York Ebor Festival 2025: Discover our 14/1 TOP TIP and other best bets this week

The Sky Bet Ebor Meeting at York is often dubbed the Royal Ascot of the north, and there is good reason as to why with top quality racing on offer competing for good levels of prize money. 

With the Sky Bet City Of York upgraded to Group One status it now means there is top level action taking place across each of the four days making it one of the meetings of the year. 

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The highlight across the four-days is the Juddmonte International on Wednesday, which looks a belter on paper, but it is not only those races at the highest level that look exciting.

Picking a winner from plenty of top quality racing can be tricky, so we’ve got a bumper load of value for you to check out before the horses come flying out the traps. 

Keep reading on for comprehensive analysis across ALL FOUR days of York’s Ebor festival, and then check out our man Longshot Ted’s selections which include some of the key races in North Yorkshire as well as Newmarket this week. 

Day One

As is the case at most major festivals across the UK the Sky Bet Ebor Festival gets off with a real bang in the Juddmonte International. 

The extended mile and a quarter Group One has thrown up some thrilling finishes in the past and this year’s contest could serve up another. 

Will Ombudsman be able to exact his revenge on his Coral Eclipse conqueror Delacroix, or will it be Japanese raider Danon Decile that gatecrashes the party, all questions that will soon be answered. 

But before that this year’s Betfred Derby and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner Lambourn will act as the perfect aperitif when making his return to action against six rivals in the Group Two Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes. 

FIRST’s top tip for Day One

Pick: 2:25PM - Distant Storm to win the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (13/8 with Coral)

Charlie Appleby has plenty of exciting juveniles still to unleash, however Distant Storm looks among the best he has already sent out and he can maintain his unbeaten record here. 

The Night Of Thunder colt was backed as if defeat was out of the question when making a winning debut over seven furlongs at Newmarket’s July Festival. 

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Although only prevailing by a short-head the form of that race looks strong with no fewer than seven future winners emerging from it. 

This will represent a different test altogether, however the way Appleby spoke about Distant Storm at the time suggests a race like this should be within his grasp. 

Extra tips

Santorini Star can register a third handicap success of the campaign by making her class count here on her first attempt over an extended two miles. 

After registering two handicap successes at Brighton and Goodwood the William Haggas-trained three-year-old has since finished fourth in the Listed Pontefract Castle Fillies’ Stakes and Group Three Darley Irish EBF Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse. 

On the last occasion she made significant headway late on leaving the impression further improvement would be unlocked going beyond a mile and three quarters. 

While she has stamina to prove she could take plenty of beating if seeing out the new trip.

Pick: 16:10PM - Santorini Star to win the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (5/1 with Ladbrokes)

Day Two

The girls take centre stage on day two of the meeting with the feature race being the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks. 

Although the race has only attracted four runners these include the Aidan O’Brien-trained Betfred Oaks and Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner Minnie Hauk and Estrange, winner of the Group Two bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock Park. 

Clues as towards next year’s Betfred 1000 Guineas could be seen in the opening Group Two Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, while for those that like big field races to get stuck into then the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs and Clipper Handicap are just the ticket. 

FIRST’s top tip for Day Two

Pick: 15:00PM - Remmooz to win the Clipper Handicap at 5/1 with Betfred

Remmooz has the sort of profile that could see him turn out to be much better than a handicapper which makes him of significant interest in the Clipper Handicap. 

Having claimed victory in his first two starts the son of Blue Point suffered defeat upped to Group Three company in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

However, the Owen Burrows-trained colt bounced back from that reversal with victory in a course and distance handicap last time out. 

Although he has been nudged up four pounds for that win he was much better value than the margin of his neck success. 

With his ability to act over a mile at the track proven, and ground conditions to suit, he should be capable of taking this race on route to bigger targets. 

Extra tips

Dance In The Storm can be considered an unlucky loser at Goodwood last time after suffering late interference, but she can bounce back to winning ways now returned to racing against her own sex. 

The application of a hood on her last three starts seems to have really helped the daughter of Night Of Thunder, whose fourth on her penultimate start at Sandown Park should not be taken as a backwards step given she was caught short of room late on. 

A £3 rise in the weights for her last effort is a bit frustrating, but she should be able to cope with that.

And while her draw out wide in 16 is not the greatest, it will hopefully not cause too many issues given her hold up style of running. 

Pick: 17:20PM - Dance In The Storm to win the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (7/1 with Ladbrokes)

Day Three

It is all about the need for speed in the feature race on day three with some of the fastest horses in training locking horns in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes. 

The race also allows the two-year-olds the chance to take on the older horses which gives the contest an extra dimension. 

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And this year’s race will see Lady Iman, the impressive winner of the Group Three HKJC World Pool Molecomb Stakes, and Spicy Marg represent the current two-year-old crop.

