18 go to post in Saturday's City Of York Stakes.
The Group 1 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes provides a high-class seven-furlong showdown to round off the Ebor meeting, with a deep field featuring established Group 1 winners, progressive contenders and an intriguing Japanese raider. Notable Speech heads the market as he drops back in trip, but Ten Bob Tony, Zavateri, Lake Forest and Satono Reve all have strong claims in what promises to be a fiercely competitive renewal.
City Of York Stakes 2026 Declared Runners
Lake Forest Cieren Fallon
Marvelman PJ McDonald
Native Warrior Clifford Lee
Notable Speech William Buick
Paborus James Doyle
Powerful Glory Jamie Spencer
Rogue Diplomat Harry Davies
Satono Reve Joao Moreira
Ten Bob Tony Kieran Shoemark
Flora Of Bermuda Oisin Murphy
Lifeplan Zak Wheatley
Power Blue David Egan
Puerto Rico Ryan Moore
Zavateri Charles Bishop
City Of York Stakes 2026 Odds
City Of York Stakes Key Runners Guide
Lake Forest — Cieren Fallon
Lake Forest brings some strong recent seven-furlong form to the table, having landed the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood before finishing seventh in the Sussex Stakes just 24 hours later. That quick turnaround provides an obvious excuse for the latter effort, particularly as he had already shown his effectiveness at this trip. He also finished second in this race 12 months ago, so a return to York is an obvious positive. His profile suggests he can be competitive if reproducing his Lennox performance.
Marvelman — PJ McDonald
Marvelman has something to prove after finishing almost five lengths behind Lake Forest and Rogue Diplomat in the Lennox Stakes, but that effort came after he raced too freely. He looked a different proposition when second in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle, where he travelled strongly over six furlongs and was only narrowly denied. His prominent racing style could be particularly useful if the pace is not strong, while a strongly run seven furlongs should allow him to settle better. He remains an interesting outsider if putting that Lennox run behind him.
Native Warrior — Clifford Lee
Native Warrior is part of a strong Wathnan Racing representation and arrives in a field packed with Group-level performers. The son of Wootton Bassett is among several runners stepping into the highest grade, so he will need to find further improvement to compete with the established Group 1 horses. His inclusion adds depth to what promises to be a fiercely competitive seven-furlong contest.
Notable Speech — William Buick
Notable Speech sets the standard on ratings and is understandably prominent in the betting. The five-year-old won the 2024 2,000 Guineas and added another Group 1 success to his CV in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury this season. His sixth-place finish as favourite in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot was disappointing, but a return to seven furlongs could help. He has already shown he possesses a high level of raw speed and, on quick ground, the drop in trip is not expected to be a major concern. A bounce back would make him extremely difficult to beat.
Paborus — James Doyle
Paborus has an intriguing profile having returned from a year on the sidelines to win the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle in June. That victory was his fifth in just eight starts and came despite the expectation that he had plenty left in the tank. The major question is the ground: connections have repeatedly been frustrated by the dry conditions and believe he is best with some ease underfoot. If the anticipated rain arrives, he could become a much more interesting proposition. He has been lightly raced enough to suggest further progress is possible.
Powerful Glory — Jamie Spencer
Powerful Glory has not been covered in the supplied information beyond his inclusion among the declarations, so there is limited recent form detail to assess here. He faces a substantial test against several established Group 1 performers, with the seven-furlong distance and the pace of the race likely to be crucial to his chances.
Rogue Diplomat — Harry Davies
Rogue Diplomat arrives on an upward curve and has already demonstrated his ability to compete at this level of seven-furlong form. He was beaten by only a neck by Lake Forest in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood, giving him a strong piece of form to bring to York. The long straight at the Knavesmire should suit his racing style, and the possibility of a steadier-than-usual pace could also play to his strengths. He is entitled to improve again with that recent experience behind him.
Satono Reve — Joao Moreira
Japanese raider Satono Reve brings some serious sprinting form into the race. He was beaten by only a nose in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and subsequently finished third in the July Cup at Newmarket. Those performances give him a rating of 119 and establish him as one of the most interesting international contenders in the field. The question is whether he can transfer his six-furlong speed to seven furlongs, but the long-term quality of his form means he cannot be overlooked.
Ten Bob Tony — Kieran Shoemark
Ten Bob Tony has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign and arrives as the horse who already has a Group 1 victory over Notable Speech this season. He sprang a 50-1 surprise in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, defeating the market leader, before finishing fourth in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. His current rating of 121 reflects the quality of his season, and another solid effort would confirm that his Ascot success was no fluke. The question is whether he can reproduce his best form against a field containing several proven seven-furlong specialists.
Flora Of Bermuda — Oisin Murphy
Flora Of Bermuda gives Andrew Balding another strong chance in a race he won 12 months ago with Never So Brave. She comes into the contest following success in the Oak Tree Stakes and is part of a formidable Wathnan Racing team. Her consistency makes her an interesting contender, although she faces a considerably stronger test at Group 1 level. Balding's record in the race and the mare's recent form make her a runner worth keeping onside.
Lifeplan — Zak Wheatley
Lifeplan has not been covered by the supplied material beyond his place in the final declarations. He therefore arrives without the detailed recent form information available for several of his rivals. In a field containing multiple Group 1 winners and recent Group-race scorers, he will need to step forward significantly to make his presence felt.
Power Blue — David Egan
Power Blue arrives after an encouraging Group 2 success in the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh. That victory puts him firmly in the conversation, particularly as he has already demonstrated his ability to perform at pattern-race level this season. The step into Group 1 company is the obvious next challenge, but his recent win gives him a solid platform and he represents another runner capable of making this a highly competitive renewal.
Puerto Rico — Ryan Moore
Puerto Rico is one of three potential Ballydoyle representatives mentioned in the declarations, alongside True Love and Dorset. The son of Wootton Bassett brings the prestige of the Aidan O'Brien stable but has not been provided with the same level of recent form detail in the supplied material as some of his main rivals. With Ryan Moore booked, he is nevertheless a runner who deserves respect in a race where the strength of the field means proven Group performers will need to be at their best.
Zavateri — Charles Bishop
Zavateri shaped with plenty of promise when fifth in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on his return from more than three months off. Eve Johnson Houghton reports that the five-year-old has improved significantly for that outing and believes he is now in much better shape. He had previously won the National Stakes and already has a Group 1 success on his CV, while his rating of 118 puts him close to several of the leading contenders. If the Sussex run has brought him forward as connections expect, he could take a significant step forward at York.
City Of York Stakes 2026 Trends
- Stall: 11/12 winners drawn 7 or lower
- Distance: 11/12 had won over 7f
- Recent form: 10/12 ran within the last 42 days
- Rating: 10/12 rated 107+
- Betting: 9/12 finished in the top three in the market
- Season form: 10/12 had at least three runs that season
- Group form: 6/12 had already won a Group 1-3 race
