Stoute chasing Ebor Bliss

YESTERDAY'S Nunthorpe success for Margot Did was a clear indicator that the rain had got into the ground at York and that makes the early moves for this afternoon's Betfred Ebor all the more puzzling.

Modun, trained by Michael Stoute, looks like being sent off favourite but he has questions to answer on the forecast conditions. He was sent off favourite for the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot but he was unable to land a telling blow there. The testing ground which materialised at that meeting appeared to be an obvious reason for his failure and, if so, it's hard to have faith in him today.

It's worth noting that Ryan Moore chose to ride him over stable-companion Blissful Moment, who finished second behind Fox Hunt. The first two home from that race also take their place here and yet it's Modun who has been attracting the real support.