The FansBet guide to the York Ebor Meeting…

In a nutshell, York’s prestigious and keenly awaited Ebor Meeting is four days of the best Flat racing you’ll come across pretty anywhere on the planet, the high summer watermark, a bastion of equine talent, human brilliance in the saddle, prize money, sunshine, famously affordable champagne, great betting opportunities, style, glamour and excitement, all wrapped up into a four-day blitz on the beautiful Knavesmire.

Allow FansBet Racing to be your guide as we delve into the daily highlights, picking out star names and special moments, as well as explaining our ‘always on’ vision of horse racing.

This outlook will be gilded with daily charity bet contributions on behalf of our industry partners at the vital charity, Racing Welfare, plus daily expert insight from leading jockey and FansBet ambassador Rab Havlin via his exclusive company blog, as well as the constant ‘always  on’ guiding light which is our list of stats, trends, facts and figures, crafted each and every day into the ‘FansBet Daily Racing Report’, designed specifically to remove the hard work and precious research time put into having a wager with us.

FansBet’s connection to Racing Welfare

 FansBet are unique in offering customers the opportunity to support any one of a vast array of causes that matter to them in a number of sports, via their pledge to share 50% of net profits with partners. For horse racing followers, this may very well be Racing Welfare, the superb charity which works diligently to support the sport’s workforce.

For new and existing customers, the chance to tag their account to Racing Welfare means any winning bets are honoured in the time-served and traditional manner, but any unsuccessful bets mean some good can still be done, with a share of those stakes directed towards Racing Welfare, helping them to continue doing their outstanding work within the sport.

Furthermore, on each and every day of the York Ebor Meeting, FansBet’s social channels will be carrying an update on our daily £100 charity bet, chosen by company ambassasor and star jockey, Rab Havlin. All profits to Racing Welfare.

What else to expect?

Specials available from Monday on all the key races

Guaranteed extra places or specials on every race of the Festival

Ultra-competitive pricing on ALL races

Wednesday August 21

The mile and a quarter Group 1 Juddmonte International, York’s richest race with a purse of £607,151 to the winner, has been captured by some of the truly great names and is a fitting jewel in the crown with which to launch the four days as the opening feature. Sea The Stars and legendary jockey Mick Kinane lit up the Knavesmire with their victory here in this great race in 2009, part of a campaign which also included the Guineas, Derby and Arc. Three years later, a certain Frankel, regarded by many as the greatest thoroughbred in the history of the sport, captured the Juddmonte by a sweltering seven lengths in what would prove to be his penultimate taste of the racecourse, sent off at odds of 1/10.

Day one race plan:

1:55 – Sky Bet & Symphony Group Stakes

2:25 – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes

3:00 – Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes

3:35 – Juddmonte International Stakes

4:15 – Sky Bet Stakes

4:50 – Sky Bet Nursery Handicap

Day One Racing Welfare £100 York Ebor Festival Charity Bet

Selected by FansBet Racing ambassador Rab Havlin, today’s charity bet:

3 Logician, £100 win, 3.00 York.

Daily Racing Report

Meetings, first race time & likely going description

Bath – 1.45pm – Good

York – 1.55pm – Good

Carlisle – 2.05pm – Soft (Good to Soft)

Killarney – 2.10pm – Jumps: Yielding (Good to Yielding) / Flat: Yielding to Soft

Worcester – 5.00pm – Good

Kempton – 5.45pm – Standard to Slow

Ones to watch / Daily Pointers

Rely on FansBet Racing to steer you in the right direction as we dive into the fantastic four days which comprise York’s Ebor Festival.

One of the key talking points of the entire York Ebor Meeting arrives in the very first race, as the Michael Dods-trained Dakota Gold seeks a second win in four days in the 1.55. Saddled with a mandatory five pound penalty, the County Durham stable he belongs two are hoping he can complete a hat-trick and in doing so add today’s tricky handicap to Saturday’s Great St Wilfrid at Ripon. Overall this rapid improver has won three of his last six and is also a former course and distance winner here at York.

Eight of the 10 runners declared for the 2.25 York were successful last time out, but who will it be who prevails in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes? Clearly not too much was expected from Vitalogy on debut last month, but the No Nay Never colt failed to read the script and popped up with a 25/1 victory! He won’t be anything like those odds second time out, and could even be challenging for favouritism. It could be significant that Joseph O’Brien chooses to raise his sights and commit him on the journey across the Irish sea from his County Kilkenny base.

READ: FansBet Ambassador Rab Havlin’s York Ebor Festival Blog, Day One Special

Successful on three of his last four mounts, it’s significant Frankie Dettori roars back to life with a full book of six rides at York today. Chief among those appears to be the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes favourite Logician, who is unbeaten in three outings so far and could take some stopping in the 3.00 York. Nothing has got close to the Frankel colt so far and it could be next stop Doncaster for the St Leger if the pair can negotiate this test.

