The York Ebor Festival begins on Wednesday with the £1.5million Juddmonte International taking centre stage. It sees a fascinating face-off between Ombudsman and the younger Constitution River.
The Great Voltigeur Stakes and several competitive big-field handicaps make it the day a terrific punting test. Our Chief Tipster Jason Heavey gives his race-by-race guide for day one.
Jason is one of the country’s leading newspaper tipsters. In 2023 he did the rare double of winning both national tipping titles – the Racing Post Press Challenge and also the coveted Racing Post Naps Table. He is currently the leading “red-top” tipster in the country in the National Press Challenge table.
1.50 Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap
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Air Force One can trump his rivals and fly home under PJ McDonald. The sprinter really loves York and blasted home to be third in this race 12 months ago.
He is 7lb higher in the weights but is a stronger horse this year and comes into the contest on the back of an excellent third at the track last month. At 15-2 he is a fair price to reverse that form with Stratusnine and he has a nice low draw.
Corolla Point is solid in the betting and is the unexposed horse in the race from the in-form yard of Ed Bethell. Lexington Blitz, Toca Madera and Naana’s Sparkle are all major players while last year’s winner Trefor has a tough draw and is much higher in the weights.
The Man was runner-up to Trefor last year and has been very well backed. He could run into a place yet again.
TIP: AIR FORCE ONE
Each-way: The Man
2.25 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes
Trean is fancied to strike in this Group Three race for Irish handler Paddy Twomey. The trainer holds the son of Bayside Boy in high regard and he won a maiden at Galway fairly cosily last month.
The bit of rain earlier in the week will help him and he gets the vote at around 5-1. Aidan O’Brien’s Haffner is a rock solid favourite and was a good second in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
His price seems a bit skinny and Gentle Hurricane is probably of much more value (8-1) following an impressive debut success at Salisbury for Andrew Balding.
Fuel The Jet is another who could outrun his odds after winning nicely at Newbury while Vega King, from the Karl Burke stable, will be popular with locals.
TIP: TREAN
Each-way: Gentle Hurricane
3.00 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes
Superior Choice can take the step up in trip in his giant stride for John and Thady Gosden. The son of Dubawi is unbeaten this season in three races but he has not really been properly tested.
He has impressed with the manner of his victories, and although he has plenty to find on ratings, Shane Foley’s mount can put it up to his some talented opposition.
Derby winner Christmas Day was second in the Irish equivalent and is among those to beat while Epsom runner-up Maltese Cross has since won a Group One race in France. Those two have to concede 5lb which makes them vulnerable to a rapid improver like 7-1 shot Superior Choice.
Andrew Balding once again throws Galiyan (14-1) into hot company and this St Leger entry could be suited by the long home straight. Pierre Bonnard has been a little disappointing but he did finish third in the Irish Derby.
TIP: SUPERIOR CHOICE
Each-way: Galiyan
3.35 Juddmonte International
Ombudsman can fend off young gun Constitution Rover in the £1.5million Juddmonte International. The race is the perfect clash to kick off the York Ebor Festival.
The generational head-to-head sees the five-year-old Ombudsman aiming to defend his crown in this prestigious Group One affair.
Last year he destroyed the younger Delacroix with a withering burst of speed up the Knavesmire after his pacemaker Birr Castle teared off in front to set the race up for him.
Devil’s Advocate and Rab Havlin will play the pacemaker this time although he may have to vie for the lead with Action, who has been put in to give stablemate Constitution River a tow into the race.
Ombudsman has been as good as ever this year with three wins on the spin including a brilliant display to win the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The rain that fell at York on Monday and early yesterday should not bother him and he gets the vote. Constitution River is unbeaten in five races and has picked up the French Derby and Coral-Eclipse in his last two.
He got the job done at Sandown and had stablemate Hawk Mountain – who also tuns today – back in third. But he has never met anything of the calibre of Ombudsman.
Almaqam comes into the reckoning after the rain eased the ground and at 20-1 is a terrific each-way bet. Item likes York and should run with credit while Zaydann is unbeaten and something of an unknown quantity.
Pride Of Arras is another York specialist and will enjoy the lightning fast pace that could put the emphasis on stamina as well as speed. And at 40-1 he is another one for each-way players.
TIP: OMBUDSMAN
Each-way: Almaqam
4.10 Sky Bet Stayers’ Handicap
Kirchner gets the vote under Ryan Moore in a trappy staying handicap. James Owen’s recruit was second in the Northumberland Plate on his third start in the UK since being bought from Jean-Claude Rouget’s yard in France before winning easily at Ascot.
He is up 6lb but the handicapper has not yet got to the bottom of him. Small Fry is the big danger for the red-hot Joseph O’Brien stable on the back of his excellent second at Goodwood.
Ride The Thunder, Valedictory and Shrimp Shady will all have their supporters. Prydwen is very good on his day and looks a very big each-way price at 33-1.
TIP: KIRCHNER
Each-way: Prydwen
4.45 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap
Zain Primus (Nap) is fancied to cement the big promise he showed in winning two races in the spring. John Butler’s charge has not run since May but he left a good impression when scoring at Newcastle and Kempton on the all-weather.
The yard is in excellent form – currently operating at a 26% strike rate – and the son of Pinatubo can make his presence felt from a good draw.
A quick start is probably essential in this speed test and Revival Power can be expected to be up with the pace. A useful two year old, she is yet to really fire this season but this sister to Winter Power has edged down the weights.
She is a silly price at 33-1 and could pinch a place on the podium. Naana’s Shadow is having a remarkable season but is 8lb higher in the weights and will find this tougher. Manatee Mehmas has finished behind her a couple of times and could reverse the form.
Miss Yechance, Schrodinger’s Cat and Poatan are others to consider.
TIP: ZAIN PRIMUS (Nap)
Each-way: Revival Power
5.20 Sky Bet Nursery Handicap
Dubai Champion has some job on his hands to win this from stall 20. But when you have Ryan Moore on your back you always have a chance.
The combo were chinned in a warm nursery at Glorious Goodwood and Moore will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to get Ben Hassan’s speedy juvenile in front from one of the highest draws.
However, I feel he is ahead of his handicap mark and there is plenty of early pace around him. Havana Sprite is very solid with three straight wins and has a perfect pitch in stall five while Peaceful Warrior and Jumeirah Storm are others to consider in this wide open race.
The Dancing Pirate has been well backed and although he finished behind Dubai Champion at Goodwood he has a good draw and Oisin Murphy on his back.
TIP: DUBAI CHAMPION
Each-way: Henley On Thames