Those however who like their races to last longer than a minute can sit back and enjoy some of the best stayers serving it up to each other in the Group Two Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup. 

Although only a handful of runners will contest the extended two mile prize among them is this year’s Ascot Gold Cup hero Trawlerman.

FIRST’s top tip for Day Three

Pick: 15:35PM - Spicy Marg each-way in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes, three places, (12/1 with Ladbrokes)

Although you have to go back to 2007 to find the last two-year-old to triumph in the Nunthorpe, the Michael Bell-trained Spicy Marg can buck that trend. 

After impressing when making a winning debut on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket the daughter of Starspangledbanner then suffered defeats upped to Group Two level. 

The first of those reversals came in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, before the second arrived in Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, on her first start over six furlongs, back at Newmarket, but this time on the July Course. 

There were valid reasons for those defeats and she showed what she is capable of when clocking a good time back at five furlongs in the British Stallion Studs EBF Alice Keppel Fillies’ Conditions Stakes at Goodwood. 

After impressing in a recent racecourse gallop on the July Course, and with her dam Main Desire a dual Listed winner at York, everything points to a big run from Spicy Marg. 

Extra tips

Wonder Star was only just denied at Goodwood last time out in a similar contest, but compensation can be gained here.

The William Haggas-trained filly was a good winner at Ascot in May before the quick turnaround then caught her out in a Listed race at Newbury.

Pitched into handicap company last time out, Wonder Star was only beaten by half-al-length on ground that was still on the softer side of good.

Although her draw in stall eleven is not the greatest for one that likes to race prominently, the return to a quicker surface is a plus.

With stamina doubts over the favourite Zgharta, the daughter of Sea The Stars can make light work of her two pounds rise in the weights following her latest effort and register career win number two.

Pick: Wonder Star to win the Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies' Handicap (9/2 with Betfred)

Day Four 

Plenty of attention will be drawn to the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes now it is upgraded to a Group One, however for many the race of the day will be the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, which the festival is named after. 

Irish master Willie Mullins is once again the man who appears to hold all the aces in the £500,000 contest with Hipop De Loire and Ethical Diamond, who has been kept fresh for the race since his victory in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot. 

The Sky Bet City Of York Stakes has attracted an intriguing field including last year’s Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner at St James’s Palace Stakes hero Rosallion and this season’s shock Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes winner Qirat. 

And with the Group Three Sky Bet Strensall Stakes and Sky Bet Melrose Handicap thrown in for good measure it all makes for a fitting end to the meeting. 

FIRST’s top tip for Day Four

Pick: 15:35PM - Shadow Dance each-way in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, four places, (14/1 with Ladbrokes)

Shadow Dance is relatively lightly raced for a five-year-old having only had the 10 starts, but a look through his previous form suggests he can be competitive in a race of this nature. 

His sole success last year came at the corresponding meeting 12 months ago when holding on by a neck in the mile and a half handicap which highlighted he could be an Ebor type. 

Although not making his return to action until the end of last month at Goodwood he shaped with plenty of encouragement when beaten six lengths into ninth in a mile and a quarter contest-a trip that would have been on the short side. 

With that run under his belt expect the Almanzor gelding to prove a different proposition now back at a more realistic trip and at the prices he appeals as horse with the plenty of each-way value.

Extra tips

The Sky Bet Melrose Handicap can often throw up future Group race performers, of which Tarriance looks like he could fit that description. 

Upped to one mile six furlongs for the first time at Sandown Park last time out, the son of Frankel showed good battling qualities that day to get the better of a fellow improver. 

This race is likely to be run at a much stronger pace than his last start which will put an added emphasis on stamina, however that should suit the Andrew Balding-trained colt given how he finished the last day.

There are several other worthy candidates in the race, but Tarriance can stamp his authority over them all. 

Pick: 14:25PM - Tarriance to win the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (4/1 with Betfred)

At a glance

Day One

Pick: 2:25PM - Distant Storm to win the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (13/8 with Coral)
Pick: 16:10PM - Santorini Star to win the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (5/1 with Ladbrokes)

Day Two

Pick: 15:00PM - Remmooz to win the Clipper Handicap at 5/1 with Betfred

Pick: 17:20PM - Dance In The Storm to win the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (7/1 with Ladbrokes)

Day Three

Pick: 15:35PM - Spicy Marg each-way in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes, three places, (12/1 with Ladbrokes)

Pick: 14:25PM - Tarriance to win the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (4/1 with Betfred)

Day Four

Pick: 15:35PM - Shadow Dance each-way in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, four places, (14/1 with Ladbrokes)

Pick: 14:25PM - Tarriance to win the Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (4/1 with Betfred)

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Odds correct at the time of writing.