Kevin Blake outlines three selections for the first day of the York Ebor Festival, which culminates in an afternoon showdown featuring the Juddmonte International Stakes. The Ebor Festival at York consistently ranks among the premier four‑day flat racing spectacles in Europe. The programme is stacked with high‑class stakes contests and fiercely contested handicaps, offering something for every type of racing enthusiast. Over the next few columns I’ll try to pinpoint a handful of winners from this rich meeting, and today’s piece focuses on the opening day.
First up is the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap, scheduled for 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday. This race kicks off the festival in a rather demanding fashion, with a field that can be assembled from all over the track.
Although the odds have softened since betting opened, I remain confident in the Richard Spencer‑trained runner The Man. Spencer is enjoying what looks to be the best season of his career, and he has a particular knack for valuable sprint handicaps. The Man has already demonstrated an affinity for York, having won there in May 2025 and finishing a strong second in this same race last year when he carried a rating of 92. After a lackluster winter campaign in Dubai, his connections have likely been targeting this meeting ever since he returned from his post‑Dubai break.
In the past seven weeks he has had two preparatory runs that have helped him shake off any rust, and both outings showed him shaping nicely. With a favourable draw that has historically suited him, I expect a vigorous performance and a genuine chance of victory. The next pick is for the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at 2:25 p.m., the first of a series of two‑year‑old contests at the festival. My choice is the Ed Walker‑trained Alfred Wallace.
This colt, a Dubawi son out of the outstanding mare Snow Lantern, is bred for both speed and stamina. He displayed considerable promise when he won at Thirsk in May, posting an impressive figure and handling the course with ease. Later, in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, he set a solid pace but faded in the closing stages after taking the lead too early.
Alfred Wallace’s connections have experimented with his distance and tactics. After a stint over seven furlongs in the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot, they tried a more patient approach, dropping him back early and letting him settle. The plan paid off handsomely; despite encountering traffic, he rallied to claim a convincing win.
That performance suggests the trainer has finally identified the optimal race conditions for the colt. With his pedigree and recent form, I anticipate he will be a serious contender in the Acomb Stakes, especially if the softer ground that often favours his running style holds. My final selection for the day comes from another highly competitive sprint handicap, the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap, scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
Here I back the Michael Keady‑trained three‑year‑old Underwriter. This horse could turn out to be one of the season’s most valuable bargains; he was purchased for a modest 4,600 gns in a Tattersalls online sale in early July. Underwriter’s first start for his new owners showed only a hint of his ability, but his most recent run in a valuable sprint handicap at Ascot was far more telling. He was boxed in early and dropped to the back of his group in the final furlong, yet he produced a powerful late burst, closing the last 100 yards in a flash and would have been third with a fraction more room.
The handicapper has already reduced his rating significantly from a peak of 92, meaning he now carries a lighter weight and is well‑handicapped relative to his rivals. If he can replicate the acceleration he displayed at Ascot, he stands a strong chance of upsetting the more fancied runners. Overall, the opening day of the Ebor Festival offers a blend of proven talent and emerging prospects. The Man brings experience and a proven track record at York; Alfred Wallace combines elite breeding with a newly discovered optimal racing style; and Underwriter offers value and a dramatic turn of foot that could catch the field off guard.
Keep an eye on the betting markets as the day progresses, but these three selections provide a solid foundation for anyone looking to back winners at the start of what promises to be an unforgettable festival.