Charlie Johnston: My York team

Charlie Johnston Stable Tour: Sky Bet Ebor Festival team for York

Horse Racing

Sat August 08, 2026 · 3w ago

Check out the top trainer's guide to his leading hopes for the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York.

Middleham-based trainer Charlie Johnston will not have to travel far for York’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival and wields a strong hand of competitive runners, including Sky Bet Ebor hopeful Align The Stars.

Recognisable in their trademark tartan, the team have opportunities for success over all four days of the meeting on the Knavesmire, from Group One to handicap company, although Johnston acknowledges the difficulties of winning at York.

“The prize money is so good that almost every handicap has 20 runners and they’re hard to win,” he said. “But we have horses with improvement to come.”

WEDNESDAY

Sky Bet Stayers Handicap Stakes - Ghaiyya

“She was supposed to be running in the Shergar Cup but has missed the race due to a foot abscess. She is Subjectivist’s half-sister, has only run once over two miles so is unexposed over those kinds of trips but given her family, stamina was never likely to be an issue. I’d like to think there’s more improvement to come from her over those distances so, all being well, she’d go to the two-mile handicap on the Wednesday.”

THURSDAY

Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks - Venetian Lace

“The wheels came off a bit through Epsom and Newmarket. I feel a bit bad for the filly as I don’t think it was her fault. If it would have been any other race than the Oaks at Epsom, we wouldn’t have run because we know she wants fast ground – it was the Oaks and you had to roll the dice. We’d left Epsom planning to go to the Pretty Polly, but had a last-minute change of heart. In hindsight, it was the wrong move.

“We had to rush her into Goodwood [Gordon Stakes] to get her back on track again and I thought she ran well, I was pleased with her against the boys. She’s shaped like ten furlongs is going to be her best trip so she’s also in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville that week.

“If Kalpana turns up [at York], we would probably be more inclined to go for the Prix Jean Romanet if the ground suited. It will depend on the opposition and the ground. I’ve kept both options open.”

Mews Hotel Ossett EBF Stallions Nursery Handicap Stakes - Telegraphic

“He was very impressive when winning his maiden at Brighton and was just touched off when trying to win a novice under a penalty at Yarmouth. He pulled a long way clear and I thought he emerged from that with a lot of credit. He was still quite green but a nice two-year-old that will continue to improve.”

British EBF Fillies’ Handicap Stakes - Carnival Of Light

“Carnival Of Light is interesting. I bought her for 1,000 guineas at the back end of her three-year-old year, having never run and a very interrupted first two years of her career, having been injured the entire time. It took us nine months to get her to the track but she’s won her last two races. It’ll be a big jump up in class for her, but she’s a nice filly.

FRIDAY

Sky Bet EBF Fillies’ Handicap Stakes - Si Grass

“A lightly-raced filly with only four runs. We took her to Goodwood having not run for six months and had to rush her to get there. She was too fresh in the preliminaries, too fresh in the race and given the circumstances, ran well to only be beaten four or five lengths. I think she’ll take a big step forward for that. We’d like to keep her at a mile but might have to go for the mile-and-a-quarter fillies handicap to get her in.”

Align The Stars wins the Northumberland Plate

SATURDAY

Sky Bet Melrose Handicap Stakes - Sea And Sun

“It’s going to be a big ask for a horse that is still a maiden. He’s only had four runs in his life and his first two handicap starts are going to be at Glorious Goodwood and York’s Ebor meeting. I’m asking big questions of him, but I think he’ll stay very well and improve for the step up in trip. He wouldn’t mind some juice in the ground but I don’t think we’re going to get that. He’s a promising horse for the future and will be a very good stayer next year. We’re happy to roll the dice and drop back in class after if we need to.”

Sky Bet Ebor Handicap Stakes - Align The Stars

“He is owned by Tony Farmer, a local man to York, and it’s always been a dream to win an Ebor. Even having a runner, he’ll be close to heart failure in the paddock. It’ll be a great experience for him.

“Align The Stars won the Northumberland Plate this year, he’s now shaping like he’d prefer two miles than one mile six, particularly rated 101. It might be a little too much of a sharper test for him now – a mile and six furlongs on quick ground – but he’s a tough, honest and consistent horse. Hopefully he’ll give Tony a good run.”

Sky Bet Finale Handicap Stakes - Evanesco & Thunder Wonder

“Evanesco could go to the mile-and-a-quarter handicap. He ran well in the equivalent race at Goodwood. Life’s a little bit tough for him now as he’s very highly-rated and he’s giving a lot of weight away in these races to less exposed horses. He’s tough and honest and a reproduction of that Goodwood run would put him bang there.

“He could be joined by Thunder Wonder, who ran an extraordinary race at Goodwood. He clipped heels and stumbled about ten yards after the start, went down on his nose and was about ten lengths detached in the first furlong. He has come around the entire field in the straight, finishing fifth beaten about two lengths. He can be his own worst enemy at the start, so the first furlong will be as crucial as the last. The way he made ground at Goodwood suggests he’s more than capable of winning from his current mark.”