Racing: Henderson has a well primed Ebor hope in Cupboard

Nicky Henderson's ability to deliver a horse fit to run for its life at Cheltenham in March is beyond dispute but the same skills work equally well when applied to York in August and the Lambourn trainer looks to have a fine chance when both Cupboard Lover and Dancing Bay line up for the Ebor Handicap next Wednesday.

For those who have not yet tuned in to Henderson's ability to deliver on the Flat, a strike-rate of 40 per cent this season – four wins from 10 runners – and a return to a £1 level stake of £9.25, provides some statistical backup. Cupboard Lover is a 14-1 shot for the mile and six furlong contest with William Hill, while Dancing Bay is available at 20-1 with the same firm.

"Both are in good form and on course for the race," Henderson confirmed yesterday. "Cupboard Lover just needs to get his toe in a teeny bit but he can run on good ground. Dancing Bay would need soft ground and that would be the proviso. The plan is to run them both but the ground will dictate, Cupboard Lover only needs it good but Dancing Bay would really need it good to soft."

Before next week's three-day feast on the Knavesmire the best action is scheduled for Newbury on Saturday, when Atavus will attempt to repeat last year's success in the Hungerford Stakes. George Margarson's five-year-old was fifth behind the Prix Maurice de Gheest third Nayyir on his last run at Goodwood but faces stiff opposition this time, though, with 20 horses declared. They are headed by Marcus Tregoning's progressive Ghannam, who steps up to Group company after a close second to Crystal Castle in the Tote International Stakes at Ascot.

The big betting heat of the weekend, the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon, has drawn a total of 47 horses. The £50,000 event over six furlongs has attracted some of the top handicap sprinters, including the Stewards' Cup winner, Bond Boy. The master of the sprint division, David Nicholls, has three entries in Flak Jacket, Zuhair and Tayif, while Tim Easterby has Artie, Good Girl, Ragamuffin, Travelling Times and Up Tempo in the contest. Serov from the Tipperary yard of Tommy Stack is an interesting contender coming off the back of a win in a five-furlong event at the Curragh.

Some punters are looking further ahead, though, and Coral report support for Street Cry in the Breeders' Cup Classic in October. The four-year-old, winner of the Dubai World Cup, has been shortened to 100-30 from 5-1 for the 10-furlong event at Arlington Park. The firm's spokesman, David Stevens, believes the support is due to Sakhee's defeat on Saturday. "With Sakhee looking unlikely to repeat last year's Breeders' Cup performance, punters are turning to Street Cry to fly Godolphin's flag," he said.

At Arlington this weekend, Ulundi and Freefourinternet, trained by Paul Webber and Brian Meehan respectively, represent Britain in the Million.

ARLINGTON MILLION (Chicago, Saturday) Coral: 7-4 Beat Hollow, 7-2 Sarafan, 9-2 Paolini, 6-1 Forbidden Apple, 9-1 Ulundi, 12-1 Cheshire, 16-1 Falcon Flight, 20-1 Mystery Giver, 25-1 Freefourinternet.

GREAT ST WILFRID HANDICAP (Ripon, Saturday) William Hill: 8-1 Tayif, 9-1 Bond Boy, 10-1 Flak Jacket, Halmahera, 12-1 Kingscross, 14-1 Abbajabba, Albashoosh, Armagnac, Artie, Doctor Spin, Gdansk, Parkside Pursuit, Serov, Tom Tun, Zuhair, 16-1 Banjo Bay, Currency, Elvington Boy, Good Girl, Ragamuffin, Taras Emperor, 20-1 others.

BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC (Arlington, 26 October) Coral: 100-30 Street Cry, 9-2 War Emblem, 8-1 Nayef, Hawk Wing, 14-1 Macho Uno, Lido Palace, Medaglio D'Oro, 16-1 Mizzen Mast, Grandera, Sakhee, 20-1 E-Dubai, High Chaparral, 25-1 Skyjack, Buddha, 33-1 others.