Ebor ante-post tip: Harry Allwood has a 14-1 fancy - boosted by bet365!

It was no surprise KLASSLEADER was chalked up as the ante-post favourite for the Ebor following his stylish victory at York on his seasonal return in May when sent off the well-backed favourite, a success that guaranteed him a run in the £500,000 contest on Saturday, August 22, live on Racing TV.

That looked a decent handicap on paper, with numerous useful handicappers against him, some of which have franked the form, with Sing Us A Song (2nd) finishing a close fifth at Royal Ascot next time out, and the sixth has since been placed in two top handicaps. 

Klassleader’s effort (watch in full above) can also be upgraded, given he came from off the pace (both the second and third raced prominently), and the four-year-old, who was having just his fifth start, lacked fitness against rivals who had the advantage of a run. 

The RaceiQ data also shows he clocked some impressive sectionals in the closing stages, and was the only contender to dip under 13 seconds in the final furlong. His finishing speed percentage (FSP) of over 106% also showcases how well he did to come from almost last to first. 

He was well on top at the finish, too, despite racing keenly early on, and his effort signalled he was well ahead of the assessor, who raised him 8lb afterwards. It's also worth noting the form of his efforts in maiden and novice races last season has worked out well.

Connections decided to contest the Old Newton Cup with their exciting prospect next time out where he attracted strong support again, but disappointed. I believe a line can be put through that effort, though, as he never looked happy from an early stage and didn’t appear to handle what was unusually fast ground, with the winner lowering a course record that had been set in the previous contest. There’s also a chance he didn’t handle the track that well. 

He looked noticeably well beforehand at Newmarket, and this physically imposing sort has a pedigree to match, being by Lope De Vega, and is from a family that improves with age plus his dam was a Group Three winner who stayed 1m6f. 

The selection remains on a rating of 98, but I firmly believe he is a Group performer in the making, and he proved he stayed the Ebor trip when second on his handicap debut at Haydock last year. His finishing effort at York in May also hinted he would relish stepping back up in distance, and Tom Marquand said on Racing TV afterwards that stamina is his "biggest asset".

There's a high chance the selection will have good to firm ground to contend with again here, which can be viewed as a negative, but he did finish a narrow second on quicker ground at Doncaster last season, and connections have not said he is reliant on give underfoot, which he does handle. It would also be a surprise if it was as quick as what Klassleader faced on the July Course.

William Haggas has had just one horse placed from 17 runners (13 of those were sent off at double-figure odds) in 12 renewals of the Ebor, but the trainer is always one to note at York, with his 592 runners on the Knavesmire since 2010 returning a level stakes profit of £22.08 at a strike-rate of 20 per cent. 

Another positive is that runners that have raced over 1m6f once before in their career (Klassleader fits that category) are worth noting in the Ebor, with 13 winners since 2003 at a level stakes profit of £59.50, and performance 37 per cent better than expected by the market. Fujaira Prince (11-2f), Sonnyboyliston (10-1), Absurde (7-1) and Magical Zoe (11-2) are such winners in recent years. 

Unraced as a two-year-old, Klassleader has clearly been given time to mature and fill out his frame, and I will be disappointed if he can't bounce back to form at a track he clearly relishes. 

He remains with a huge amount of potential over staying trips, and with bet365 offering a Racing TV exclusive boosted odds offer of 14-1, he's worth an ante-post wager, as he would surely still be favourite had he not disappointed when last seen.