This week sees one of the most eagerly anticipated racing events of the year get underway, as York Racecourse lays on a four-day feast of action at the Ebor Festival. Widely respected as the jewel in the crown of the Northern racing scene, the facilities, track and atmosphere at York are second to none. This week, above all other weeks, the quality of the action on the track lives up to that immaculate setting.
Kicking off on Wednesday, the Ebor Festival is home to no fewer than 12 races rated at Listed level or above, headlined by the exceptional Group 1 trio of the Juddmonte International Stakes, the Yorkshire Oaks, and the Nunthorpe Stakes.
With so much prestige and prize money on offer, it is no surprise that the festival serves as a beacon to the leading trainers from both sides of the Irish Sea – including a certain Ballydoyle maestro who boasts the world record for Group 1 wins, has picked up 47 successes at Listed level or above in 2024, and is no stranger to York success.
We are, of course, speaking of the incomparable Aidan O’Brien, whose County Tipperary yard will be the first port of call for many punters attempting to pick out the winners this week. Here, we look at the pick of the Ballydoyle battalion likely to traverse the Irish Sea in 2024.
The Lion In Winter – Acomb Stakes, Wednesday
Already touted as a potential 2025 Classic contender on the back of a sizzling debut success at the Curragh, this son of Sea The Stars is likely to be suited by further than the seven-furlong trip of this race in time. Nevertheless, he coped well enough when getting on top late last time and looks a worthy rival to Ruling Court in this classic Coolmore vs Godolphin clash.
Illinois – Great Voltigeur Stakes, Wednesday
O’Brien successfully used this 1m4f event as a stepping stone to the St Leger with Continuous in 2023 and will hope this son of Galileo can follow a similar path. Looking all about stamina when claiming the Group 2 Queen’s Vase over 1m5f at Royal Ascot, he may lack the gears of some of these but should be staying dourly ahead of his Doncaster target.
Los Angeles – Great Voltigeur Stakes, Wednesday
Joining Illinois in the Great Voltigeur field is Irish Derby hero Los Angeles. He must cope with a penalty for that Curragh success but brings the strongest 1m4f form to the table and seems sure to start favourite. His performance here will determine whether he also targets the St Leger or takes his chance in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
City Of Troy – Juddmonte International Stakes, Wednesday
Hot on the heels of the Great Voltigeur comes the pick of the meetings Group 1 events as the most talked about horse in training returns to the track. Labelled by O’Brien as the best he has ever trained, City Of Troy looked the real deal in the Epsom Derby only to make hard work of it when slogging through slow ground in the Coral-Eclipse. The sport needs its superstars, and hopefully, the mount of Ryan Moore can show his true colours in what looks like a vintage renewal.
Heavens Gate – Lowther Stakes, Thursday
Bred by the O’Brien family, this two-year-old filly likely holds a place close to the trainer’s heart. Only third behind sensational stablemate Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes, she bounced back to winning ways at Naas last time and looks the main danger to market leader Leovanni.
Content – Yorkshire Oaks, Thursday
With seven previous Yorkshire Oaks wins, success this year will take O’Brien to within one of all-time leaders Sir Michael Stoute and Mathew Dawson. Ribblesdale Stakes winner Port Fairy is not without a chance if able to bounce back from a no-show in the Irish Oaks, but Content looks to be Ballydoyle’s best chance. Improving with each step up in trip, she finished an unlucky second in the Irish Oaks and bids to go one better.
Point Lonsdale – Lonsdale Cup, Friday
From a raft of potential candidates, O’Brien relies solely on the aptly named Point Lonsdale in the classiest event of the meeting for the stayers. Only third over 1m4f in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last time, his sole previous outing over this sort of trip resulted in a demolition of the field in the Ormonde Stakes by more than six lengths.
Camille Pissarro – Gimcrack Stakes, Friday
This strapping sort is yet to add to his debut success at Navan but hasn’t done much wrong in three subsequent outings. His half-length second to Babouche in the Anglesey Stakes last time is amongst the strongest form on offer, with that horse subsequently beating Whistlejacket, who in turn went on to land the Group 1 Prix Morny.
The Equator – Melrose Handicap, Saturday
This son of Galileo is yet to prove up to Group level, having finished fourth in the Gallinule Stakes and fifth behind Illinois in the Queen’s Vase over this 1m6f trip. However, he ran better than his finishing position suggested in that Ascot event and looks dangerous as he tackles handicap company for the first time.
Queenstown – Ebor Handicap, Wednesday
23 long years have passed since O’Brien landed his sole Ebor success with Mediterranean in 2001. Bidding to end that losing run in 2024 is the four-year-old Queenstown. Assigned the unenviable task of partnering the mighty Kyprios at home, he has finished second to his workmate in his two most recent outings at Listed and Group 3 level. Only a length adrift of the Ascot Gold Cup star last time out at Leopardstown, he looks nicely handicapped as he bids to have his day in the sun.