Willie Mullins is chasing a piece of Ebor history at York on Saturday, with Love Me Tender set to run in the feature race as the trainer bids for a fourth victory in the contest. That would make him the first trainer in more than a century to win the Ebor four times.
The headline for Horse Racing Results Today is not just that Mullins has another live runner, but that he is again turning to a Flat staying prize he has made his own in recent years. He has already landed the Ebor with Absurde in 2023 and Ethical Diamond in 2024, and now Love Me Tender gets his chance to extend that run.
Why Love Me Tender is in the mix
Love Me Tender arrives at York after three runs for Peter Schiergen in 2025, finishing fourth in a Listed race at Chantilly on his final start before joining the Mullins stable. That form is enough to make him interesting in a race where proven staying ability and a well-handled mark matter more than flash.
There is also the sense that Mullins knows exactly what is required in this race. His recent Ebor record has been exceptional, and the stable’s willingness to target major Flat staying events has become a clear part of the story, even with his long-standing dominance in National Hunt racing over two decades.
The penalty and the question of value
The key detail around Love Me Tender is the 5lb penalty, with the view that he still looks well treated despite the extra weight. In a race as competitive as the Ebor Handicap, that sort of assessment can be enough to move a horse into the conversation, especially when the trainer has already shown he can land the prize.
Love Me Tender has not yet carried the HOS syndicate colours in public, which adds another layer of interest to the race. But the bigger point remains the same: Mullins is not coming to York simply to make up the numbers. He is chasing a landmark that would place him alone in the history of the Ebor.
What comes next at York
Saturday’s Ebor will tell us whether Love Me Tender can follow Absurde and Ethical Diamond into a very select club of Mullins winners. If he does, it will be more than another good result at York. It will be a rare and significant milestone, achieved in a race that has already become a notable part of the trainer’s Flat record.
