Sky Bet Ebor tips: How To Bet £20 ante-post on the York showpiece

By Harry Allwood
Last Updated: Tue 6 Aug 2024
Racing TV's Harry Allwood looks ahead to this year's Sky Bet Ebor at and pinpoints a couple of contenders who are worth siding with ante-post.
David O’Meara is a trainer who excels with handicappers, and he looks to hold strong claims of landing his first Sky Bet Ebor with Epic Poet this year. 
This five-year-old was kept busy in Listed and Group races in France plus had developed into a useful performer prior to joining last year, and hopes were high for this Lope De Vega colt on his first season in Britain. 
It’s fair to say he was a disappointment, though, having failed to sparkle in three outings for Meade, including after being gelded ahead of his final run in 2023. 
Epic Poet caught the eye behind Enfjaar in the John Smith's Cup at York last time out 
However, Epic Poet has shaped with a huge amount of promise in defeat since joining O’Meara this year and is already looking a bargain buy at the 48,000gns he was sold for in October. 
A pipe-opener at York was followed by a fast-finishing second from an unpromising position in the Duke Of Edinburgh where he appeared to finish with running left in him, and the third (Ziggy) and sixth (Fairbanks) have franked that form since. 
With a wide draw (stall 22) and traffic problems in the straight, Epic Poet did well to finish as close as he did in the John Smith’s Cup when last seen, and would have hit the frame, at the very least, had he not been stuck behind a wall of horses at a crucial stage. 
In my opinion, that is one of the strongest pieces of handicap form this season, and if Epic Poet stays this new trip, then he should go close off a 3lb higher rating here. 
His Royal Ascot performance hints that 1m6f will be within range, and connections are confident he will stay, despite his pedigree suggesting otherwise. 
He ticks plenty of other boxes for this race and there's a chance Epic Poet could have more to offer for O'Meara this season. 
In a race of this nature, it's always wise to side with at least a couple, and I can't resist a saver on Yashin at the 40-1 available with Betfair, Paddy Power and Unibet.
The Irish raider progressed from handicap to Group company when landing the Saval Beg last year and was quietly fancied for last year's Sky Bet Ebor.
I've watched that race back a few times and while he didn't appear an obvious eye-catcher with his finishing effort, he did lose valuable momentum at a vital stage when the winner moved over to the stands' rail in the straight, and was only beaten three lengths in seventh. 
Watch a full replay of last year's Sky Bet Ebor
Jessica Harrington's five-year-old ran well in defeat behind on his first two starts this season and  came back sick following his below-par run in the Northumberland Plate, which he was well fancied for, when last seen, so it's best to draw a line through that outing.
Of course, that isn't exactly the most ideal prep, but he contests the Sky Bet Ebor off the same rating (105) this year, and I expect connections have had this race in mind for some time. 
He's proven on the Knavesmire, and is a thorough stayer over this trip, and if he can find a small amount of improvement, then there's every chance he'll be in the mix. 
It's also worth noting he wasn't exactly beaten that far by Kyprios earlier this season, so you could argue he has improved again from last year already, although Aidan O'Brien's star stayer was not at his very best on each occasion. 
How To Bet £20 ante-post on the 2024 Sky Bet Ebor:
£15 win on Epic Poet at 12-1 with Bet365.
£5 win on Yashin at 40-1 with Paddy Power, Betfair or Unibet.

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