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

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 (Curagh ) 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.