The Sky Bet Ebor Festival returns to York this week with four fantastic days of racing to look forward to. With so many scheduled entries, Our expert editor has highlighted two trainers and two jockey’s who could be set for a big week on the Knavesmire. Check them out below, alongside an exclusive customer offer from Sky Bet, who are offering up to £30 In Free Bets, when you sign up and place ANY bet.
Trainers
William Haggas
The head of Somerville Lodge has his team in top form heading into the Sky Bet Ebor Festival with the yard currently operating at a solid 34% strike rate in the last couple of weeks. Although the Newmarket handler has 25 runners set to line up across the four-day event, all eyes will most certainly be on the brilliant Baaeed, who is set to strut his stuff for the first time over 1m2f in Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes. The yard will also be confident of making its mark in some of the valuable handicaps across the week with a couple of unexposed types, including the hat-trick-seeking Pink Crystal and progressive three-year-old Amanzoe. Exceed and Excel filly Sacred hasn’t been beaten far in her two outings as a four-year-old this campaign and will bid to bounce back to winning ways in Saturday’s Group 2 City Of York Stakes and round the week off in style for connections.
Best Chance This Week: BAAEED – Juddmonte International Stakes (3:35 Wednesday)
Karl Burke
North Yorkshire handler Karl Burke is enjoying a fantastic year so far and has sent out 86 winners this season, including 27 juvenile winners. The trainer is 8-30 (27%) with his runners on the Knavesmire this campaign and will expect a couple of his stable stars to shine at York this week. Showcasing filly, Dramatised is one of those two-year-olds that has come to the fore this year, winning her maiden in impressive fashion at Newmarket before going on to land the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at the Royal meeting in June. The filly puts her unbeaten record on the line in the Lowther Stakes on Thursday and will take plenty of beating. The yard will also have high hopes of landing the Gimcrack Stakes on Friday as Marshman steps up into open company following two impressive victories in maiden and novice company, including when thumping eleven rivals by 8½ lengths at Thirsk last time out.
Best Chance This Week: DRAMATISED – Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (1:50 Thursday)
York Racecourse,
Knavesmire Rd,
York,
North Yorkshire YO23 1EX.
United Kingdom.
York Racecourse
Known as ‘The Knavesmire’, racing has been staged over this turf since 1731 and is without question one of the most attractive racecourses in the world. The highlight of each season is the prestigious three-day Ebor Meeting in August which features three Group 1 races. The Dante Meeting in May, also over three days, is another immensely popular fixture featuring a mix of classic trials, pattern races for older horses and top-class handicaps.
Jockeys
William Buick
It goes without saying, but William Buick certainly appears to be the man to follow at York this week. The jockey is currently riding at a 33% strike rate (13-40) in recent weeks and already looks well on course to land his first ever Jockeys’ Championship title after recently reaching 100 winners for the season in record-breaking time. Kicking things off on Wednesday, the rider will have high hopes of hitting the ground running on the Knavesmire with impressive debut winner Local Dynasty lining up in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes before Secret State takes his chance in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes. The hat-trick-seeking One Nation appears to be the pick of his rides on Thursday and the jockey will be confident of landing further success in the famous blue silks as Charlie Appleby’s colt Noble Style puts his unbeaten record on the line in Friday’s Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes. The likes of Valiant Prince, Wild Crusade and Al Suhail all appear to have solid claims in their respective races on Saturday afternoon and punters will certainly be keen to follow the leading rider throughout the course of the week.
Best Chance This Week: SECRET STATE – Great Voltigeur Stakes (3:00 Wednesday)
Hollie Doyle
Although the week gets off to a relatively quiet start for Hollie Doyle, she could still be set for a decent return on the Knavesmire with some notable entries scheduled for later in the week. After riding for five different trainers at Chepstow this Thursday, the jockey returns to York on Friday with two standout chances, partnering Alan King’s Treushan in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup Stakes before taking the ride for the first time on Richard Fahey’s progressive sprinter The Platinum Queen in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. The jockey also appears to have leading claims of completing a weekend double on the final day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival. The rider hasn’t teamed up with William Haggas on many occasions in the past but will be confident of going close with Soulcombe in the Melrose Handicap after the 3yo caught the eye in defeat at the Goodwood Festival last month. Despite failing to win in his last twelve starts, Tabdeed ran right up to his best when narrowly denied by a short head in the Stewards’ Cup under Hollie Doyle and the pair will bid to turn the tables on Michael Dods’ Commanche Falls in the Constantine Handicap on Saturday afternoon.
Best Chance This Week: THE PLATINUM QUEEN – Nunthorpe Stakes (3:35 Friday)
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