SKY BET EBOR FESTIVAL - THE HORSES ARE COMING...

15 August

SEE THE FIRE AND NEVER SO BRAVE SET TO SPEARHEAD BALDING’S YORK TEAM

Andrew Balding is ready to send See The Fire into the red-hot competition of the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, on Wednesday.

The four-year-old will return to a stage on which she has already landed Group-race triumphs in the Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes and the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Middleton Stakes.

Since her 12-length victory in the Middleton in May, the chestnut filly has twice finished third in Group 1 company. And Balding is aware of the size of the challenge awaiting See The Fire in the extended mile and a quarter showdown on the Knavesmire. Ombudsman and Delacroix represent top form from home shores, whilst Japanese superstar Danon Decile brings international class and unbeaten French contender, Daryz, adds further continental intrigue.

Balding said: “The Juddmonte is always, in my opinion, the strongest race of the year. It’s where the three-year-olds will always turn up against the older horses and you get that wonderful mix of perhaps horses stepping up from a mile to a mile and a quarter and horses dropping back from a mile and a half.

“I think this year it’s very strong as you’d expect. There are a couple of exciting unknowns in there, the Japanese horse and the French horse. But the thing about See The Fire is we know she loves York. She’s unbeaten at the track. She was very impressive winning the Strensall last year and she was absolutely electric winning the Middleton this spring.

“I think certain horses favour York and she’s certainly one of those – it’s got to be to her advantage. I’m not saying that means she’s going to win the race but it should make her very competitive.”

If there’s a slight query, it’s how much a heavy-ground Nassau Stakes at Goodwood took out of See The Fire. Under a flag start, she was slowly away in the 31 July race before going down by just over six lengths to Whirl.

Balding added: “She seems to have come out of it very well, but you never really know until you run again. She did a piece of work (on Wednesday) and looked as good as ever at home, so I hope she’s going there in really good form.”

The Park House Stables trainer also expects to be represented in the Group 1 Sky Bet City of York Stakes on Saturday, 23 August.

Balding outlined that Never So Brave is “an intended runner”, while Jonquil is likely to be left in the seven-furlong race at Monday’s confirmation stage – albeit the three-year-old is probably bound for the Celebration Mile the following day.

Last time out Never So Brave recorded a fine victory in the Summer Mile at Ascot – and Balding hopes the drop back in distance won’t be an issue.

He said: “He looked very good at Ascot over seven in the Buckingham Palace – he was carrying top weight and put in a really good performance there. So, I think it comes alike to him. Winning a Group 2 at a mile suggests he does stay that as well. As long as we’re in the same form as we were for the last two starts he deserves a crack at this race.”

Balding, who has sent out the winner of the race on no less than four occasions, believes the City of York’s new elite status is an important upgrade.

He said: “I’ve been hoping this would happen for some time. I think where the City of York is in the calendar, potentially in the future there could be a July Cup winner meeting a Sussex Stakes winner. It’s in the right place in the calendar, it’s a fabulous race and I think it’s going to just grow in stature from now on.”

Balding finished as York’s top trainer in 2024, recording 10 winners on the Knavesmire. Currently, he and Karl Burke lead the 2025 race for the trophy, cash prize and pair of Charles Clinkard shoes, with six winners apiece.

With John Smith’s Cup hero Fox Legacy (Sky Bet Strensall Stakes) and Coltrane (Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup) among others in his talented York-bound team, Balding will be hoping to hit the centre of the target next week.

He said: “The Sky Bey Ebor Festival is always a focal point of our summer programming. The prize money at York is fantastic and it is a meeting that has been in our conscious since I was a child.

“There’s some very important races run at the meeting and every single race matters. It’s a fantastic card over four days and we’re always keen to try and get winners at the meeting.”

13 August

SKY BET EBOR FESTIVAL CONTENDER TO BE NEW GROUND FOR APRAHAMIAN

The 2025 Sky Bet Ebor Festival will provide the stage for many of racing’s biggest names – but it is also set to give one stable its first experience of such limelight.

