide draw (stall 22), which I think in a funny way might actually suit him.

“James (Doyle) is unfortunately off, but Rab (Robert Havlin) knows him well and I’m sure he will be able to take his time from that draw back down into a handicap after running in the Group One at Goodwood.

“It was a very big performance when he won at Royal Ascot and big enough that John and Thady were happy to jump him straight up to Group One company. It’s slightly calmer waters, but it’s obviously a hugely competitive race and we’ll need a lot of luck.

“He’s a classy horse though, and we’re still hoping at some stage he will turn into a stakes performer.”

At bigger odds Brian Ellison is hoping for a positive showing from his stable star Onesmoothoperator, who was fourth behind Al Qareem in the Silver Cup at York last month.

Ellison said: “He worked on Tuesday and it was probably as good a piece of work he has done in a while, so hopefully he is peaking just right.

“This has always been the plan after going to Dubai, to give him a couple of runs and come here and he seems to be in great fettle.

“It’s always a hard race, but we’re hopeful.”