‘Big run’ expected from Absurde on York return

Absurde will return to the scene of his most valuable victory to date when he lines up for the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes at York on Saturday.

Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old is a true dual-purpose performer who won the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024 and then the Listed Chester Stakes later the same year.

He started his Flat campaign this season at the latter track when third in the Group Three Ormonde and now turns his attentions to the Knavesmire again, where he landed the Ebor under an inspired Frankie Dettori in 2023.

“He’s an incredible horse, he’s been to Cheltenham, Ascot and Chester,” said Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father.

“We’re really looking forward to sending him back to York, he obviously won the Ebor there back in 2023.

“He’s in great form at home, he’s race-fit and we’re expecting a big run from him.”

A field of five has assembled for the race, with Andrew Balding’s Alsakib also bringing course-and-distance form to the table as the winner of the Silver Cup last term.

Charlie Appleby’s El Cordobes and David Simock’s Raja Raja both run, and so too does Karl Burke’s Al Qareem.

The six-year-old was the runner-up behind Alsakib in the Silver Cup last year, and has returned to action this season in good form with a win in the Listed Further Flight and a second-placed effort ahead of Absurde in the Ormonde.

“He’s in great form at home, the ground isn’t going to be ideal but hopefully we’ll get a shower,” said Nick Bradley of ownership group Nick Bradley Racing.

“The alternative was to go to the Listed race at Goodwood that Hamish won (the Tapster Stakes), we’d have had the ground there but the race would have potentially been a bit tougher.

“He’s in great form and this will hopefully set him up nicely for the rest of the season.”