Ebor delight for Elliott as Dirar delivers
Elliott became the youngest trainer ever to win the Grand National with Silver Birch in 2007 and his frequent forays to the jump festivals at Perth have already become the stuff of legend, but success in just about the biggest Flat handicap of the season was breaking entirely new ground.
Dirar’s rise to the top has come via a most unconventional route as a little over a year ago he won three handicap hurdles in succession at Worcester, Uttoxeter and Southwell before progressing enough to finish third in the Galway Hurdle a few weeks before this.
A field of 20 set off over a mile and three-quarters of the Knavesmire and Jamie Spencer was initially one of the victims of the predictable traffic problems on Dirar (14-1.
They squeezed between Rosika and Bridge Of Gold with about a furlong to run and ended up claiming the first prize of over £150,000 (€182,000) by a length and a quarter.
“The Grand National was brilliant but I probably didn’t appreciate it as I was young at the time. We’ll make sure we enjoy this one,” said Elliott.
“The plan was to run in the Galway Hurdle, where he ran well behind Overturn, then to come here and then look at going to Dubai before having another go at the Galway Hurdle.
“He was a cheap buy but he has been improving all the way.”
Spencer’s previous victory in the Ebor was aboard Luca Cumani’s Purple Moon in the same year as Silver Birch.
“This is the second time I’ve won this race, but I should have won about nine as I was beaten on one of Luca’s, should have won on one of Philip Hobbs’ and got placed on one of Aidan O’Brien’s to name three,” he said.
“York’s been very kind to me and I’ve won basically all the races they have here.’’
Rosika and the in-form Kieren Fallon settled for second and trainer Michael Stoute said: “She’s so honest and she’s run a very good race.
“She does have some black type so the aim for the rest of the season will be to get some more.”
An even more surprising run came from 33-1 shot Bridge Of Gold, who had not been seen since February.
“We thought he’d win. George Baker said if there was more cut in the ground, he would definitely have won,” rued handler Mikael Magnusson.
“We expected him to run very well as he had been working so well at home.
“He might go for the Canadian International now, as a mile and a half will be his trip. Make no mistake, he’s a very nice horse.”
The 9-2 favourite Martyr weakened to 10th while Overturn, the Galway Hurdle and Northumberland Plate winner, finished tailed-off.
“It was just one race too many,” said his trainer Donald McCain.