At the start of August, trainer Billy Aprahamian sent out Super Saiyan at Doncaster to become his first-ever Flat winner.

Now Aprahamian – who since 2022 has built up a blossoming National Hunt operation from his base in Northamptonshire – is aiming the lightly-raced sprinter at York’s Sky Bet Constantine Handicap on Saturday 23 August.

Aprahamian, a former assistant to Nicky Henderson, said: “I haven’t had any runners in big handicaps over jumps yet, so for this chap to suddenly come on the scene and be as smart as he is, it’s huge – absolutely massive.”

Super Saiyan, owned by footballer Ryan Kent, won a seven-furlong novice in late 2023 as a two-year-old, when trained by John and Thady Gosden.

The chestnut son of Night Of Thunder was unraced the following season, only re-emerging for a six-furlong novice at Doncaster on 2 August, having switched strings.

According to Aprahamian, Super Saiyan had experienced problems, but “nothing major”. He had been “one of those horses that would struggle to keep on the move”.

However, there was no hint of ring-rustiness after a 606-day lay-off as he burst from the starting stalls to make every yard of the running in triumphing by an emphatic four lengths, for jockey Sean Kirrane.

Aprahamian, who will have a 25-strong team for the jumps season, said: “All I knew was that he was quite quick, certainly compared to my jumps horses.

“I had no idea what to expect from him and when we got to the two-furlong pole and Sean suddenly went three lengths clear, I was like ‘Holy Moly’!

“Plan A was to track Mr O’Meara’s favourite (Rogue Allegiance) and see what we could do. Anyway, he jumped out the gate like a missile and Sean just let him roll away. He was very complimentary about him, that’s for sure.”

Next on the agenda is a £120,000 handicap on Sky Bet Ebor day. It’s new ground – “all a bit of whirlwind” – for the 35-year-old ex-polo professional and former Irish Guards officer Aprahamian, but he’s hoping Super Saiyan can climb further up the sprinting ranks after his Doncaster fireworks.

Aprahamian said: “I’d like to think he’d sharpen for it – he’s certainly come out of the race very well.

“He’s been wrapped in cotton wool since Doncaster. Hopefully, we can get him there in one piece and in good health.”

11 August

FROST AT DAWN SET FOR SUMMER SPRINT SHOWDOWN AT YORK FINALE IN THE “FINALE” FOR SIR BUSKER

Trainer William Knight believes Frost At Dawn is “in the form of her life” ahead of contesting the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes, at York on Friday 22 August.

The four-year-old filly showed blistering speed to finish second in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

And she followed up by running a fine race, despite not being suited by good to soft ground, when fourth in the Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood on 1 August.

Newmarket based-Knight said: “She seems in really good nick – she’ll go to York for the Nunthorpe now. She doesn’t need to do much between now and then, she’s put her weight back on already.

“I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it’s good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race.

“I think she’s in the form of her life at the moment – she just looks so much stronger this year. And I think York will really suit her as a track.

“I just think it’s key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. And if she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.”

Stablemate, Sir Busker, is poised to return to York for what could be his last-ever race at the end of a long and high-achieving career.

Among his 59 races, the nine-year-old has won the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes on the Knavesmire and also finished third to the brilliant Baaeed in the Group 1 Juddmonte International.

Last year at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, Sir Busker showed he still has what it takes when winning the Sky Bet Steve Birch Finale (Heritage) Handicap.

The Kennet Valley Syndicates-owned gelding is once more aimed at the same extended mile and a quarter contest (Saturday 23 August) – which could be his last dance, in what is the last race of the festival.

Kennet Valley Syndicates racing manager, Sam Hoskins said: “The idea is to run him in the Finale handicap, to try and win it again this year. And that may be his last race, that’s what we’re thinking.

“He’s absolutely loved York – that long straight there has really suited him – and it does feel a real fitting place to finish it off.

