Leading fancies balloted out of Ebor

Ovambo and Artillery, second and third favourites in the ante-post betting, were among 20 horses who failed to make the cut for the Stg£185,000 Tote Ebor at York tomorrow.

The Peter Makin-trained Ovambo, who was 8-1 for Europe`s richest handicap with the leading bookmakers, is now likely to run in the Melrose Rated Stakes over the same mile and three-quarters on Thursday.

Artillery`s trainer Sir Michael Stoute still has a runner in the shape of Ascot Stakes winner Cover Up, who was second to Archduke Ferdinand in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on his latest start.

A maximum field of 22 will line-up for the York feature with the weights going up 1lb in the absence of Akbar.

Mark Johnston`s runner holds an engagement in the San Miguel March Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday. The Middleham trainer is still double-handed at York through Shayadi and Mana d`Argent.

The new top weight is Courteous, one of three runners from the Paul Cole stable - the others being Maniatis and Archduke Ferdinand.

Favourite to lift this prestigious prize is Foreign Affairs, who was given the go-ahead by trainer Sir Mark Prescott only on Monday.

The progressive three-year-old will be chasing a unique double having won the John Smith`s Cup over an extended 10 furlongs on this track last month.

Prescott saddled Hasten To Add to win the Ebor in 1994.