We are warming up for four days of thrilling action on the Knavesmire for the 2024 Ebor Festival at York.
York's Ebor Festival is their biggest meeting of the year, held across four days on the Knavesmire in the third week of August.
As the title suggests, the highlight race of the week is Saturday's Ebor Handicap run over 1m 6f, a race worth £300,000 to the winner. Before the Saturday, there is a featured Group 1 each day in what is an action packed week.
Ebor Festival 2024 Dates
The 2024 Ebor Festival takes place over four days from Wednesday 21st August to Saturday 24th. Each day’s racing starts at 13:50 with the final race at 17:20.
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Ebor Festival Races & Entries
Here is a look at some of the highest profile runners to look out for in the biggest races at the Ebor Festival 2024 this week.
Juddmonte International
The Group 1 on the first day (Wednesday 21st August) is the Juddmonte International Stakes, a race worth over £700,000 to the winner.
It is a race which sees that season's classic generation often stepping up in trip to tackle the older horses, with this year's rendition no different with three-year-olds City of Troy and Calandagan heading up the market.
City of Troy
Another Aiden O'Brien horse to flop in the Guineas, this son of Justify bounced back to win both the Derby at Epsom and the Coral-Eclipse. He faced two four-year-olds in the latter to take his form outside the classic generation.
Indeed, the four-year-old who finished second to him, Al Riffa, has since come out and won a Group one in Germany by five lengths. However, it must be said that the 114 rated Al Riffa doesn't provide a model of older horses and he now faces a wealth of older opposition in the likes of Alfaila, Zarakem and Maljoom.
The trainer had hot shot Paddington beat in the race last year by five-year-old Mostahdaf, and City of Troy will have to step up to avoid a similar story.
Calandagan
French raider Calandagan has had a productive season racing four times, the most recent of which at Royal Ascot. There, this son of Gleneagles, went well clear away from Space Legend to win the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes by six lengths.
Whilst impressive to the eye, the form says a different story however with the second down to the fifth placed horses all being beaten next time out.
That race was over 1m 4f and previously Calandagan had been winning over 1m3f on heavy ground at Longchamp. That is to say that the drop back to ten furlongs on forecast firm ground may be against him.
Alflaila
Course and Distance winner Alflaila is another entry strong in the betting for Owen Burrows. This son of Dark Angel was last seen winning at York in July, beating King's Gambit in the Group 2 York Stakes. However, whilst that performance was impressive, he must give 7lbs away to favourite City of Troy, a horse who he has 6lb to find with on the ratings.
Yorkshire Oaks
Thursday's Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks is a fascinating betting heat with five horses priced between 2/1 and 5/1. Ralph Beckett's Bluestocking is the narrow favourite at 2/1.
Bluestocking
Fourth in the race last year, this daughter of Camelot was an impressive course and distance winner on seasonal debut beating Free Wind by six lengths. That performance was followed up by a Group 1 win in the Pretty Polly Stakes in what has been an improving season for the horse.
Indeed, she has risen 6lb in the ratings and was last seen finishing 2nd in the Group 1 King George VI stakes at Ascot behind Goliath.
She was in front of Auguste Rodin that day, a horse who had previously won the Prince of Wales's stakes at the Royal meeting. An improving horse with a likeability for this course and distance, she rates a solid proposition.
Queen Of The Pride
John and Thady Gosden's Queen Of The Pride is the one vying for favouritism at a best priced 9/4. This son of Roaring Lion is lightly raced for her age, having run only five times, three of them this season. Nevertheless she comes into this having won her last two starts at Haydock, a Group 3 and a Group 2.
The latest of those saw her beat previous Group 3 winner Tiffany by three lengths. Rated only 111, she has plenty to find on the ratings, but she is lightly raced and improving so that is a distinct possibility.
Content
Aiden O'Brien's best chance in this is three-year-old Content who has warmed up to the season after having a slow start in the French Guineas and in the Ribblesdale. After the Ascot run she was 3rd to Bluestocking in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh, going down by four 1/4 lengths.
She was short of room that day and looked like the step up to 1m 4f would only suit further. Her aptitude for stamina can start to excuse her earlier runs over a bended mile at Longchamp and Ascot as well.
Most recently she was a 3/4 length 2nd to You Got To Me in the Irish Oaks having been stepped up to 12 furlongs and it is very possible this trip could be the making of her.
Nunthorpe Stakes
One of the speediest races of the year is the Nunthorpe Stakes, worth nearly £300,000 to the winner. This year's renewal sees a rematch of the front four in the Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.
Asfoora
This year's favourite for the race is Asfoora, despite him being beaten last time out by Big Evs. He was also beaten on seasonal debut at Haydock where the soft ground may be able to excuse him.
He was most impressive at Royal Ascot next time out where he reversed the Haydock form with Kerdos and had a nice tow into the race by group leader Regional who finished 2nd.
Moreover, although he was beaten last time out , he was bumped around and only went down by a short head. Moreover the 5lb he was giving away is now transitioned into a 1lb gain at the weights, meaning a 6lb swing for just a short head. He should go very well if taking to the track.
Big Evs
Sent off a 5/1 shot for this race last year, Big Evs was a disappointing 14th behind Live In The Dream. However, he has won four of his next five starts to recement his position a leading sprinter. One of those starts was at York where he confirmed his liking for the track as he won the Listed Westow Stakes in May.
After being beaten by Asfoora in the Group 1 King Charles III stakes at Royal Ascot, he got the better of him next time out at Goodwood, winning by a short head. Tom Marquand retains the ride and he should go extremely close.
Ebor Handicap
David O'Meara has also done well at his local track York and he saddles the ante post Ebor favourite in Epic Poet (best price 9/1 at the time of posting).
Epic Poet
This son of Lope De Vega is a fascinating contender too having a remarkably consistent season without winning. The first run of these was at York in May where he was an eye-catching sixth from a wide draw in 10. He only gave out in the final stages of the race and improved when upped to 1m 4f at Royal Ascot.
Here, he was running on strongly at the finish to grab second place and the form looks decent too with Ethical Diamond back in fourth.
He returned to York last time in the John Smith's Cup finishing a running on 5th over the shortened trip. A return to 1m 4f, back at his favoured York looks a very interesting move and he has a great chance.
Queenstown
Aiden O'Brien's Queenstown is next up in the betting. This son of Galileo has some smart black type form to his name having finished behind Kyprios the last twice at Navan and Leopardstown.
Ebor winners have a strong tendency to be class droppers from Black type races and Queenstown fits the bill in that regard. The one negative is his absence, the most recent of his run coming on the 17th May. He has won after a 182 day break before so he can go well fresh, but his fitness is of concern.
Ebor Festival Tips
An action backed week where Epic Poet could go in for David O'Meara. Not winning this season has protected his handicap mark as he has risen just 2lb since his first run in May. He was rated up to 106 last season and this has clearly been the target all along. He will give punters a great run for their money.