“We’ve had some great days at York in the past, not just with him, and we love going there and his finale in the ‘Finale’ seems very appropriate.”

Knight added: “He’s been a wonderful horse for us. He’s given Kennet Valley, the team at home and me a lot of pleasure over the years.

“We’re going to go back to York where’s he’s probably had his career-best performances – it could potentially be his last run. He owes us nothing and it would be nice to go there and see him run a massive race for everyone involved.”

8 August

Japanese Ace Touches Down Ahead of Juddmonte International

Japanese star, Danon Decile stepped out onto the Newmarket gallops for the first time today in preparation for his participation in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, on Wednesday 20 August.

The four-year-old colt was partnered by trainer Shogo Yasuda and the pair enjoyed an early-morning canter on Warren Hill.

Danon Decile, conqueror of Calandagan in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in April, exercised in company with members of trainer James Horton’s string.

And he looked very comfortable in his new working surroundings before returning to his accommodation at Horton’s Beech Hurst base.

Danon Decile shipped to Britain in midweek and has arrived physically fit, according to Yasuda.

Speaking through a translator, Yasuda said: “We did travel very well, so we’re very satisfied.

“My training plan between the two weeks from here to York, the main thing is to take care of his mind – make him happy.”

The £1.25milllion Group 1 on the Knavesmire will see Danon Decile coming back in trip to tackle an extended mile and a quarter.

But Yasuda said: “I’m not concerned for the shorter distance. I believe he’s got a lot of experience from racing. I’m not worried about the drop in distance. He can adjust pace.”

Yasuda also outlined that Danon Decile will be ridden by Keita Tosaki, who was on board at Meydan.

In other international news, Asfoora’s connections are upbeat ahead of the seven-year-old contesting the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday 22 August.

The Henry Dwyer-trained sprinter, who finished fourth to Bradsell in the same Group 1 race on the Knavesmire 12 months ago, has bounced out of her latest assignment at Goodwood where she ran seventh in the King George Stakes.

Chenelle Ellis, groom to Asfoora, said: “She’s going well, I think she’s going as well as she can be. If we get good to fast ground, I think she will be very hard to beat. She’s on-song to run a really big race.”

7 August

Walker Aiming for more York joy

Ed Walker enjoyed a fantastic double-strike at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival 2024 and this month he has his sights set on further success at York.

The Lambourn trainer is assembling a talented team for this year’s four-day festival, which runs from 20-23 August.

In particular, Walker looks to have a very strong hand for the Group 1 feature of Friday – the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.

Celandine (last year’s G2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes heroine), Mgheera the Temple Stakes winner and recent Sapphire Stakes runner-up, as well as Balmoral Lady, have all been entered for the £600,000 speed test on the Knavesmire.

Walker said: “I think it’s probably unlikely we’ll run all three. It will probably be Celandine and Mgheera – or Balmoral Lady. To be competitive at that level, I think Balmoral Lady needs softer ground.

“Celandine’s in great form. She’s definitely trained on. I’m adamant that she will be comfortable with the five furlongs. I feel she just about hangs on over six – like she did in the Lowther – and I’m really excited about seeing her in a strong five furlongs. She showed great speed in the Molecomb as a two-year-old. The owners are supportive, so I think we’re going to roll the dice in the Nunthorpe.

“Mgheera, it’s been the plan since the Temple Stakes. We thought we’d take in Ascot and that went terribly wrong (Mgheera was withdrawn at the start of the King Charles III Stakes). Then we felt we needed a run in between the Temple Stakes and the Nunthorpe, so squeezed in Ireland (the Sapphire Stakes). That was a big run in Ireland – very happy with her. I just think the very slick nature of York, Haydock, flat track, hopefully fast ground is exactly what she wants.

“We’re really excited about her. Touch wood, she’s in good nick – she’s a definite runner as long as the ground stays good or faster and she’s been training really well.”

