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Alex Hammond racing blog | Sky Bet Ebor Festival preview and tips

By Alex Hammond

Horse Racing

Wed August 20, 2025 · 4M ago

Sky Sports Racing's Alex Hammond marks your card for all four days of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York.

Right, this week is all about York and the Sky Bet Ebor Festival. There’s so much to get stuck into, so without further ado, these are horses and races that I’m looking forward to across the four days.

WEDNESDAY

The Juddmonte International is the feature on day one and what a puzzle that has been in the run up to the meeting with a will they, won’t they scenario about who will run in this mile and a quarter Group 1. It looks a corking contest with Aidan O’Brien represented by Eclipse winner Delacroix, who locks horns once again with Ombudsman. Of the duo I think Delacroix can confirm those placings after a messy race at Sandown and the fact that the three-year-old weight for age allowance is even more of an advantage as the season rolls on and the Classic generation mature further, catching up with their elders.

See The Fire is a daughter of Arabian Queen, who shocked everyone bar trainer David Elsworth in winning this race ten years ago, and has also proved to be a smart broodmare. See The Fire returns to the scene of her runaway Middleton Stakes victory over course and distance back in May and can’t be ruled out.

Daryz is the unbeaten French-trained colt who represents Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs, and his potential is there to see for a stable that are making a habit of sending the right horses over for these top quality races.

However, we have made a habit of underestimating the Japanese challengers and they have a good one here in Danon Decile. He beat Calandagan in the Sheema Classic in Dubai earlier this year, with Rebel’s Romance back in fourth, and that form stacks up. He’s 9/2 with Sky Bet and I hope that turns out to be a bit of value.

Elsewhere on day one, and speaking of potential value, I wonder if it’s worth taking on hotpot Lambourn in the Great Voltigeur. The dual Derby winner is odds-on favourite for this drop in class and on official ratings his rivals have plenty to find - and Lambourn has three teammates for protection - but Pride Of Arras seems too big at 9/1 here for a stable that have returned to more consistent form of late.

He showed his liking for this track when hacking up in the Dante back in May and has been gelded since two below par showings in the Derby and Irish Derby.

Italy is a colt I’ve kept an eye on after his winning debut at Leopardstown in May and whilst he was beaten subsequently, he’s a colt that will improve with time. Whether this is enough time remains to be seen but he’s my pick in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at 2.25pm. He’s 15/8 second favourite.

The Fillies’ Heritage Handicap looks red hot, but I think conditions will suit Fluorescence here for trainer Ed Bethell. She’s a progressive three-year-old who comes here in good form and has the assistance of Callum Rodriguez in the saddle. She’s a 9/1 shot.

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THURSDAY

Moving on to Thursday where the feature is the Yorkshire Oaks. Minnie Hauk is hot favourite for this and should take all the beating.

Remmooz is one I’m keeping an eye on in the Clipper Handicap at 3.00. Owen Burrows is a trainer I’ve a great deal of respect for and this horse has now won three of his four starts having made his racecourse debut in April. He looks like the potential group horse in a handicap and the step up to a mile has been a positive move for him.

There’s a battle for royal honours in the Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes with both Rainbows Edge and Aeolian entered for HM The King and HM The Queen in the mile and a half listed contest. William Haggas does a decent job in targeting this meeting, so I’ll side with Aeolian for the in form trainer here.

As a three-year-old she gets 8lb from her elders and her prominent racing style will be no barrier at this track. The good to firm ground will be a step into the unknown but she holds a group 1 entry and must be well regarded.

Racing Podcast: Sky Bet Ebor Festival preview

FRIDAY

Friday is Coolmore Nunthorpe day, and the Group 1 takes centre stage at 3.35. It was a bold move by trainer Ger Lyons to put juvenile Lady Iman in the race, but two-year-old’s have prevailed and gone close in this before thanks to the generous weight allowance and she will be bidding to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Lyric Fantasy and Kingsgate Native in winning this at two, and more recently The Platinum Queen who finished 2nd three years ago. Lyons has snapped up the services of Joe Fanning who knows this track like the back of his hand.

Mgheera has a horrible habit of taking a bit of time to crank into top gear when she jumps from the stalls but she mightily fast after that and I’d be happy enough to have her on my Nunthorpe team at the 10/1 she is with Sky Bet at the time of writing. That could be some each-way value for Ed Walker’s filly.

Earlier in the afternoon the Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup is the prize for the stayers and on all known form Trawlerman is the one to beat. He was impressive in the Gold Cup at Ascot last time out, and I can’t see Illinois turning that around even on the revised terms. Trawlerman famously won the Ebor at this meeting under an enterprising ride from Frankie Dettori, and I think he can bag another big race at this meeting. He’s 11/10 favourite.

Of the handicaps I’m interested in the opening Sky Bet Handicap over a mile and a half. Defiance caught the eye staying on well over a mile and a quarter at Goodwood last time out and his trainer Roger Varian has targeted this race successfully in the past. He was highly tried as a three-year-old and is still unexposed in handicaps. He’s a 6/1 shot.

Mgheera wins under Buick

SATURDAY

The meeting concludes on Saturday with the Sky Bet Ebor the headscratcher. Aidan O’Brien won the race back in 2001 with Mediterranean and has strong claims again with London City. Irish trained runners go well in this race, and this son of Justify won on his only previous start here at York in a 12-furlong handicap in May 2024. He’s faced some tough tasks this season. He was too keen over two miles on his return and ran well enough behind Al Riffa in the Curragh Cup last time out. He’s 8/1 with the sponsors. At the time of writing the final field hasn’t been assembled and crucially the draw is unknown, so much will depend on that closer to race time.

The City Of York Stakes has been promoted to Group 1 company for the first time and boy have they been rewarded by a quality line up. Partly through a twist of fate, but it’s exciting to see Rosallion rerouted here after a small foot issue saw him miss last Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois. He’s added real spice to this seven-furlong contest, which could be unwelcome news for connections and supporters of the upwardly mobile Never So Brave. I spoke about this race last week, but as a refresher, unless the forecast is wrong and no rain arrives conditions won’t be optimum for Maranoa Charlie, and possibly not Cosmic Year either. Qirat also adds some spice after he was added to the contest. He couldn’t land another Group 1, could he? Unlikely. Seagulls Eleven has also been given a throw of the dice by trainer Hugo Palmer, who is enjoying a successful season. I have a soft spot for Rosallion, and who wouldn’t with that engine and attitude, and if he’s in the field he’s the one they have to beat. He’s 6/4 favourite with Never So Brave 5/2 next best.

King’s Gambit has been an underachiever so far, I feel. He won a noteworthy handicap, the London Gold Cup at Newbury as a three-year-old, but subsequently he’s let the side down a little. He’s entered in the Strensall Stakes and a return to York should suit as he’s run well here before. He was only beaten ¾ length in last year’s Great Voltigeur and hope he can recapture his best. This is more hope than expectation, but I hope he can run well on this retrieval mission. He’s 5/1.