I’m certain this Willie Mullins runner will totally outclass this field – and why pacemakers will NEVER be banned

BAN pacemakers? Don’t be silly, people!

I had a chuckle to myself when this suggestion was expressed by many after another crazy Group 1 at York this week.

Birr Castle looked like he might win the Juddmonte at one point – but banning pacemakers is never going to happen

There’s no doubt it’s been a season of pacemaker chaos.

From Field of Gold not having one in the 2000 Guineas, to Qirat acting as one and banging in the Sussex Stakes at 150-1, to Birr Castle (again at 150-1) at one stage looking like pulling off another shock for Godolphin in Wednesday’s feature Juddmonte International on the Knavesmire.

And that’s not even to mention the Coral-Eclipse, when winner Delacroix got into a right mess due to a lack of pace!

It’s all been a bit odd.

But you can only laugh at the suggestion to ban pacemakers, and it’s not going to happen.

Firstly, trying to prove a horse just has a front-running job and is not trying to win – as the rules state every horse has to be – is nigh on impossible.

But most importantly the cry that all horses aren’t currently – and should be – doing their best in the aftermath of the performance of Qirat and Birr Castle is quite ridiculous.

On paper, Qirat put up a career best effort in defeating Rosallion at Goodwood and Birr Castle equally so in third behind birr Castle’s owner companion Ombudsman and Delacroix in the International.

With that in mind, it’s a bit hard to argue they weren’t in the race doing their best.

Added to all that, no one complained when a certain Frankel used Bullet Train to set his gallop back in the day.

I actually love pacemakers.

They won’t always make life easier for everyone, and they won’t always work, but in general they do the job that is often needed – a consistent gallop to find out who is the fastest horse.

Pace should not be an issue in Saturday’s big betting race, with 22 runners set to go to post for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap live on ITV.

Tipping the favourite in a race like this is a little bit like backing the market leader in the Grand National, so mock me all you want.

That said, I’m pretty confident Willie Mullins is going to dominate the mile and six-furlong test.

Mullins saddle both HIPOP DE LOIRE and Ethical Diamond, and both have leading claims although it’s the former who I’m with under Colin Keane.

Hipop ran fourth at Roscommon in a Listed event when last on the Flat and that was over 1m4f and he is crying out for this distance.

A handicap mark of 106 is high but might still be reasonable and he’s been kept fit with a win over hurdles at Galway.

Draw nine is perfect and I could see him totally outclassing the field. Let’s hope he dances in.

While the Ebor will take centre stage for punters, York also stages the first running of the Sky Bet City of York Stakes as a Group 1 event.

And the seven furlong contest has a real added pull with the presence of star miler Rosallion.

Richard Hannon’s Lockinge third and Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes runner-up has had a few little niggles having missed a race in France the other day.

That said, I’ve no doubt the former Classic hero is the best of these and the race should set up perfectly with loads of pace.

I have no issue with the drop in trip and he looks a big price for me at about 7-4 at the time of writing.

I’d have him odds-on in this field. Excellent regular partner Sean Levey takes the mount.

There is no racing fan that doesn’t think York is glorious, and this week was special once again.

Not everything went as it should.

The Derby winner Lambourn was destroyed by a return-to-form Pride of Arras in the Great Voltigeur, but the Oaks Heroine Minnie Hauk was beautiful in a small field for the Yorkshire Oaks.

Minnie Hauk could end up in the Arc at Longchamp or the Breeders’ Cup Turf, rather than the shorter Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

It would seem Whirl might be the Ballydoyle Arc filly.

She would love some juicy ground at Longchamp.

But only time will tell. I wonder if she will have a pacemaker?