The Ebor Festival is still in full swing, with racing from York today before the four-day meeting comes to a close on Saturday. The City Of York Stakes is one of the big races on the final day, with Group 1 honours on offer.
There is plenty going on elsewhere on Saturday too. Flat racing comes from Chester, Newmarket, Redcar and Lingfield, while Newton Abbot provides the jumps action. Ireland has meetings at The Curragh and Killarney, with the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes among the better races.
Further afield, Saturday begins with Group 1 action from Australia as Randwick hosts the Winx Stakes, while later in the evening Saratoga stages the Alabama Stakes, a Grade 1 for three-year-old fillies.
Things are a little quieter on Sunday in Britain and Ireland, with meetings at Naas, Brighton and Worcester, but there is some excellent international racing.
Deauville stages two Group 1 races, including the Prix Morny for two-year-olds and the Prix Jean Romanet for fillies and mares. Across the Atlantic, Del Mar hosts the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, another of the weekend’s major races.
The midweek programme is fairly low-key, with meetings spread across the country but few major races jumping off the page. After a busy few weeks of summer racing, it gives us a chance to catch our breath before the next batch of big meetings arrives.
Big races this week
FRIDAY
6:20pm Killarney, (RTV)
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes (Listed Race)
1m, Flat Turf
SATURDAY
7:30am Randwick, (SKY)
Winx Stakes (Group 1)
7f, Flat Turf
1:50pm York, (ITV)
Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (Group 3)
1m1f, Flat Turf
2:40pm Chester, (ITV)
Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed Race)
1m6½f, Flat Turf
2:50pm Curragh, (RTV)
Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes (Group 2)
7f, Flat Turf
3:00pm York, (ITV)
Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 1)
7f, Flat Turf
11:42pm Saratoga, (SKY)
Alabama Stakes Presented By Keeneland Sales (Grade 1)
1m2f, Dirt
SUNDAY
2:30am Del Mar, (SKY)
Pacific Classic Stakes (Grade 1)
1m2f, Dirt
2:50pm Deauville, (SKY)
Sumbe Prix Morny (Group 1)
6f, Flat Turf
3:25pm Deauville, (SKY)
Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet (Group 1)
1m2f, Flat Turf
*All races above are listed in UK time.
Race Notes
15:00pm (Saturday 22nd August) City Of York Stakes - Ebor Festival York
The Ebor Festival comes to a close on Saturday, with the City Of York Stakes over seven furlongs providing one of the big Group 1 races on the final day.
Last year’s winner Never So Brave is absent, but runner-up Lake Forest returns for another attempt. He looks well suited by the trip after winning the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood earlier this season.
The early favourite is Notable Speech, who drops back from a mile after finishing sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. That was below his best, but he had previously won the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes in very good style, taking his tally of top-level wins to five.
The seven-furlong trip is the interesting part. Notable Speech has spent most of his career over a mile, although he showed plenty of speed when finishing fifth over six furlongs in last year’s July Cup. On his best form, he is clearly the one to beat.
Ten Bob Tony is another serious contender. His surprise Queen Anne victory has since been backed up by a good fourth in the Sussex Stakes, where he finished ahead of Lake Forest.
Japanese runner Satono Reve also steps up in distance after placing in both the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and July Cup.
It is a competitive race, but if Notable Speech handles the drop to seven furlongs, his best form gives him a strong chance of adding another Group 1 to his record.
Selection: Notable Speech
Main danger: Satono Reve
Antepost Watch
Maltese Cross has become the big mover for the Betfred St Leger after an impressive win in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
William Haggas’s colt had been available at around 4/1 for Doncaster, but was cut as short as 5/4 favourite immediately after beating Pierre Bonnard by two lengths while conceding 5lb. His price has since eased slightly, with around 5/2 to 3/1 now available.
The interesting part is that the St Leger is not necessarily where he goes next.
Maltese Cross also holds an entry in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and he already has strong form at Longchamp after winning the Grand Prix de Paris there in July. Connections have yet to commit to either Doncaster or Paris, with Haggas keen to keep his options open.
Racing Syndicates
Hambleton Racing has opened places in two new 2026 yearling syndicates, the syndicates will be built around two of the leading trainers in the North of England, Karl Burke and Kevin Ryan. Both have long and successful relationships with Hambleton Racing and strong records when it comes to finding quality horses at the yearling sales.
Rather than buying a share in a named horse, owners are effectively backing the team to find the right horse at the sales later this year.
For those who enjoy the sales side of racing, that can add another level of interest. Owners can follow the process from the purchase of the yearling through its early education and, hopefully, on to the racecourse as a two-year-old in 2027.
You can view the horses currently available for shares with Hambleton Racing here.
Betting Offers
Betfred is one of the best-known names in British betting, covering horse racing alongside a wide range of other sports.
For racing fans, Betfred offers markets across major UK, Irish and international meetings, from everyday cards through to the biggest races of the season. You can find win and each-way betting, ante-post markets and a range of other racing options.
Betfred also has a long association with British horse racing and currently sponsors several major races and meetings.
If you’re looking for another bookmaker to compare prices and racing markets, Betfred is well worth a look. New customers can also take advantage of a welcome offer when opening an account. T&Cs apply.
18+ Please gamble responsibly. #ad Need help? contact GambleAware.org
Racing News
Here are a few racing updates that caught the eye this week.
Racing Legends - Haru Urara
Horse racing has always celebrated champions. But every so often, a horse comes along who captures the public imagination for entirely different reasons.
Haru Urara was one of those rare cases. She became a legend not because she won, but because she never did. Her losing streak of 113 races turned her into a national symbol in Japan, and her story still resonates today.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
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