Hi Reader

The Ebor Handicap is named after the shortened form of Eboracum, the Roman name for York. It was first run in 1843, and it was originally known as the Great Ebor Handicap. The race was introduced by John Orton, a newly appointed Clerk of the Course at York.

It was initially contested over 2 miles, but its distance was later cut by 2 furlongs. The race is now held on the final day of York's four-day Ebor Festival meeting, and it is the most valuable flat handicap in Europe.

Big Saturday Race Preview And Tips

All our Big Saturday Race Previews & Tips are published online at https://lp.betalchemist.com/

Following the result of the race, there are made availble to the public. Too late to back the winner or change the result at that time!

Ok, let's crack on with today's preview and tips.

Ebor Handicap Victory Dance

A full field of twenty two runners take part in the 2025 Ebor Heritage Handicap at York Racecourse.

It's a good renewal with nine Irish runners adding to the competitive feel of this staying race. The winner bags a free pass to run in the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November on top of the £300,000 first place prize.

Roger Varian ran Shadow Dance over an inadequate distance of ten furlongs at the Goodwood Festival. Shadow Dance ran a lovely race just lacking the pace to challenge in the final furlong. It was a good first run of the season and we can expect a bolder show over this more suitable mile and six furlongs distance.

Shadow Dance won the Skybet Heritage handicap over a mile and a half at this meeting in 2024. He followed up that win with a close third in the Mallard Handicap at Haydock over 1m6.5f. A rating of 100 looks fair and so long as he handles the summer ground, he has the potential to run a massive race with Silvestre De Sousa riding.

Real Dream is a massive price for a horse that was sent off near favourite to win this race back in 2023. He raced too freely that day in 2023 hitting the front two furlongs out before emptying. Real Dream looks to have been revitalised since joining Ian Williams from the retired Sir Michael Stoute this year. Ian is a dab hand at targeting big prizes from a long way out.

Real Dream ran a nice race at the Royal Meeting before finishing a slightly unlucky third behind Coltrane in the listed Esher Stakes at Sandown. He stayed on well over two miles at Sandown. I think he saw too much daylight at Newmarket when third in a mile and six heritage handicap, run on good to firm ground. Real Dream is settling much better than he did in his younger days. Joe Leavy can find cover and then wait as long as he dares before pouncing late.

Willie Mullins runs three with the luckless Hipop De Loire (5th in 2024) back to try and win this great race again.Majestic Warrior remains unexposed and is a major player if overcoming his inexperience.

York 3:35

0.5 point each way Shadow Dance 13/2 Skybet 7 places else 7/1 generally, 6 places.

0.5 point each way Real Dream 25/1 Skybet 7 places else 25/1 generally, 6 places.

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Best of Luck,

Nicky

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2024 Past Results

2024 finished on a winner thanks to the well named "Win Some Lose Some".

Last year was a winning and profitable year for followers for the Big Saturday Race Prewiew & Tips column.

A profit of +19.55 points won.

There was 10 winners & 18 placed from a total of 80 tips.

A tidy profit of £977.50 to £50 per point stakes or maybe £391 to £20 per point stakes.

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Big Saturday Races Past Results

A full listing of all our Big Saturday Feature Race selections and results can be found by clicking the button below.

Usually, there are two selections in the big field handicaps.

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View Big Saturday Race Past Results​

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Latest Big Saturday Race Winner was Saddadd at 4/1

2025 running total -34.28 points or -£686 to to £10 ew stakes.​

2024 total +19.55 points profit or +£391 to £10 ew stakes.​

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Since the Big Saturday Race Preview column began in 2014 the service is showing profits of +131 points

or £2,580 to £10 each way stakes.

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