Jockey Rab Havlin bids for York success in rare leading role with Sweet William after riding the quirky gelding to victory in last three races

Rab Havlin, so often the test driver replaced by Frankie Dettori when the big day arrives, gets his chance at the front of the grid on 10-3 Sky Bet Ebor favourite Sweet William at York.

Havlin’s renowned horsemanship means he has been entrusted with the ride on quirky Sweet William in all his six starts, the last three of which he has won with authority.

A gelding operation and the fitting of blinkers have been the making of Sweet William, who is lucky to have even made a racecourse after suffering a condylar tibia fracture as a two-year-old which means he now races with seven screws in his off hind leg.

Havlin admits it ‘took quite a while to iron out the kinks’ in Sweet William but John Gosden, who trains Sweet William with son Thady, says he has now ‘grown up a lot’.

That has not stopped Sweet William’s owner-breeder Philippa Cooper worrying about how he will deal with the demands of a 22-runner handicap but John Gosden is more concerned about Sweet William’s low draw in stall three.

Sweet William is the well-fancied favourite in York’s flagship race on Saturday

Gosden’s 2018 Ebor winner Muntahaa was drawn 21, while his success in 2023 with Trawlerman — who he trained with Thady — came via stall 20. 

He said: ‘Sweet William has matured enough but the inside draw is not a help.’

The biggest threat may be Sir Michael Stoute’s Real Dream, another improver but crucially well drawn, with Ryan Moore on board.