Kevin Blake offers 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 at York is widely regarded as one of the premier four‑day flat racing carnivals in Europe, featuring a dense programme of high‑quality stakes races and fiercely contested handicaps that test the mettle of any enthusiast, regardless of personal betting preferences.
Over the next few columns I will try to pinpoint a handful of winners from this rich tapestry of contests. The opening race of the meeting is the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap, scheduled for 1:50 p.m. on Wednesday. This event is notorious for its demanding conditions, and the field is expected to be spread across the track.
Although the market price for the favourite has softened since the opening of betting, I remain confident in the Richard Spencer‑trained runner, The Man. Spencer is enjoying what could be the best season of his career, particularly excelling in valuable sprint handicaps. The Man has a proven affinity for York; he secured a victory on the same course in May 2025 and delivered a strong second‑place effort in this very race last year when carrying 92 pounds. The horse spent the winter in Dubai, a campaign that fell short of expectations, yet there is no reason to believe his connections have not been targeting this festival since his return from the post‑Dubai break.
In the past seven weeks he has had two preparatory runs that have shaken off any rust, and he has been shaping well on both occasions. With a favourable draw that historically suits him, The Man is poised to deliver a vigorous performance. Next up at 2:25 p.m. is the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes, the first of a series of two‑year‑old contests that will pepper the day's programme.
My choice for this race is Alfred Wallace, trained by Ed Walker. The colt is by Dubawi out of the excellent mare Snow Lantern, a pedigree that suggests both speed and intelligence. He displayed considerable promise when he recorded a solid winning figure at Thirsk in May, and he subsequently travelled well in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, where he set a strong early pace before weakening late in the race.
Alfred Wallace’s connections have experimented with his distance and tactics. After a successful switch to seven furlongs in the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot, where they employed a more patient riding style, the horse overcame a troubled run to claim a convincing victory. That performance demonstrated that the key to unlocking his full potential lies in allowing him to settle and then unleash his turn of foot in the closing stages.
With that lesson learned, I anticipate he will be ready to compete at a higher level at York and could be a serious contender for a big win. The final pick for the day comes from another highly competitive sprint handicap, the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap, scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
I recommend taking a chance on Underwriter, trained by Michael Keady. This three‑year‑old may turn out to be one of the season’s best value bets; he was purchased by his current owners for a modest 4,600 guineas at a Tattersalls online sale in early July.
Underwriter’s first start for his new connections showed only a hint of promise, but his most recent run in a valuable sprint handicap at Ascot was far more telling. After being boxed in and forced to the rear of his group in the final furlong, he produced a rapid acceleration in the last 100 yards, almost catching the second‑placed horse. The performance indicated a strong turn of foot and suggested that the horse had been unfairly rated high in the official handicap. The handicapper has since dropped his rating significantly from a peak of 92, meaning he now carries a more realistic weight.
If Underwriter can replicate or improve upon his Ascot effort, he will be well placed to challenge for a lucrative prize at York. His combination of modest purchase price, improving form, and a favorable handicap makes him a compelling option for punters seeking value. Overall, the opening day of the Ebor Festival offers a rich blend of established talent and emerging prospects.
The Man brings proven class and a track record at York, Alfred Wallace combines pedigree with recent tactical breakthroughs, and Underwriter offers a low‑cost gamble with upside potential. By focusing on these three horses, bettors can cover a range of race types—from sprint handicaps to juvenile stakes—while maintaining a solid chance of success. As the festival progresses, I will continue to analyse the fields and highlight additional selections that could prove decisive in the remaining days of this celebrated meeting.