PartialLogo
News

What's on this week: four brilliant days at York headlined by Group 1 stars

York: Ebor meeting runs from Wednesday through to Saturday
York: Ebor meeting runs from Wednesday through to SaturdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Monday

A quiet start to an otherwise eventful week gets under way with afternoon meetings at Lingfield and Catterick. Trainer Lisa Williamson will be hoping that Celerity, who recently broke her maiden status at the 106th attempt at Haydock, can make it back-to-back wins in the 5f handicap (3.50) at Lingfield.

The usual evening entertainment at Windsor is accompanied by a jumps meeting at Bangor, with Roscommon playing host to Ireland's only meeting of the day.

Tuesday

Wolverhampton and Hamilton host afternoon meetings with Keith Dalgleish's course-and-distance winner Platinumcard bidding for a hat-trick in the feature £20,000 Scottish Trophy Handicap (3.25).

Carlisle and Leicester host evening action with Sligo's seven-race card the only jumps meeting of the day.

Wednesday

York's showpiece Ebor meeting kicks off in style with the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes (3.35) headlining a quality opening day.

Aidan O'Brien will now be represented by Love, with St Mark's Basilica out after suffering a setback. He had been expected to repeat the form of last month's Coral-Eclipse, in which he beat the John and Thady Gosden-trained Mishriff by three-and-three-quarter lengths.

Andrew Balding's three-time Group 1-winning filly Alcohol Free is an intriguing entry in the £1 million contest on a day that also features the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes (3.00).

Away from the Knavesmire, other afternoon meetings come from Carlisle and Bath, while Worcester hosts evening action over jumps for the first time since facilities were "smashed to bits" by mindless vandals. An all-weather meeting at Kempton completes a busy day.

Thursday

Aidan O'Brien once again holds the key for the second day of York's Ebor meeting as his star filly Snowfall is set to return to the scene of her Musidora success seeking an Oaks hat-trick.

The three-year-old is odds-on to add the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks (3.35) to her wins in the British and Irish versions with a combined winning margin of just under 25 lengths.

Can Snowfall make it a hat-trick of Oaks wins in Thursday's Yorkshire edition?
Can Snowfall make it a hat-trick of Oaks wins in Thursday's Yorkshire edition?Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The Group 2 Lowther Stakes (1.50) opens the exciting seven-race card with the unbeaten Albany and Duchess of Cambridge winner Sandrine looking to make it four wins out of four for Andrew Balding and the in-form David Probert.

O'Brien could also have an eye closer to home as Khartoum is entered for the Listed Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes (5.45) at Killarney's evening meeting.

Week four of the Racing League heads to Windsor with other meetings at Chepstow on the Flat, Stratford over jumps and Wolverhampton on the all-weather.

Friday

Stradivarius, winner of the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (2.25) in 2018 and 2019, did not make the trip to Yorkshire for the hat-trick bid last year but returns after being withdrawn from the Goodwood Cup at the last minute due to the ground.

Stradivarius - Frankie Dettori wins from Count Octave - Oisin MurphyThe Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series) York 24/8/2018©cranhamphoto.com
Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Lonsdale Cup on Stradivarius in 2018Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The Lonsdale Cup is followed by the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes (3.00) and the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (3.35).

Richard Hannon's course-and-distance winner Lusail aims to make it back-to-back Group 2 wins in the Gimcrack after success in the July Stakes.

French raider and King George Stakes hero Suesa and Golden Pal, who Wesley Ward described as potentially the best horse he has ever trained, promises to be a thrilling clash in the Nunthorpe.

Kempton and Musselburgh are the other afternoon meetings with Salisbury, Newcastle, Kilbeggan and Killarney completing a busy evening.

Saturday

The £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (3.35) headlines a frenetic day of high class action across the country.

Leading jumps trainer Willie Mullins will be hoping Galway Hurdle winner Saldier can make the cut for the Ebor, but his brother Tony revealed a tilt at Europe's richest Flat handicap is unlikely for his star mare Princess Zoe.

The feature race is preceded by the Group 2 City of York Stakes (3.00), with the Group 3 Solario Stakes (2.05) and Atalanta Stakes (2.40) at Sandown adding to a hectic hour and a half.

A happy Patrick Mullins after winning third Guinness Galway Hurdle partnering Saldier this year. Galway Festival day 4.Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post29.07.2021
Saldier: Galway Hurdle winner could bid for victory in Saturday's EborCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The £50,000 Listed Chester Stakes (2.10) also adds to the quality, which continues into the evening at the Curragh with two Group 2s, the Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes (6.05) for fillies and the Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes (6.40). Killarney also hosts action in Ireland.

In Britain, jumps racing comes from Newton Abbot with all-weather meetings at Lingfield and Chelmsford in the evening.

Sunday

Wonderful Tonight, Lady Bowthorpe, Love and last year's winner Audarya head an exciting field of entrants for the Group 1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.

Phoenix Stakes scorer Ebro River could bid to make it back-to-back big race wins in the Darley Prix Morny, the other Group 1 on the card.

Back in Britain, Sandown hosts the second edition of the Sky Bet Sunday Series after Haydock's abandoned meeting was rescheduled to September 12.

Other meetings come from Brighton, while Worcester hosts a second meeting of the week over jumps.


Read more on the Ebor festival:

Eight experts pick out their dark horses to follow at York this week

'She's thriving so why not' – Alcohol Free to run in Juddmonte International

All the essential information for York's Ebor Festival 2021


For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets


Published on 16 August 2021inNews

Last updated 09:43, 16 August 2021

iconCopy