Tony Martin bids for Betfred Ebor glory with dual-purpose performer Ted Veale

Tony Martin already knows what it is like to pick up some of the most prestigious handicap prizes in Britain but even by his standards, victory for Ted Veale in today's Ebor at York would be a remarkable achievement for the renowned "handicap king".

Just three days after scrambling home in a race at Bellewstown, and just over three weeks after failing to justify favouritism in the Galway Hurdle, Ted Veale has the opportunity to become just the ninth Irish-trained winner of a hugely prestigious pot worth close on €300,000.

Fran Berry teams up with the horse who has already scooped a major cross-channel handicap prize over flights in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last March but who will carry 8st 13lb in his first ever handicap start on the level.

After a superb Galway Festival, Martin's horses have continued in good form in Ireland and the decision of a man who has won an English Cambridgeshire (She's Our Mare,) a Northumberland Plate (Arc Bleu) and a Cesarewitch (Leg Spinner) in the past to pull Ted Veale out again so quickly has been duly noted by bookmakers.

Willie Mullins’s Sesenta was a dual-purpose star that won the Ebor in 2009 while Dirar a year later was the last Irish winner.

However, the Michael Stoute-trained Opinion is the expected favourite for today's cross-channel feature and Ryan Moore will take the mount on the Highclere owned runner, a winner at Royal Ascot before finishing only fifth at Haydock.

"It was a shame he couldn't follow up at Haydock but he didn't help himself coming out of the stalls and he didn't have a straight-forward run through," said the Highclere boss Harry Herbert yesterday. "He's very well drawn and the step up in trip should suit."

Ted Veale will be the only Irish challenger for the Ebor after Jessica Harrington took out Steps To Freedom yesterday due to the change in ground conditions.

Martin and Berry also team up in the preceding Melrose Stakes with Dark Crusader.