Barbury Castle pair among the 50 still in at York
Alan King will aim to run two in Saturday’s Sky Bet Ebor at York, with Royal Ascot winner Daiquiri Bay set to be joined by stablemate Paradias following confirmation of the entries. Fifty horses remain on the list after the confirmation stage; a maximum field of 22 will go to post.
King’s plan kept intact
Both of King’s representatives occupy comfortable positions in the order of entry. Paradias is fifth, while Daiquiri Bay sits at number nine on the list. King has jockeys engaged for each – Rossa Ryan is pencilled in for Daiquiri Bay and Clifford Lee for Paradias – and the trainer reported both horses are expected to head to York.
Daiquiri Bay has been aimed at this contest since his narrow success in the Copper Horse Stakes at Ascot in June, having been given a brief freshening since that outing. Connections believe the likely ground will suit him.
Paradias steps back into handicap company
Paradias, who finished third in the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown on his most recent start, will return to handicap company for the first time since finishing third in the Easter Classic at Newcastle. King acknowledged that the veteran is exposed and perhaps a little high in the weights, but suggested that a mile and six furlongs represents a suitable distance for him at this stage of his career.
Entry picture and key rivals
The top of the declared weights is headed by William Haggas’s Opportunity. Joseph O’Brien’s Kizlyar, successful in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot, sits just outside the guaranteed field and would require one withdrawal to secure a place as a 23rd runner should the maximum be exceeded.
Several high-profile rivals remain engaged. Sky Bet’s market lists Andrew Balding’s Tarriance as favourite, with Haggas’s Klassleader, Willie Mullins’s Love Me Tender and Kizlyar all prominent in the betting. Daiquiri Bay and Joseph O’Brien’s Emit are also rated among the better-supported runners, while Ian Williams’s Beylerbeyi, Mullins’s Mr Hollywood and George Boughey’s Hopewell Rock complete the group of notable contenders.
What to expect at York
With a large and competitive field likely, the Ebor presents a test of stamina and racecraft over the extended trip. King’s dual entry offers him options: Daiquiri Bay arrives off a summer target plan that centred on this race after Ascot, while Paradias brings experience over the distance and a recent run to sharpen him.
Connections will finalise declarations and assess the ground in the days before the race, but both Barbury Castle horses sit in favourable positions in the entries and, barring late withdrawals, should take their places in what is expected to be one of the feature staying handicaps of the flat season.
- Number remaining at confirmation: 50
- Maximum runners: 22
- King’s entries: Paradias (5th in order of entry), Daiquiri Bay (9th)
- Key weighted leader: Opportunity (trained by William Haggas)
