Friday sees some quality racing take place at York, with the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup one of the highlights of the day at 2.25pm. Plenty of classy stayers line up. but it’s certainly a race that lacks that superstar, so it’s a contest that could go to an improving sort.

Andrew Balding has already tasted Group 1 victory this week and the in-form handler can land more Group success in the Lonsdale Cup. Steve Chambers tells us why here…

2026 Lonsdale Cup Runners 

A Group 1 winner in France two starts ago, George Scott’s Caballo De Mar failed to follow up when finishing last in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. He’s on the comeback trail here, but if he can recapture the form that saw him sparkle in Europe then he has to be respected. However, he does have to give weight away to all his rivals here, so faces an uphill battle.

Sixth in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting, Amiloc unseated in the early stages of the Goodwood Cup last time out. A classy middle-distance performer, he’s often shown that the petrol gauge can run out in these sort of long distance events, so is vulnerable towards the head of the market.

A former Queen’s Vase winner, Carmers has failed to kick on from that success for Paddy Twomey. A listed winner at Down Royal back in May, he was last seen on the track languishing in sixth in the Gold Cup. One that does head to the Lonsdale Cup in form is Mount Atlas for Andrew Balding. The five-year-old edged out Tabletalk in a York Group 3 last time out, and stepping up in distance here he’s one to be respected.

Illiniois relished the drop back in class to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Ascot in June, but has struggled in recent times to land a blow in Group company, whilst All Nayyir, Columbus, French Master and previous winner Quickthorn add more depth to a winnable event.

2026 Lonsdale Cup Racecard

Lonsdale Cup Trends

Check out all the key trends and stats for the Lonsdale Cup:

• 5 of the last 10 winners have been favourite
• 9 of the last 10 winners have been aged 5 or older
• 2 of the last 10 winners headed into the race unbeaten
• 9 of the last 10 winners have been trained in UK

2026 Lonsdale Cup Tips 

A wide open renewal sees a bunch of stayers with something to prove line up in the 2026 Lonsdale Cup. Carmers, Amiloc and Caballo De Mar have shown glimpses of quality when at their best, but all three have struggled at times. So, it’s worth taking a chance on Andrew Balding’s Mount Atlas, who won a Group 3 at York on his last outing, and if he can relish the step up in trip then could cause a shock. Amiloc can stay on best of the rest to grab second, with Illinois bagging the bronze medal.

FAQ

When and where is the Lonsdale Cup run?

The Lonsdale Cup will take place at York racecourse on Friday 21st August, 2026 at 2.25pm.

How can I watch the Lonsdale Cup on Friday?

The Lonsdale Cup is live on ITV at 2.25pm on Friday afternoon.

When were the Lonsdale Cup tips published?

The tips for the Lonsdale Cup were published at 10.25am on Thursday 20th August.

Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.