The four-day Ebor Festival at York attracts many of the world’s top flat horses, four of whom will be lining up for the showpiece race of day one; the Juddmonte International Stakes.
Sea The Stars, Frankel and last year’s all-conquering Baaeed have all tasted victory in this 1 mile 2 furlong race, and this year’s favourite Paddington will be hoping to add his name to that list tomorrow.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: August 22nd, 9:30 A.M. (BST)
Aidan O’Brien’s 3-year-old was fifth on debut last September, but since then has won seven in a row, including the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse over this distance and three other Group 1s, most recently the Sussex Stakes three weeks ago.
Ryan Moore will ride Paddington for the seventh time and he is at 1.53 with William Hill.
Mostahdaf is expected to provide the greatest challenge to Paddington. Frankie Dettori begins his final Ebor riding the 3.25 shot for the first time for John & Thady Gosden.
After a few outings at 1m4f, it seems Mostahdaf finally proved his best distance is 1m2f, winning the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Hollie Doyle rides Nashwa (10.00) who won the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in July but then finished third earlier this month in the Nassau at Goodwood. At 17.00 is The Foxes whose only win this season did come at York; in the Group 2 Dante Stakes in May.
The highlight of day two (Thursday) of the festival sees 13 runners get set for the 1m4f Yorkshire Oaks where once again Aidan O’Brien trains the current favourite; 3.25 chance Savethelastdance.
No jockey is confirmed yet, but Moore rode her to her first Group 1 success last month in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh, having finished second in the Epsom version in June.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: August 22nd, 9:30 A.M. (BST)
Second at the Curragh was Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking (4.50) who seems to be edging closer to a top-ranked victory. She was third in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot and appears capable of running well on any ground under any jockey.
Dettori rides Free Wind for the Gosdens, a 5.00 chance who won a shorter Group 2 at York in May but has since finished in mid-division in the same group at both Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.
In much better form is Al Husn (7.00), a winner in seven of her last eight. The most recent was at the start of the month in the Nassau, her first Group 1 triumph. Two extra furlongs and drier ground could be an issue this time.
