York Ebor Festival 2026: A four-day feast of top-class racing

Champion-makers, flyers and a cavalry charge

The York Ebor Festival is one of the few meetings on the calendar that genuinely has something for everyone. Across four days you get a middle-distance Group 1 that has launched legends, a staying fillies' championship dominated by one yard, a five-furlong dash where the draw often matters more than the name, and a 22-runner handicap that brings jumps trainers out of the woodwork. It's hard to think of a more varied test of racehorse and punter alike.

Juddmonte International – the 10-furlong benchmark

Tuesday's opener is the historic Juddmonte International (Group 1, 1m2f56y). Frankel, Sea The Stars and Authorized all used it as a stepping stone to greatness. Recent winners have been slightly less mythical – Anmaat (7/2 in 2025), City Of Troy (1/4F in 2024), Mostahdaf (10/11F in 2023) – but the race still attracts the best middle-distance talent on both sides of the Irish Sea. Racing Alpha's AI ratings will be parsing the sectionals and pace dynamics here; check the racecards for our Day 1 analysis.

Yorkshire Oaks – Ballydoyle's private preserve?

The Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1, 1m3f188y) on Wednesday has been a happy hunting ground for Aidan O'Brien in recent seasons. Minnie Hauk (2025), Content (2024) and Warm Heart (2023) all carried the Coolmore silks to victory. Epsom and Irish Oaks form tends to dominate, so keep an eye on the Classic generation stepping up in trip. The AI rates fillies' form highly here, and we'll have a free daily tip each day of the festival.

Nunthorpe – democracy at 5f

Thursday's Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1, 5f) is the sprint that keeps the layers honest. Asfoora (2025), Bradsell (2024) and Live In The Dream (2023) all won at double-figure prices, while low draws and early speed are non-negotiable on the Knavesmire. Two-year-olds take on older sprinters, and the race seldom goes to the favourite. The AI's speed figures and draw bias analysis will be crucial here.

The Ebor Handicap – a staying puzzle

The festival's namesake finale on Saturday is Europe's richest staying handicap over 1m6f. With 22 runners, each-way terms matter more than usual. Recent winners include Ethical Diamond (2025), Magical Zoe (2024) and Absurde (2023), the latter a dual-purpose type from Willie Mullins. Jumps yards have made a habit of raiding this race with well-handicapped stayers, so expect a few familiar National Hunt names on the card.

How to follow the meeting

Racing Alpha's AI ratings will cover every race across all four days, with free daily tips and detailed racecards. Head to our Ebor Festival page for the full schedule and runner-by-runner analysis. For the daily selections, bookmark racingalpha.co.uk/today and check back each morning. Whether you're after a Group 1 winner or a 20/1 handicap plot, the AI data gives you an edge.