Nic Doggett provides an overview of the key things to note on Sunday.
Haggas following his Instinct again
The Ebor Festival wasn't dominated by Irish success – as many of these big meetings tend to be – and William Haggas bids to land another blow, this time in the backyard of some of Ireland's leading trainers, when he runs First Instinct at in the Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes at 16:00.
The Naas Group 3 has been kind to the Newmarket-based Yorkshireman, with Perfect News (2022) and Sky Majesty (2025) providing two wins in the last four renewals, and looks a good fit for the Bated Breath filly who benefited from the return to six furlongs when runner-up in the Summer Stakes at York last month
The others who made the frame all won next time out, and - top on Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings - she is taken to go one better for her much-respected yard, though it won't be straightforward.
Although Soul Love has a length and a quarter to find with First Instinct on their Knavesmire run, the fellow British raider won over C&D last time out, so is respected, though she is 3 lb worse off at the weights as a result of that win.
Three-time course winner Havana Anna, who was fourth in the Commonwealth Cup in June, is probably feared most.
Strong maidens open the card at Naas
The three maidens that precede Naas' feature race have thrown up some good horses in the past.
The opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden (14:30) was won by subsequent Nassau winner Fancy Blue in 2019, while Ballydoyle's other winner - Garden Of Eden – went on to land the 2025 Ribblesdale.
There's no AOB runner this year, but there are two interesting JOB runners - Estado De La Luna and Green Nature - while Reyika represents powerful connections and her half-sister Reyenzi almost sprang a 40/1 surprise on debut over C&D a few years ago.
Along with the beautifully-bred Moyglare entry Pas De Deax, all three look interesting alternatives to<a href="https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/profiles/horse/1230441"> Silver Kiss, Lunar Empress, Star Glory and Maeda Matsu who have already shown ability.
Timeform weight-adjusted ratings have Silver Kiss coming out narrowly on top; she was ahead of Lunar Empress when third to Samnina at Galway last month and the runner-up Madam Secretary has since been placed in a Cork listed contest won by the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes third Alwaysanangel.
Skelton runner to hit the bullseye again
As you might expect after a high-class Sky Bet Ebor Festival, Sunday's domestic offerings are a little thin on the ground, but there is one horse to keep a close eye on at Worcester as At The Oche is expected to follow up his Uttoxeter win in the Neu-Servo Rapid Response Handicap Chase (14:38).
The former Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies-trained five-year-old caught the eye of both punters and the Timeform race reporters when making a winning stable/chase debut last month on his first start since a wind operation.
This is no penalty kick, with Pep Talking, Coastguard Station, Imperial Bede and Little Ledgend all respected, but At The Oche "is one to follow judging by this winning start over fences for new connections after 4 months off" according to the reporters. A 9 lb rise should prove manageable.
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