Dating back to Shardari in 1986, master trainer Sir Michael Stoute is a six-time former winner of the feature Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes, which is today’s feature 3.35 York. Bidding to win it once again, he sends out 127-rated star Crystal Ocean, as well as back-up in the shape of Regal Reality. After his titanic but ultimately unsuccessful tussle with Enable at Ascot, the coast looks clear for Crystal Ocean to land his second Group 1, and perhaps start to get some of the credit he deserves.

The winner of four of his last six outings, one of those with valid claims to be right in the thick of the action in the 4.15 is Carnwennan, who should well be suited to the test provided by this extended two mile stayers’ handicap which is the longest race of the opening day of the Ebor Festival. A former course and distance scorer here at York during May’s Dante Meeting, he has also tasted success twice on the all-weather this season, including in the consolation race for the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on his penultimate start. His trainer, Charlie Fellows, has 25 winners on the board for the campaign so far.

Perhaps the hardest race of the opening day to try and pick a winner is the concluding 4.50, a six furlong nursery with a massive 22 runners to try and evaluate. This juvenile handicap features the likes of Oti Ma Boati, Pop Dancer, Troubadour, Homespin, Otago and Malvern, who between them have won their last 13 outings! All represent powerful stables, though just as in the first race on the card, perhaps Michael Dods holds the trump card. His grey Troubadour has more experience than most of these, has won his last three on the bounce, plus has winning coursed form on his CV.

Thursday August 22

The social highlight of these four great days, Thursday is Ladies Day. Out on the track, females also dominate with the feature being the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, regularly attracting the very best fillies and mares from around Europe. The 2017 renewal went the way of the mighty Enable for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, striding out by five lengths to readily see off her stablemate Coronet. Since then the wonder mare has twice captured the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and she’s under consideration to use this year’s Yorkshire Oaks as a stepping stone to a bid for a third Arc. Unmissable!

Day two race plan:

1:55 – Sky Bet Lowther Stakes

2:25 – Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes

3:00 – Clipper Logistics Stakes

3:35 – Darley Yorkshire Oaks

4:15 – British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes

4:50 – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Stakes

Day Two Racing Welfare £100 York Ebor Festival Charity Bet

Selected by FansBet Racing ambassador Rab Havlin, today’s charity bet:

4 Liberty Beach, £100 win, 1.55 York

Daily Racing Report

Meetings, first race time & likely going description

Stratford – 1.00pm – Good

Chepstow – 1.45pm – Good to Soft (Good)

York – 1.55pm – Good

Killarney – 4.35pm – Jumps: Yielding (Good to Yielding) / Flat: Yielding to Soft

Fontwell – 4.40pm – Good to Firm (Good)

Leicester – 5.30pm – Good to Soft (Good)

Ones to watch / Daily Pointers

A really classy renewal of the Group 2 Lowther Stakes eases us in to day two at York’s Ebor Festival. Run at 1.55, this 10-runner fillies’ event features some seriously promising talent, not least in-form James Tate’s Under The Stars. Unbeaten in two starts including a 25/1 Group 3 stunner at Ascot last time out, she holds two future Group 1 entries and is one of a number of these for whom the sky could be the limit.

Hats off to anyone lucky enough to unearth the winner of the 2.25 York! This 22-runner Premier Yearling Stakes is heaving with promising types from good stables. Conceding weight to all comers is the Richard Hannon-trained Mums Tipple, the mount of Ryan Moore and one from one having grittily hung on to score at Ascot on debut 27 days ago.

The choice in his blog of FansBet ambassador Rab Havlin when last seen running fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot two months ago, David Barron’s Kynren reappears after a break in the 3.00 York, the 20-runner Clipper Logistics Handicap over a mile. As ever in these sort of races there are plenty of battle-hardened types to take account of, but Kynren is deserving of plenty of respect after going close in a string of tough contests, including when a neck second in this very race 12 months ago.

READ: FansBet Ambassador Rab Havlin’s York Ebor Festival Blog, Day Two Special

There’s absolutely no question who the star turn is on Ladies Day at York, with Enable in town and ready to roll in pursuit of a fifth consecutive Group 1 prize in the Yorkshire Oaks at 3.35. Frankie Dettori’s mount, a five length winner of this race in 2017, now has an unbeaten run numbering 11 as she uses today’s feature as a stepping stone for her assault on a third consecutive Arc de Triomphe at Lonchamp in early October.

Run in memory of the legendary Sir Henry Cecil, the man who sublimely prepared Frankel to light up this very stage back in 2012, the 4.15 York is the listed mile and a half Galtres Stakes for fillies and mares. Be sure to have a read of Rab Havlin’s day two FansBet York blog – the leading rider passes on some words of encouragement for the chances of Hameem.

