The four-day York Ebor Festival starts on Wednesday of this week and runs through until Saturday.
It is one of Britain’s leading summer festivals and features three top-class Group One contests and culminates with the ultra-competitive Ebor Handicap over 1m 6f on the fourth and final day.
Here is guide to what you can expect to see this week on the Knavesmire:
WEDNESDAY
The opening day of the Ebor Festival is named Juddmonte International Day after the showpiece event, the Juddmonte International. The Juddmonte is a Group One over 1m2f for horses aged three years and older and is renowned for bringing together the Classic generation with their elders.
It has become routine for dominant Guineas’ and Derby victors to tackle the older crop in the Juddmonte. The race is regarded as one of the very best middle-distance contests of the summer, adding further importance to the first day of the meeting.
This year’s Juddmonte International is being billed as a “clash of the titans” by many and the race should really live up to its star billing from what we have seen from the main protagonists already this season.
Poet’s Word and Roaring Lion are vying for favouritism after featuring among 11 confirmations for Wednesday’s renewal.
The pair dominate the betting for the mile and a quarter feature but are not frightening away the opposition as Aidan O’Brien still runs his Deep Impact colt Saxon Warrior, while his son, Joseph, is not afraid to send over Latrobe, the Irish Derby winner to join battle.
The Great Voltigeur Stakes also plays a major role in the horse racing action on the Ebor meeting’s opening day. As a Group Two race over 1m 4f for three-year-old colts and geldings, the Great Voltigeur is a mid-summer alternative to the Epsom Derby.
The Grand Prix de Paris winner. Kew Gardens, currently heads the ante-post betting for this race and for the St Leger at Doncaster next month.
Mark Johnston's Dee Ex Bee, who was runner-up in the Investec Derby, and the Tim Easterby-trained Wells Farhh Go, winner of the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket, look the best of the non-Aidan O’Brien trained runners.
The Ballydoyle trainer is responsible for half of the 16 entries.
THURSDAY
Day two marks Ladies’ Day at York racecourse as the Yorkshire Oaks and Lowther Stakes dominate the afternoon’s racing.
The Karl Burke-trained Laurens bids to complete a Group One hat-trick, having landed the Prix Saint-Alary and the Prix de Diane in France since filling the runner-up spot in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Her potential rivals include the Irish Oaks heroine Sea Of Class, although connections will be keeping a close eye on the weather.
Aidan O'Brien has left in Bye Bye Baby, Flattering, Forever Together and Magic Wand.
Aidan O'Brien has six entries in the Lowther Stakes as he attempts to land the valuable Group Two for juvenile fillies.
The top pick of his sextet appears to be Fairyland, who was last seen finishing third to Main Edition in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, while his So Perfect went down by just half a length to Martyn Meade's colt Advertise in the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last weekend and must rate as a serious contender.
FRIDAY
The third afternoon of the Ebor meeting is centred on the sprinters, and the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes for horses aged two and older. The contest is a blistering five-furlong sprint that is regarded as one of the strongest races in the division.
The fastest race of the week, the Coolmore Nunthorpe, is the target for Battaash who will be setting up a rematch with Blue Point on Friday afternoon.
Blue Point got the better of Battaash in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June over five furlongs although he was well beaten last month in July Cup at Newmarket.
Battaash, on the other hand, bounced back to form at Glorious Goodwood, winning the King George Stakes by four lengths and showing once again that he is the world’s fastest horse.
The four-year-old filly Mabs Cross has run with credit in top sprint races this term, winning the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket in May and finishing in the first four in the Temple Stakes, the King's Stand Stakes and the Sapphire Stakes.
Judicial heads straight to the Nunthorpe after sidestepping several recent engagements in Ireland and Britain.
The Julie Camacho-trained sprinter for Elite Racing has been in good form this season, finishing second in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket before taking a conditions race at Beverley and the Group Three Coral Charge at Sandown.
SATURDAY
The last day of the Ebor meeting sees the week’s showpiece event, and Europe’s richest handicap, The Ebor Handicap headlines a hugely competitive card. Raced over 1m 6f, the race brings together a number of Britain and Ireland’s best staying handicappers as they do battle for a share of the £500,000 prize-purse.
York Racecourse chairman Lord Grimthorpe said: “York is delighted that our continued commercial success in the first half of the season has allowed us to keep investing in the prize money, facilities and experience of racing at York.
"The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival is our flagship meeting and we look forward to welcoming the racegoers and supporters to York to see the world’s best horses and jockeys competing on the Knavesmire.
"It already looks set to be a fabulous four days of racing action. Our continued thanks to our supporters and sponsors who help us to invest in racing at York.”
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
