The three principal handicaps on day three of York’s Ebor Festival have repeatedly rewarded familiar profiles, with draw, age and previous-run trends all offering clues.

The opening Class 2 Sky Bet Mile Handicap (1600m) has proved particularly draw-sensitive. All ten winners since 2016 have emerged from stall eight or lower, with eight breaking from five or below.

Goodwood has also become an increasingly familiar stepping stone. Fifth Column arrived after finishing fifth in last year’s Class 2 Coral Golden Mile (1600m), Treasure Time had occupied the same position in the 2024 Class 3 HKJC World Pool Handicap (1600m), while Silver Sword was seventh in the 2023 Class 2 Coral Kincsem Handicap (2000m). Pogo followed a similar route in 2019.

That thread is represented again by Zennor Storm, Ironwill, and Naval Light. William Haggas, responsible for Zennor Storm and Eklleem, has also won the race twice through Mojito in 2017 and Treasure Time in 2024.

Youth has been the defining feature of the Class 2 Assured Data Protection Handicap (2400m), with eight of the last ten winners aged four and the remaining two aged five.

Recent scorers have generally arrived following defeat. Memorial Day in 2015 remains the last horse to win after succeeding on his previous start, while the last five winners had finished fifth, second, tenth, fifth and fourth beforehand. Ascot and Glorious Goodwood have each supplied five winners across the past 20 renewals.

Noble Horizon, Diego El Queso and Wave Rider therefore bring an interesting profile, having all contested the Class 2 Coral Chesterfield Cup Handicap (2000m) at Goodwood while also falling into the dominant four-year-old bracket.

The Class 2 Sky Bet EBF Fillies' Handicap (2100m), meanwhile, features two progressive fillies. Silver Lake has advanced from a Class 4 success at Salisbury to victory in the Class 2 British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Handicap (2000m) at Goodwood, while Pendella arrives after recording her second career win at Beverley.

“She looks to be well-handicapped on a mark of 82 and the owners are local to the track – I expect her to be competitive,” said Burke.

Photo: Healy Racing