Walker has other Group 1 entries with recent Group 2 Prix de Malleret winner Qilin Queen entered in the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

He added: “She went to France and put in a huge effort that day. I’ve given her plenty of time to freshen up. She’s just starting to show a spring in her step. We’re not hellbent on the Yorkshire Oaks but if it’s fast ground and she’s bucking and squealing then we’ll have a go.”

Group 3 winner, Ten Bob Tony, is a possible for the new Group 1 Sky Bet City of York Stakes on Ebor Saturday (23 August).

Walker said: “He needs good ground or softer. He’s a horse who goes very well fresh – his best races are off the back of a break. He’ll go where the ground’s right.”

Kingsdown Stables is home to several classy two-year-olds, including Duchess of Cambridge Stakes runner-up, Royal Fixation; the Palace Pier filly is being primed to see if she can give Walker a second straight victory in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.

Walker said: “It’s been the plan since Newmarket. We’ve always thought she’s very good. We’ve just been patient with her and the Lowther seems the perfect fit for her. She’s training great. She’s very quick, very talented and I think York will really suit her. Hopefully we’ve got a live chance with her.”

Fellow two-year-old Do Or Do Not – third in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood – looks set to run in the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes on 20 August.

His trainer said: “The easy seven furlongs at York I think will really suit him.”

Walker is eagerly anticipating the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, a meeting he holds in the highest regard.

He said: “It’s very important – all eyes are on it around the world. It’s a great place to go, a great place to take owners, horses are looked after fantastically, as are staff. I think York set the bar in terms of standards and prize money.”

5 August

Gosden Stars Bound for Sky Bet Ebor Festival

Joint-trainers John and Thady Gosden are busy preparing a raft of stars from their Clarehaven Stables for this month’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse.

Royal Ascot heroes Ombudsman and Trawlerman are just two horses from the Gosden’s powerful Newmarket string that are bound for the four-day festival, which gets underway on Wednesday, 20 August.

On day one of the meeting, Ombudsman is on course to run in the £1.25million Juddmonte International Stakes – the Group 1 race landed by Clarehaven Stables three times in the last seven renewals. Roaring Lion, Mishriff and Mostahdaf have all triumphed in the Longines World’s Best Race for the Gosden team in the extended mile and a quarter contest, now Ombudsman is bidding to follow suit.

The Night Of Thunder colt has established himself as an elite performer this summer, winning the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot before going down by a neck to Delacroix in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown. Thady Gosden said: “He won the Prince Of Wales’s first time in a Group 1 and showed he’s up to that level. The Eclipse, again he ran a very good race, beaten by a top class three-year-old coming through.

“He’s come out of that race well, had a little freshen up and heading to the Juddmonte International hopefully.

“He’s such a genuine horse, has got the speed required and hopefully can run a good one there.

“It’s a career-defining race for a lot of horses. If you win the Juddmonte International it certainly means a lot – depth of the field and the quality to it. And then, of course, York’s a very fair track; so often the best horse wins and it’s something that everyone aspires to.”

For Trawlerman, Friday 22 August is set to mark a return to the Knavesmire, scene of his 2022 Sky Bet Ebor success. This year’s Gold Cup winner at Royal Ascot is being aimed at the Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup, claimed by Clarehaven on four straight occasions from 2018. Stablemate – and Goodwood Cup third Sweet William – is also scheduled to run in the two-mile Group 2.

Thady added: “Trawlerman’s in good order. He won the Gold Cup in pretty good style this year. He’s an older horse so we thought best give him a freshen up after that, not rush him back anywhere. We also hope that the two miles at York should suit him well. He’s won the Ebor there over a mile, six…I think it’s the right spot for him.

“Sweet William ran a great race at Goodwood. He’s come out of that in very good order. He’s a grand horse, very consistent and never really out of the frame.”

Clarehaven is likely to be represented in other big races over the week with Audience and Spy Chief under consideration for the £600,000 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes, this year staged as a Group 1 for the first time. On the same 23 August card, French Master’s famous target is the Sky Bet Ebor itself.