Due off at 4.50, the day two finale at York is a very deep and tricky looking seven furlong fillies and mares’ handicap. Any number of these catch the eye, but trainer William Haggas has his string in exceptional form and will have high hopes for James Doyle’s mount Mubtasimah. She’s on a four-timer having delivered a perfect season to date, including a course and distance stroll here on the Knavesmire to kick-off back in late June.

Friday August 23 

Blink and you’ll miss it! The Group 1 five furlong Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes means speed is of the essence on day three of the Ebor Meeting. Some of the speediest horses around are set to lock horns this year, with the likes of Ten Sovereigns, Battaaash and Mabs Cross all under consideration. Throw in the possibility of lightly-weighted juvenile A’Ali trying to gatecrash the party and we’ve got the ingredients of a spectacular race.

Day three race plan:

1:55 – Sky Bet Stakes

2:25 – Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup

3:00 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes

3:35 – Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes

4:15 – British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes

4:50 – Nationwide Accident Repair Services Stakes

Day Three Racing Welfare £100 York Ebor Festival Charity Bet

Selected by FansBet Racing ambassador Rab Havlin, today’s charity bet:

8 Ten Sovereigns, £100 win, 3.35 York

Daily Racing Report

Meetings, first race time & likely going description

Ffos Las – 1.45pm – Good (Good to Soft)

York – 1.55pm – Good (Good to Firm)

Newmarket – 2.05pm – Good to Firm

Killarney – 4.45pm – Yielding (Yielding to Soft)

Goodwood – 5.00pm – Good to Soft (Good)

Curragh – 5.10pm – Straight: Yielding to Soft / Round: Yielding

Salisbury – 5.15pm – Good (Good to Soft)

Chelmsford – 5.45pm – Standard

Ones to watch / Daily Pointers

After a superb couple of opening cards we’re at the half way mark of the Ebor Festival, where York’s 20-runner 1.55 race gets us up and running on Nunthorpe day, a mile and a half handicap worth in excess of £43,000 to the winner and attracting plenty of quality. Jockey Oisin Murphy could barely be in better form of late, regularly attracting the attention of the FansBet Daily Racing Report when partnering winners on 13 consecutive riding days. Here he gets the leg-up on Ed Walker’s Caradoc, a four year old by Camelot on whom he won at Windsor 11 days ago. This progressive horse carries a mandatory five pound penalty for that success, but must be a significant threat given his improving profile and the fact’s he’s won two of his last three.

Now established as one of the all-time great staying champions, the star turn on day three arrives in the shape of Stradivarius in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at 2.25. Five Group 1’s so far, eight victories on the bounce, his silky smooth partnership with Frankie Dettori, a three from three unblemished York record, plus his tiger like ability to find a way to win all mark him down as a true people’s horse.

Second in both Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes and Glorious Goodwood’s Richmond Stakes, the 3.00 York provides another major opening for Richard Hannon’s Threat to gain the victory on the big stage his talent seemingly deserves. Rated 111, the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes seems likely to be run with Threat going off a strong market leader, especially with man of the moment Oisin Murphy on board for the first time.

READ: FansBet Ambassador Rab Havlin’s York Ebor Festival Blog, Day Three Special

The Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combination struck gold on the opening day of the York Ebor Festival, as their challenger Japan rallied by a head to deny Crystal Ocean in a thrilling climax to the million pound Group 1 Juddmonte International. Back for more today, they go to war with July Cup hero Ten Sovereigns in the 3.35, hoping to add the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes to the trophy cabinet. The 122-rated dual Group 1 winner has gone off favourite in five of his six career starts and is highly likely to do so here, coming up against the likes of Battaash, sent off odds on favourite when fourth in this race 12 months ago, as well as last year’s runner up Mabs Cross.

The Roger Varian-trained Molatham created a big impression on debut in a traditionally warm Ascot maiden late last month, running on strongly to be denied by a neck over six furlongs. If that form looked decent at the time it looks borderline irresistible now, given the horse who beat him narrowly, Mums Tipple, came out and destroyed the opposition with a demolition job in the second race at York on day two! Up to seven furlongs now, Molatham tries his hand in the 4.15 York, a highly competitive looking 16-runner maiden.

A stunning 15 winners from 43 runners meant trainer William Haggas was operating at a 43% strike-rate for the 14-day period going into day two of the York Ebor Festival, and he’ll have high hopes of maintaining his buoyant form in the lucky last on day three, preparing to unleash both Nahaarr and Fanaar in the 4.50 race. This £70,000 mile handicap isn’t short of credible candidates, none more so than Nahaarr who won his first four and was third in a good race at Newmarket last time out. PJ McDonald takes over in the saddle.

