King pair in Ebor reckoning as 50 stand ground

Alan King is preparing a two-pronged assault on Saturday’s Sky Bet Ebor, with Royal Ascot hero Daiquiri Bay set to be joined by high-class stablemate Paradias.

The Barbury Castle pair are among 50 horses still in contention for York’s prestigious handicap following the confirmation stage, with the weights now headed by the William Haggas-trained Opportunity.

A maximum field of 22 will go to post and the well fancied Kizlyar, winner of the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting for Joseph O’Brien, now needs just one horse above him to come out to be get a run as the 23rd horse on the list.

Both of King’s contenders are already guaranteed a starting berth, with Paradias fifth in the order of entry and Daiquiri Bay, who has been saved for this £500,000 contest since his narrow success in the Copper Horse Stakes at Ascot in June, number nine.

“Hopefully they’ll both run, we’ve got the jockeys booked and we’re happy. Rossa (Ryan) is down to ride Daiquiri and I’ve booked Clifford Lee for Paradias,” said the trainer.

“This has more or less been the plan for Daiquiri Bay since Ascot. We thought we’d give him a little break and bring him back for this.

“He’s in good form and I hope he’ll run very well anyway. Any rain that fell would probably be in his favour.”

Paradias was last seen finishing third behind Lazy Griff in the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown and returns to handicap company for the first time since placing third in the Easter Classic at Newcastle on Good Friday.

King added: “He’s a grand old horse, he’s probably a little bit too high in the handicap and is not quite good enough for Group racing, but he could run well again.

“We’ve freshened him up since Sandown and I think a mile and six is probably about ideal for him these days, so we’ll see.

“He’s certainly pretty exposed and there’s no hiding place off his mark.”

Andrew Balding’s Tarriance is the 7-1 favourite with Sky Bet ahead of Haggas’ trained Klassleader, Willie Mullins’ Love Me Tender and Kizlyar, who are all co second-favourites at 10-1.

Daiquiri Bay and Joseph O’Brien’s Emit are both 11-1, with Beylerbeyi (Ian Williams), Mr Hollywood (Mullins) and Hopewell Rock (George Boughey) other leading hopes.