Ebor favourite Pallasator will wear the colours of Qatar Racing at York this month after the powerful owners purchased the Sir Mark Prescott-trained five-year-old in a private deal.

Pallasator, who will remain with Prescott, is a best-priced 4-1 chance for the Ebor after winning a 1m4f handicap at Ascot last month, a performance that caught the eye of his new owners.

David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, said: “He’s a horse we’ve been aware of for some time and we were extremely impressed with his win at Ascot.

“The form was franked when the Mark Johnston horse [Double Bluff] won at Goodwood and it became more and more of a no-brainer that the horse was going to become a mile-and-a-half to two-mile horse in time and might end up being more than a handicapper.”

Prescott confirmed the deal was subject to a satisfactory veterinary report and one of the conditions of the sale was that Luke Morris would retain the ride for the Ebor.

Redvers also revealed Qatar Racing have acquired the Ger Lyons-trained Naas maiden winner Ainippe.