With such an array of riches, it’s no surprise that the four days of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival are inked into the Clarehaven diary.

The trainer concluded: “It’s a wonderful place, a wonderful track and we always look forward to it enormously.”

5 August

Course specialist Quinault given Sky Bet City of York target

Stuart Williams reckons his Sky Bet City of York Stakes contender Quinault is still on an upward trajectory.

The five-year-old gelding is being trained for his first domestic Group 1, the latest top division race at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, set to run on Saturday 23 August.

It will be a return to familiar territory for Quinault, who has won all of his three starts on the Knavesmire. As a three-year-old, he landed the valuable Macmillan Sprint Handicap and in 2024 sped to success in the Listed Garrowby Stakes. In June this year Quinault stepped forward again with victory in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes over course and distance – the first time the Group 3 has been staged at York.

That triumph gave him a golden ticket into the £600,000 Sky Bet City of York Stakes, which has been upgraded to Group 1 status, the first all aged seven-furlong contest in Britain over this trip.

Newmarket trainer Williams said: “We had him spot on for that race (in June) and you’re delighted to win a race there, of that prestige, and get the win and you’re in prize for the City Of York.

“He obviously loves the track, it’s suited him really well and he's unbeaten up there.

“It’s hard to assess what’s going to run at the moment, but they’ll have to run hard to beat him. He tries like hell and wherever he finishes he’ll do his absolute best. They’ll have to keep up with him because he’ll go a good clip – and he keeps going.

“In the race (the Criterion) he won there, they were sort of catching him halfway up the straight, but he did the second-quickest last furlong, so he was not stopping at the end. We’re hopeful he can do that again.

“I still think he's got more to offer – I still think he's on his improve.”

Williams is pleased the Sky Bet City of York Stakes is now an elite contest. He said: “I think it's an important thing for the calendar to have a Group 1 seven-furlong race in Britain – it fits in well with the (Prix de la) Foret, which is six weeks further down the line. It should be a nice steppingstone for that.

“We’ll enjoy the day whatever happens, I'm sure he'll do his best and he won't be far away.”

The four-day Sky Bet Ebor Festival gets underway on Wednesday 20 August when a seven-race card will include a star-studded Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes.

29 July

Acceptors for Group contests

With the days counting down, thoughts are already turning to the flagship Sky Bet Ebor Festival (20-23 August), the next stage of entries known as “acceptors” are now known.

There is now a Group One contest on each of the four days at a Festival offering record prize money, which is comfortably in excess of £7,000,000.

The Juddmonte International was the Longines World’s Best Race in 2024 and the Wednesday showpiece could be another strong renewal. International by name and nature, a Japanese star, Danon Decile, has already won at the highest level and is expected in Newmarket in early August. An unbeaten French contender in Darzy represents Francois Graffard for HH The Aga Khan. The Emerald Isle has a dozen live contenders spread over two yards; most attention will fall on the reigning English & Irish Derby hero, Lambourn. The UK challenge could feature Field of Gold who was so eye-catching in Juddmonte colours, when winning at the top table at both the Irish Guineas and Royal Ascot.

Thursday is Ladies Day both off and on the track, with the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks as the feature contest. A classic winner from Epsom 2025 (Minnie Hauk) and The Curragh 2024 (You Got Me) could clash, with Whirl a bridesmaid filly since she won on the Tattersalls Musidora in May. Local hopes may rest on Estrange who gave David O’Meara’s operation hope of yet better when winning at Haydock.

Amongst the juvenile fillies, the Sky Bet Lowther indicates both talent and future potential; Venetian Sun is 3 from 3 in her career to date with the Karl Burke trained illy set to face local rivals such as Lunar Melody who Richard Fahey handles for Wathnan Racing.

