The ITV7 is live throughout York’s Ebor Festival, with a £100,000 jackpot on offer on the opening day on Wednesday. GG gives you their selections for the competition to try to guide you towards that jackpot.
Race 1 – 1.50pm York – Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap
Unsurprisingly for a sprint handicap with 20 runners, there are an abundance of potential winners, with all of The Man, Jordan Electrics and Curious Rover worthy of places on the shortlist. However, for a local yard operating at a tremendous 31% strike rate in 2025, AIR FORCE ONE may be able to back up his recent victory here over 5f. That came in the jump jockeys’ Nunthorpe, with his rider doing well to get him across from stall 15 towards the far side, which could not be done from stall 17 when only ninth on his stable debut. He is 6lb higher for that victory, but stall 10 should be much less of an issue and he has seen out 5f well enough that the extra 100 yards here are not seen as an issue.
Race 2 – 2.25pm York – Tattersalls Acomb Sakes (Group 3)
Although there are two favourites with powerful connections in what was an extremely strong juvenile Group 3 last year, it could be worth chancing ROCHFORTBRIDGE. Adrian Paul Keatley has done well with his two-year-olds so far this year, and his son of Mehmas contributed with a stunning 28/1 win on debut in which he beat a massively odds-on favourite. That rival then went and won in Listed company in Ireland, having been second at Royal Ascot, so the fact the selection was able to beat him on debut could speak volumes. Unlike if he was trained by a big name stable, he has something to prove, but that performance looked to be no fluke visually.
Race 3 – 2.40pm Carlisle – Armstrong Watson Handicap
Chasing a hat-trick, SOLE SPIRIT looks a completely different proposition this season compared to as a juvenile last term. He only scored narrowly at Doncaster on his return, having also been gelded in the meantime, but then won cosily at Thirsk at the beginning of August. A further 7lb rise for that second success may not be enough to stop him, with his six rivals all looking to have something to prove.
Race 4 – 3.00pm York – Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 3)
Dual Derby winner Lambourn is the obvious favourite, but will have to concede weight all-round, and his Irish Derby form looks far from convincing, with the runner-up now set to continue his career abroad. The Epsom Derby also fell into his lap, and with 2lb conceded to Carmers, for whom his Queen’s Vase win is working out well, and 5lb conceded elsewhere, there could be alternatives. Stablemate STAY TRUE is the one who gets the nod, as he probably should have won the Lingfield Derby Trial and this represents more of a trial for him than it does Lambourn. The son of Galileo could have much more to offer after only two starts and is likely to be ridden prominently, which is always a positive at York.
Race 5 – 3.15pm Carlisle – Keith Milburn Handicap
One of the three three-year-olds should have every chance in this, with the best recent form possessed by SIDNEY STRATTON for Micky Hammond. Uncompetitive in three maiden and novice races, he nearly defied expectations to win on his handicap debut, finishing second over this course and distance in July. He has only gone up 1lb for that run and looks to have far less to prove than others, as well as being unexposed after only four races to date.
Race 6 – 3.35pm York – Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)
Danon Decile and Daryz could both be capable of making this a truly international race, but the Eclipse form from Sandown looks strong enough to keep this between two British and Irish contenders in OMBUDSMAN and Delacroix. The selection can overturn that running with a pacemaker in to aid him, as he was a blistering winner of the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot prior. The messy Sandown race ended up benefitting the outpaced Delacroix, despite Ryan Moore’s tactics going out the window, and with a 3lb swing at the weights for older horses at this juncture, John & Thady Gosden’s charge can be victorious.
Race 7 – 4.10pm York – Sky Bet Stayers Handicap
At the foot of the weights for this long distance handicap, TERRORISE might improve enough to take the step up in class in his stride. The four-year-old had been treading water in handicaps between 1m2f-1m6f on the flat before stepping up to easily win a course and distance handicap in July. The third won easily next time out, so there is enough substance to that form, and he could continue to benefit now his optimum trip has been found up 8lb.
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