2024 York Ebor Festival: Day One Preview

The highly prestigious Ebor Festival gets underway at York Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon, and here we take a look ahead at the action to come.

The day has finally arrived. The 2024 renewal of the York Ebor Festival at the iconic and historic York Racecourse is set to get underway. It will be the first of four days of enthralling racing that will conclude on Saturday 23rd August 2024.

These races are to be as follows:

• Symphony Group Handicap (13:50).
• Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (14:25).
• Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (15:00).
• Juddmonte International Stakes (15:35).
• Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (16:10).
• Visit Irish Yearling Sale With ITM Fillies’ Handicap (16:45).
• Sky Bet Nursery Handicap (17:20).

All of these races are sure to be enthralling, but there is one race in particular that stands out on Day One – the Juddmonte International Stakes. It is the richest race to take place on the opening day, with the winner set to earn prize money worth no less than £1,250,000.

Let’s now take a look ahead at all of the seven races that are set to take place on Wednesday afternoon in more detail.

Symphony Group Handicap (13:50)

Field: Shagraan, Holkham Bay, Jm Jungle, Looking For Lynda, Pilgrim, Bold Optimist, Democracy Dilemma, Kylian, Desert Cop, Jordan Electrics, Pocklington, Wen Moon, Bergerac, Silky Wilkie, Vintage Clarets, Squealer, Copper Knight, Tropical Island, We Never Stop, Tees Spirit, Never Dark, and One Night Stand.

The most recent running of the race of course took place back in 2023, which saw Jockey Jamie Spencer ride Equilateral to victory ahead of some stern competition from the likes of Daniel Tudhope’s Alligator Alley and Jason Hart’s Jm Jungle in second and third place respectively. The latter of these two horses are of course in the field for 2024’s race as well.

The pre-race favourite Intrinsic Bond, ridden by Oisin Murphy had to settle for a 13th place finish.

Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (14:25)

Field: Ruling Court, The Lion In Winter, Mr Chaplin, Jouncy, Yaroogh, Rajeko, Wimbledon Hawkeye, Diablo Rojo, Our Terms, The Waco Kid, and Urban Sky.

Indian Run, ridden by jockey Daniel Tudhope, was the winner of the most recent running of this race, which took place back in August 2023. Ballymount Boy, ridden by Jason Hart was the runner-up on this occasion, whilst Richard Kingscote and Hot Fuss came in third.

Sky Bet Voltigeur Stakes (15:00)

Field: Los Angeles, King’s Gambit, Illinois, Space Legend, and Euphoric.

Last year’s race saw pre-race favourite Gregory, ridden by Frankie Dettori have to settle for a third place finish overall. Instead, it was Ryan Moore and Continuous who came away victorious, with William Buick’s Castle Way coming in second place. Moore will be looking to win this race for the second year running, with Jockey on board Los Angeles for the 2024 Sky Bet Voltigeur Stakes.

Juddmonte International Stakes (15:35)

Field: City Of Troy, Bluestocking, Calandagan, Ambiente Friendly, Alflaila, Israr, Zarakem, Maljoom, Ghostwriter, Durezza, Docklands, Royal Rhyme, and Hans Andersen.

We now move on to the most valuable and prestigious race of the opening day of the 2024 York Ebor Festival – the Juddmonte Stakes. They were won back in 2023 by Frankie Dettori and Mostahdaf, who finished ahead of Hollie Doyle’s Nashwa in second place, whilst it was the pre-race favourite Paddington, ridden that day by Jockey Ryan Moore, who came in third.

Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (16:10)

Field: Samui, Knightswood, Divine Comedy, Forza Orta, Great Bedwyn, Extensio, Spirit Mixer, Evaluation, Tritonic, Ensured, Get Shirty, Robert Johnson, Bringbackmemories, Zoffee, Quantum Leap, and Red Flyer.

The Sky Bet Stayers Handicap is the fifth race of the day, just as it was back in August 2023, when Rowan Scott’s Forza Orta was able to fend off some stern competition from runner-up and pre-race favourite Aztec Empire to take home the victory in the end. Solent Gateway rounded off the top three, coming in third place overall.

Forza Orta will be looking for a second consecutive victory in this year’s race, where Hollie Doyle will be the Jockey.

Visit Irish Yearling Sale With ITM Fillies’ Handicap (16:45)

Field: Got To Love A Grey, Gutsy Girl, Miss Attitude, Designer, Harvanna, Star Of Lady M, Jumbeau, Midnight Affair, Alcazan, Boadicia, Enchanting, Profitable Edge, Azure Angel, Pepsi Cat, and Hurt You Never.

The penultimate race to be taking place on the opening day of the 2024 York Ebor Festival will be the latest renewal of the Visit Irish Yearling Sale With ITM Fillies’ Handicap at York Racecourse. Last year, in 2023, it was won by Designer, with Jockey William Buick guiding this horse to victory ahead of the likes of Charles Bishop’s Rage Of Bamby, and Oisin Orr’s Marine Wave, who had to settle for a second and third place finish respectively in the end.

Pre-race favourite Pinafore, ridden by Jockey Tom Marquand, came in 6th place in the end last time out. Meanwhile, Designer could make it two wins in succession.

Sky Bet Nursery Handicap (17:20)

Field: Artagnan, Cayman Tai, Handcuffed, Sex On Fire, Moving Force, Far Above The Law, It Ain’t Two, Managing Director, Peninsula Power, Scatter Penny, Yes I’m Mali, Rokuni, East Tyrone, Invited, Number, Clover Time, and Cugini.

The race to bring the opening day of the 2024 York Ebor Festival to a close is the latest running of the Sky Bet Nursery Handicap at York Racecourse. Gina Mangan’s Zoulou Chief was the winner in the most recent running of this race back in 2023, with pre-race favourite Starlust, ridden by Ryan Moore, coming in second place. Just behind the runner-up was Graham Lee on Room Service.

All eyes will now be on York Racecourse as the opening day of the iconic and historic 2024 renewal of the York Ebor Festival gets underway on Wednesday afternoon.

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