Check out Kieran Shoemark's York thoughts

Sky Bet York Ebor Festival preview: Kieran Shoemark on his rides

By Kieran Shoemark

Horse Racing

Sat August 23, 2025 · 4M ago

Top jockey Kieran Shoemark has already been among the York winners and looks ahead to the remainder of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.

I can’t wait to see how Spicy Marg runs in the Coolmore Wootton Basset Nunthorpe on Friday.

I’ve always held her in the highest regard and chose to ride her in the race at the July Meeting when I could have ridden Royal Fixation. She didn’t stay the trip that day having been too keen early doors, but she came out and won the Alice Keppel impressively next time.

Her speed figures have been incredible since day one when she won her maiden at Newmarket all the way through to Goodwood. I believe she clocked a quicker time that day than Lady Iman did in the Molecomb too.

I think they’re right to supplement her. Two-year-olds have a good record in terms of being placed in the Nunthorpe and although one hasn’t won it for 18 years this is a quick five furlongs, she’s a ball of speed, and I think she’s very talented.

I wish her connections all the luck in the world, and it would be great to see owner Emma Banks have another great day.

I think she’ll be fine through the race, she’s very quick and able to travel on the bridle, I think the set-up will suit her very well. They went really hard at Goodwood hence the quick time and she was just able to quicken and travel. I think the York set-up will be perfect.

Spicy Marg - supplemented for the Nunthorpe

Ed runs Celandine and I finished second on her at Chester. That was the first time I’d ridden her and with hindsight I should probably have been more forceful and made the running there.

It’s just in the back of my mind whether, stepping back to five, she’ll be able to go that early pace at York, but she’ll be finishing well. I just think her optimum trip might be six furlongs.

On Saturday I think Rosallion will be absolutely fine over seven furlongs in the new Group One, the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes. He’s a strong travelling horse, yes its’ a quick seven at York, they run out that chute and there’s no hanging around, but he’s the clear best horse in the race.

If I could ride anything in it, he’d be the one.

Qirat has been supplemented to take him on again but Rosallion was the only horse who was able to get remotely close to him in the Sussex. If he follows him on Saturday, he could beat him by five lengths.

It’s a week I’m really looking forward to. It’s one of the main festivals of the year, lots of trainers target it, there’s a great atmosphere with proper prize-money on offer. It’s one of the most important four days of our year.

Sky Bet York Ebor Festival preview: Kieran Shoemark on his rides

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