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York Racecourse gets four days in the spotlight next week as the 2023 edition of the prestigious Ebor Festival is staged from Wednesday to Saturday.
The meeting is packed with Group race events and thrilling handicaps, providing punters with a plethora of betting opportunities throughout the meeting.
The best horse racing best sites have already published odds on the York Ebor Festival and you can click here to check out the latest prices.
The Juddmonte International Stakes is the highlight on the opening day, while the Yorkshire Oaks takes centre stage on Day Two.
The Nunthorpe Stakes headlines a top-class card on the third day, with the Ebor Heritage Handicap the standout event the following day.
We look at the schedule for the 2023 York Ebor Festival, before assessing some of the top races set to take place on the historic Knavesmire.
York Ebor Festival Schedule 2023
Wednesday, August 23
- 1.50 pm – Symphony Group Stakes.
- 2.25 pm – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes.
- 3.00 pm – Great Voltigeur Stakes .
- 3.35 pm – Juddmonte International Stakes.
- 4.10 pm – Stayers Stakes Heritage Handicap.
- 4.45 pm – IRE Incentive, It Pays to Buy Irish Stakes Fillies’ Handicap.
- 5.20 pm – Nursery Handicap.
Thursday, August 24
- 1.50 pm – Lowther Stakes.
- 2.25 pm – Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes.
- 3.00 pm – Clipper Stakes Heritage Handicap.
- 3.35 pm – Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.
- 4.10 pm – British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes.
- 4.40 pm – Nursery Handicap.
- 5.20 pm – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Stakes.
Friday, August 25
- 1.50 pm – Heritage Handicap.
- 2.25 pm – Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup.
- 3.00 pm – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes.
- 3.35 pm – Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.
- 4.10 pm – Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Stakes.
- 4.40 pm – British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes.
- 5.20 pm – Mile Stakes Heritage Handicap.
Saturday, August 26
- 1.50 pm – Symphony Group Strensall Stakes.
- 2.25 pm – Melrose Stakes Heritage Handicap.
- 3.00 pm – City of York Stakes.
- 3.35 pm – Ebor Heritage Handicap.
- 4.10 pm – Constantine Stakes Heritage Handicap.
- 4.45 pm – Julia Graves Roses Stakes.
- 5.20 pm – Finale Stakes Handicap.
York Ebor Festival Preview 2023: Paddington aiming for another Group 1 win
Paddington will bid to continue his stellar season when he lines-up in the Group One Juddmonte International on the opening day of the Ebor Festival.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge was one of the hottest horse racing betting tips for August 2023 when he ran in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood earlier this month.
The horse made all the running on that occasion to claim an impressive victory – his fourth Group One success of the season.
The step back up to ten furlongs should be no problem for Paddington and it would be a major shock if he fails to add to his tally at York.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Mostahdaf heads the opposition for the John and Thady Gosden stable and he should be competitive under jockey Frankie Dettori.
Last year’s Derby hero Desert Crown is also set to take part, while Bay Bridge, Nashwa and The Foxes are other noteworthy entries.
The Great Voltigeur Stakes precedes the Juddmonte International and will see several horses put their St Leger credentials on the line.
The Gosden-trained Gregory has been well backed for the race after winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and looks a good bet to run well.
Castle Way is an intriguing contender for trainer Charlie Appleby, while Tower of London leads a possible five-strong team for O’Brien.
The Irish trainer will saddle the favourite in the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday, with his Savethelastdance bidding to win another Group One event.
The horse narrowly missed out on winning the Epsom Oaks in June, before powering clear of the field to claim the Irish equivalent last month.
Highfield Princess is a hot favourite to win the Nunthorpe Stakes on Day Three and it is difficult to imagine any of her rivals lowering her colours.
The Ebor Heritage Handicap is the headline race on the final day and once again provides punters with a tricky puzzle to unravel.
The race has taken on added significance this year, with the winner earning an automatic place in the Melbourne Cup in Australia later this year.
The Willie Mullins-trained Vauban is the favourite for that race following a recent victory at Naas and he is aiming to add another string to his bow by winning the Ebor.
Absurde finished second behind Vauban at Royal Ascot and is among the leading fancies to go one better on the Knavesmire.
Jackfinbar and Lot Of Joy are other possible contenders for Mullins, who famously won the mile and three-quarter handicap with Sesenta in 2009.
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