Saturday August 24

First run in 1840, the race after which the entire fixture takes its name is a fitting big race finale, with the mile and three quarter Ebor Handicap taking centre stage on day four. York’s oldest and most famous race is worth an eyewatering £600,000 to the winner!

Day four race plan:

1:55 – Sky Bet & Symphony Group Strensall Stakes

2:25 – Sky Bet Melrose Stakes

3:00 – Sky Bet City Of York Stakes

3:40 – Sky Bet Ebor

4:10 – Julia Graves Roses Stakes

4:45 – Sky Bet Stakes

5:20 – Sky Bet Apprentice Stakes

Day Three Racing Welfare £100 York Ebor Festival Charity Bet

Selected by FansBet Racing ambassador Rab Havlin, today’s charity bet:

3 Laurens, £100 win, 3.00 York

Daily Racing Report

Meetings, first race time & likely going description

Killarney – 12.50pm – Yielding

Goodwood – 1.30pm – Good (Good to Soft)

Newmarket – 1.40pm – Good to Firm

York – 1.50pm – Good to Firm (Good)

Chelmsford – 2.00pm – Standard

Cartmel – 2.15pm – Soft

Windsor – 4.40pm – Good to Firm

Redcar – 4.55pm – Good (Good to Firm)

Kilbeggan – 5.05pm – Good to Yielding (Good)

Ones to watch / Daily Pointers

Run over a mile and a furlong at 1.50, the Group 3 Strensall Stakes is a good introduction to Ebor day at York, the fourth and final day of a festival which has given us memorable displays from the likes of Logician, Japan, Mums Tipple and Enable. Sir Michael Stoute found himself denied in a photo finish when Crystal Ocean was edged out by the narrowest of margins in Wednesday’s Juddmonte International, but he could be set for a winning start here with his Zaaki the mount of Ryan Moore. The gelding was disappointing when dropped in distance at Glorious Goodwood, but today’s step back up in trip could very well help him rediscover his early season form which yielded wins at both Ascot and Epsom.

Newmarket man Sir Mark Prescott saddled a ‘cross the card’ double on Wednesday, and with his string in good heart prepares to saddle his sole runner of the entire Ebor Festival in today’s 2.25 York, with Land Of Oz carrying an each way chance in the Melrose Handicap at 2.25. Four wins in the space of 36 days have seen the Australia colt’s handicap rating shoot up from 58 to the 82 off which he competes today, coming up against a plethora of in-form rivals from top stables. Nonetheless, Prescott isn’t known for tilting at windmills and his chance should be respected.

The 116-rated Laurens typically comes good in the second half of the campaign, a trend endorsed by her back to form victory in Deauville’s Group 1 Prix Rothschild at the end of last month. Today she bids to add the 3.00 York, the seven furlong Group 2 City Of York Stakes, in which she meets nine rivals. Conceding weight to all bar two of her opponnets won’t be easy, but she’s a six-time Group 1 scorer very much entitled to be a strong favourite against this opposition.

READ: FansBet Ambassador Rab Havlin’s York Ebor Festival Blog, Day Four Special

A handicap in name only, the race after which the entire Festival is named is the jewel in the crown of the fourth and final day at York, with the million pound Ebor in focus at 3.40pm. A field of 22 runners are due to chase this vast prize, and on his second start since a wind op perhaps the name inscribed on the trophy in 2019 could turn out be Roger Charlton’s Withhold. From a stable in great form, the talented six year old has been restricted to just five starts in the last two and a half years, but they include victories in the Cesarewitch and Northumberland Plate, plus an authoritative strike at Newbury last time out.

Due off at 4.10, there’ll be no hanging about in race five on the card at York, the listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes over the flying five furlongs. Joseph O’Brien crosses the Irish Sea with Glorious Goodwood second Alligator Alley, a very fast colt who won his only other start at the minimum distance when scoring at Navan in July.

The penultimate race of the 2019 Ebor Festival is the 4.45 York, a tough to call, 17-runner, 10 and a half furlong handicap. One especially eye-catching declaration is no less then Tony Martin’s Tudor City, the horse jumps racing aficionados will instantly recognise as last month’s Galway Hurdle winner. Switching codes here for his ever-shrewd trainer Tony Martin, the seven year old has the assistance of veteran pilot John Egan and receives weight from all bar one of his rivals.

And then there was one! The stars of tomorrow get a chance to shine in the final race of York’s Ebor Festival, with a five furlong apprentice handicap set to bring down the curtain at 5.20. Seemingly always in demand at present, Cieren Fallon claims three pounds as he partners Tony Carroll’s Recon Mission, a three year who goes well at York, popping up here with a 20/1 victory over six furlongs back in June.

*all odds are subject to change