Kevin Blake outlines three selections for the first day of the York Ebor Festival, a meeting that culminates in the prestigious Juddmonte International Stakes in the afternoon. The Ebor Festival, staged at York Racecourse, consistently ranks among the top four days of flat racing across Europe, boasting a blend of high‑class stakes contests and fiercely contested handicaps that test any racing enthusiast’s preferences. In this column, Blake promises to sift through the form and pinpoint potential winners throughout the meeting, beginning with the opening race.
The first contest of the festival is the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap, scheduled for 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday. This race is notorious for its tricky conditions, and Blake notes that the field can be split across the track, making tactical acumen crucial.
Although the odds on his chosen runner have softened since the market opened, Blake remains confident in The Man, trained by Richard Spencer. Spencer is enjoying what could be the best season of his training career, especially in valuable sprint handicaps where his horses often excel.
The Man has already demonstrated a fondness for York, having secured a win on the course in May 2025 and finishing a strong second in the same race last year when carrying a weight of 92 pounds. After an unproductive winter campaign in Dubai, The Man’s connections appear to have targeted the Ebor Festival as a springboard back to form. Since returning from his post‑Dubai break, the horse has enjoyed two preparatory runs over the past seven weeks, each time shedding any lingering cobwebs and showing a pleasing turn of foot.
With a favorable draw that historically suits him, Blake expects The Man to be in peak condition and to deliver a powerful performance. Next up is the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at 2:25 p.m., the opening race of a series of two‑year‑old contests that will fill the day’s card. Blake’s pick is Alfred Wallace, trained by Ed Walker. This colt, a Dubawi son out of the accomplished mare Snow Lantern, possesses a pedigree that suggests both stamina and speed.
He proved his class by winning at Thirsk in May, posting an impressive figure, and later showed a strong turn of foot in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, where he set a solid pace before fading near the finish. Alfred Wallace’s connections experimented with a different racing tactic at Ascot’s Pat Eddery Stakes, moving him up to seven furlongs and opting for a more patient ride. The change paid dividends, as he navigated through traffic and produced a decisive victory despite encountering early trouble.
The experience appears to have unlocked a new level of confidence in the colt, and Blake believes that now that the optimal race plan has been identified, Alfred Wallace is poised to compete at a higher level and could be a serious contender in the Acomb Stakes. The final recommendation of the day comes from yet another fiercely competitive sprint handicap, the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap, scheduled for 4:45 p.m. Blake suggests taking a chance on Underwriter, trained by Michael Keady.
The three‑year‑old was acquired for a modest 4,600 gns at a Tattersalls online sale in early July, making him a potential bargain of the season. Underwriter’s debut for his new owners hinted at latent ability, but it was his most recent run in a valuable sprint handicap at Ascot that truly caught Blake’s eye. In that race, Underwriter was boxed in and dropped to the rear of his group in the final furlong, only to unleash a rapid closing burst in the last 100 yards, nearly finishing third. The performance suggested a high cruising speed and a willingness to fight back when given a clear run.
Since that promising showing, the handicapper has trimmed Underwriter’s rating sharply from a peak of 92, indicating that the horse now carries a weight that could be advantageous in the upcoming Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap. If he can replicate or improve upon his Ascot effort, Blake believes Underwriter stands a strong chance of delivering a lucrative win. Overall, Blake’s three selections—The Man, Alfred Wallace, and Underwriter—represent a blend of proven form, pedigree, and emerging talent.
Each horse offers a distinct narrative: The Man is a seasoned sprinter returning from a Dubai hiatus, Alfred Wallace is a well‑bred juvenile whose recent tactical shift has unlocked his potential, and Underwriter is a modestly priced three‑year‑old poised to capitalize on a favorable handicap. By focusing on these factors, Blake aims to guide punters toward value bets that could prove rewarding on the opening day of the York Ebor Festival.