DOUBLE HANDFUL

HOW many people know that York’s Ebor festival is named after the shortened version of Eboracum, the Roman name for York?

I’m aware because I wasted my time at school studying Latin, girls and form books. In my teens I used to go to York racecourse and ask the barman for “a Martinus.”

When he replied, “Don’t you mean a Martini?” I’d say, “If I wanted a double I would have asked for one.”

Little things amuse little minds.

Now, the Ebor itself is a very difficult puzzle to solve, as you’d expect from the richest Flat handicap of the year.

With 22 runners going to post it hasn’t favoured favourite backers well over the years.

Only one jolly has won in the last 20 renewals, which puts me off backing anything at skinny odds.

Fujaira Prince will start as the favourite on the back of winning the Copper Horse Handicap over this trip at Royal Ascot.

But Roger Varian’s six-year old has been put up to a 9lb higher mark and at around 13-2 he certainly won’t be carrying my money.

A lot of people ask me if the draw is an important factor in this race, given it’s over one mile and six furlongs with plenty of time to gain a good position.

The statistics suggest it does. Since 1997 only six Ebor winners started from a single-figure draw while nine of the last 11 winners were drawn in stall 10 or higher.

But that didn’t stop Mustajeer winning from stall two last year. True Self, the Willie Mullins-trained sevenyear-old, would have been my fancy if the ground was firm, but forecast rain should scupper her chances.

I do fancy a big showing from GHOSTWATCH at a big price. Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old ticks a lot of boxes in terms of age, draw and course form, having won here in 2018. He also acts on soft ground, which is something I think we’ll get come race time.

GAMBLING WISDOM “I take risks for recreation … I don’t take risks with the company.” Kerry Packer