Pace & Draw Angles:
York’s 1m6f start allows a decent run before the turn, but a middle-to-low draw is usually ideal. This looks a strongly run race – French Master, Almosh’her, Subsequent, and Shadow Dance can all race prominently, while Mullins’ pair (Hipop De Loire / Ethical Diamond) and stayers like Kihavah and Onesmoothoperator are likely to be delivered late. Pace looks honest-to-strong, suiting strong stayers who can settle.

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Strongest Contenders

• French Master (John & Thady Gosden) – Proven / Progressive
  Frankel colt still raw but keeps improving. Excellent Ascot handicap win and copper-plate stamina. G1 run at Goodwood can be ignored. Unexposed at this trip and bred to stay further. Big player if settling.
• Hipop De Loire (W. Mullins) – Proven / Experienced
  Huge run in last year’s Ebor (hampered, finished fast). Eyecatcher again on Flat/hurdles return, strong stayer, travels well. The one with “unfinished business” in this race.
• Ethical Diamond (W. Mullins) – Promising / Lightly raced on Flat
  Stylish Royal Ascot handicap winner, stays well and Buick booked. Strong gallop should help him settle. Major upside still.
• Kihavah (A. Keatley) – Proven / Durable
  Classy dual-purpose horse, second in last year’s Ebor, loves York (C&D form 411). Off higher mark now but ultra-reliable. At his ceiling but solid each-way.
• Yashin (M. Bell) – Classy type
  G3-winning stayer, but flopped in last year’s Ebor and recent efforts patchy. If bouncing back to York form of 2023, he’s in the mix, but risky.

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Main Dangers

• Subsequent (A. Balding) – Promising
  Progressive Galileo gelding, but bombed on return at York/Goodwood. Lightly raced, but Ebor will test temperament and stamina.
• Shadow Dance (R. Varian) – Progressive / Unexposed stayer
  York winner last year, built back up this season, forgiving latest run. Still on upgrade and could surprise at double figures.
• Onesmoothoperator (Ellison) – Consistent, thrives at 2m, perhaps caught out by trip here last year. Needs collapse up front.

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Interesting Outsiders

• Oneforthegutter (I. Williams) – Loves York, 3rd in last year’s Ebor, arrives off cosy Newmarket win. Suspect stamina but could easily sneak a place again.
• Ascending (De Bromhead) – Lightly campaigned stayer, big Royal Ascot win latest. Improver, only 6yo, but inexperienced at this level.
• Siege Of Troy (Murtagh) – Improving filly, staying on in the Duke of Edinburgh, pedigree screams stamina. Gets weight, lively dark one.

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Runner Scores (Suitability out of 10)

• French Master – 9/10 (progressive, trip ideal, danger if relaxed)
• Hipop De Loire – 9/10 (unfinished Ebor business, strong stayer)
• Ethical Diamond – 8/10 (raw but class, needs to settle)
• Kihavah – 8/10 (York specialist, each-way solid)
• Yashin – 7/10 (classy but inconsistent, stamina query)
• Shadow Dance – 7/10 (still improving, unexposed stayer)
• Subsequent – 6/10 (talented, but temperament/experience doubts)
• Onesmoothoperator – 6/10 (needs stronger test at 2m)
• Oneforthegutter – 7/10 (course record strong, stamina stretch)
• Ascending – 6/10 (unexposed, Cesarewitch type)
• Siege Of Troy – 7/10 (filly with upside, improving)
• Rest – 5/10 or lower (likely place/pace role only)

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Private Tissue (my view of fair odds)

• French Master 6/1
• Hipop De Loire 7/1
• Ethical Diamond 8/1
• Kihavah 10/1
• Shadow Dance 12/1
• Oneforthegutter 14/1
• Yashin 16/1
• Siege Of Troy 16/1
• Subsequent 20/1
• Onesmoothoperator 25/1
• Others 25/1+

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Summary

This looks a properly run Ebor with several proven stayers and a strong Irish challenge. French Master has the unexposed Cup-horse profile; Hipop De Loire is the old pro with the right course form; Ethical Diamond brings raw class; and Kihavah gives you York reliability.

Smart Play (Pro Punter View):

• Win bet: French Master – upward curve, bred for this trip, Gosden has trained this exact type before.
• Each-way saver: Hipop De Loire – unlucky last year, Mullins has targeted this, strong chance to hit frame.
• Outsider to note: Oneforthegutter – York record, third in this race last year, overpriced place chance.