It is all of speed, stamina and potential on Friday with the Group One Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe taking centre stage. Over in under a minute, the smallest of margins could separate the remaining twenty-eight entrants. Rare in letting juvenile horses take on their elders in a Group One, it is always fascinating to see if the weight-for-age table designed by Admiral Rous favours one of the pair of two-year-olds (True Love & Zelania) or whether the Group One experience of the older horses comes out on top. There is a Royal Ascot Group One winner in Time For Sandals with Asfoora adding international intrigue as a returning Aussie star.

A brace of Group 2 contests provide the stamina (Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup) and a source of potential (The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Gimcrack). The stayers division has a new hero in Scandinavia with the Goodwood Cup winner entered in both the Lonsdale Cup and the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur on Thursday against this own age group. A host of proven Knavesmire winners, Al Qareem, Trawlerman, Absurde and Continuous will hope to lift the Cup. Havanna Hurricane is a Royal Ascot winner (Listed Windsor Castle Stakes) with Egoli a Knavesmire winner in the same week, both amongst thirty-six juveniles still hoping to land their Owner the chance to speak at the Gimcrack Dinner.

The newest Group One in the UK, the Sky Bet City of York will bring the festival to a close on Saturday, alongside the Sky Bet Ebor. A seven-furlong affair means proven winners at six-furlongs (such as Lazzat) face the known milers (such as Rosallion) over the unusual trip. Those with a known taste for the distance such as past winners Audience and Kinross should be in the mix. Aidan O’Brien has left The Lion in Winter in the £600,000 contest, with York the scene of probably his finest hour to date when landing the Tattersalls Acomb last August.

Click here for full details of entries as at Tuesday 29 July.

26 July

Calandagan set to make a return to the Juddmonte International

After his win the the King George VI Stakes Calandagan is set to make a return to the Juddmonte International Stakes. The highest rated horse trained in France will be hoping to improve on a placed finish last year on the Knavesmire, with his performance at Ascot clearly an encouraging one.

Trainer, Francois Graffard said: “We’ll see how he comes out of the race, (at Ascot), but he’s in the Juddmonte International and why not, I wouldn’t mind going back there. I would have no problem bringing him back to 10 furlongs, but I will discuss it with the owner.

23 July

Trainer Aiden O'Brien has confirmed that Camille Pissarro and Delacroix are being trained for the Juddmonte International Stakes on Wednesday 20th August.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has confirmed that Camille Pissarro and Delacroix are being trained for the Juddmonte International Stakes on Wednesday 20th August. Delacroix showed an impressive turn of foot, after meeting trouble in running, to win the Coral Eclipse at Sandown with Camille Pissarro finishing fourth place on that occasion. Camille Pissarro had previously triumphed in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club in France,

22 July

Impressive Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes set to return

Winner Pride Of Arras could make his first start since undergoing a gelding operation back at York in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes.

The Ralph Beckett-trained horse is one of two options the owner/trainer have in the race with the unbeaten recent Royal Ascot winner Amiloc another possible for the Group 2 race run on the first day of The Sky Bet Ebor Festival.

21 July

Danon Decile, last year's Group 1 Japanese Derby winner and this year's Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic victor, is scheduled to depart from Narita Airport on August 5 to contest the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes on the first day of The Sky Bet Ebor Festival on Wednesday August 20^th.

17 July

Never So Brave is to step up into Group One company for his next start in the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes.

The gelded son of No Nay Never has thrived since making the switch to trainer Andrew Balding following the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute at the end of last season having won two of his three starts this term.

After tasting defeat on his stable debut at Chester, the Saeed Suhail-owned four-year-old atoned for that reversal with an impressive victory in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. And on Saturday he took his form to even greater heights when coming from well off the pace to win the Group Two Summer Mile Stakes back at the Berkshire track.

Balding said: “I was thrilled with the effort and he has come out of that run well. We have decided to wait now for the City Of York. It is now a Group One worth lots of money and he doesn’t get a penalty in that. He has improved a lot this season and he is starting to look like a really smart horse. I think we can run in those good races over seven furlongs and a mile. We’ve not really looked at anything beyond York yet as that is the next plan.”

15 July

Group Two & Heritage Handicap Entries

With each passing day the excitement for the Sky Bet Ebor Festival is building.

The entries have been made for the leading Group Two contests, with chatter about running plans a daily feature. On 12 July the Karl Burke trained Al Qareem confirmed himself to be a classy stayer when winning the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup. His trainer is leaning towards a further run in Pattern company with the Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup a more likely next run than a tilt at the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor.

All four horses that won a Race To The Ebor have been entered for the famous handicap on Saturday 23 August. Tabletalk (Melrose 2024) had a sighter in the John Smith’s Silver Cup behind the aforementioned Al Qareem (Grand Cup), the same Karl Burke yard are responsible for Almosh’her (Jorvik), with Mr Percy (Curragh ) the Irish contender.

As always, the juvenile contests look mouthwatering with Royal Ascot stars a plenty.

14 July

Another Notable Runner for City Of York

Another classic winner has the Knavesmire on their agenda, after Charlie Appleby told ITV that Notable Speech was being primed for the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes. The English Guineas winners is being tested over a variety of trips and the seven furlongs of the £600,000 contest on Saturday 23 August may yet prove ideal.

14 July

No surprise to see Washington scale new heights

Connections of Washington Heights, winner of the Listed John Smith’s City Walls have said “it would be no surprise” if their smart victor were to take up his entry in the Group One Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe, on Friday 22 August.

11 July

Zavateri cut in the Gimcrack Market

After winning the Group 2 July Stakes, connections of Zavateri are looking at the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (22 August) as the next logical step. The Eve Johnston Houghton trained colt beat better known rivals at Newmarket and the betting markets responded by cutting him in price to 8/1 for the famous York contest.

10 July

Queen’s Vase Winner Carmers Possible Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Runner

Paddy Twomey's Queen's Vase winner Carmers and the unbeaten son of Wootton Bassett could reappear at York in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes next month.

Carmers made a winning debut at Ballinrobe in May and followed up that success with an impressive display in the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan eight days later, before his victory at Royal Ascot in June.

Epsom and Irish Derby winner Lambourn is currently favourite for the Great Voltigeur on Wednesday 20^th August the first day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.

7 July

York on Aidan O'Brien's agenda for Eclipse winner, Delacroix

The Longines Best Race in the World continues to shape up as another heavyweight renewal. Aidan O’Brien has indicated that Delacroix, the courageous winner of the Coral Eclipse, is being aimed at the Juddmonte International on Wednesday 20 August.

Speaking to the Racing Post after the Sandown feature, the Ballydoyle handler said, “He has the choice of the Juddmonte or the Irish Champion Stakes next, or maybe even both. Those are the two races we have in mind for him now. He seems fine this morning and appears to have come out of it well, although he obviously hasn't done anything yet.

"He has a proper turn of foot. We knew he got a mile well last year, but the two times he ran at Leopardstown this year before the Derby were slowly run races, and he didn't half quicken. Somewhere like York would be made for him.”

Yorkshire Owner-Breeder aims for Group One Glory

Pocklington based Owner-Breeder, Charlie Bond has nominated the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes (August 23) as the intended next run his latest star acquisition. Leading French colt, Maranoa Charlie, ran for the first time in the well-known silks, black with yellow spots, finishing a notable second in the Prix Jean Prat. Still based in France, a raid on the Knavesmire’s newest top table prize is firmly the intention.

O’Meara signals bid for pan pennines Oaks double

Success in the Lancashire Oaks has connections of Estrange dreaming of a pan pennines double, with the Group One Pertemps Yorkshire Oaks (August 21) under serious consideration for the Cheveley Park star. Her trainer, David O’Meara, commented, “The York race would be the next target, it fits well in time.”

Plage de Havre an Ebor possible

Reigning champion trainer on the Knavesmire, Andrew Balding, is pondering a run in the Sky Bet Ebor (August 23) for Page de Havre. Success at Haydock means a step up in trip to the 1m 6f of the famous contest holds appeal.