Yorkshire Oaks

The Darley Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 contest held on day two of the Ebor Festival. The current format, which allows for all fillies and mares aged three and older, was introduced in 1991. It often attracts Oaks runners from the current Classic generation and those who competed in the Epsom Classic in the years prior.

• Length of the race – One mile and four furlongs.
• Where to watch – RTV and ITV.
• When to watch – Thursday, August 22 at 3:35pm.
• Prize-money – The race is worth £400,000, with £226,840 going to the winner.
• Course – The race is run at York racecourse.
• Race type – Group 1.
• Weights –Three-year-olds carry 8st 12lb, horses aged four-and-older carry 9st 7lb.
• Ages – The race is open to horses aged three and older.
• Sponsor – Darley have sponsored the race since 2006.

Key trends

Rated within 7lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10Adjusted RPR of at least 121, 9/10Group 1 winner, 8/10Top-two finish last time out, 8/10Won within last two starts, 6/10Distance winner, 6/10

Other factors

• Epsom Oaks winners have finished 22321, while the seven Irish Oaks winners to run have finished 2212111.
• The last Ribblesdale winner to score was Hellenic in 1990. Fourteen have tried since, with 2017 second Coronet faring best of those.
• Only two mares older than four have obliged in the last 25 years (both aged five).

Key trials

The obvious trial would be the Epsom Oaks. Most three-year-olds who contest the Yorkshire Oaks would have came from there or the Irish version. Older horses may have came via the Nassau Stakes over one mile two furlongs or the Coronation Cup over a mile and a half. The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in France can be an informative marker also.

What happened last year?

The late Sea Of Class stole the limelight on the Knavesmire when quickening up nicely two furlongs from home to win by an impressive two and a quarter lengths. James Doyle bided his time on the filly, sitting patiently in the rear before cruising past the field on the stand side and cantering across the line. Coronet was the one chasing her home in second from Eziyra back in third.   

Where can I get Ebor Festival tickets?

Ebor Festival tickets can be purchased from the York website here.

Darley Yorkshire Oaks tip

Only four runners and it’s impossible to get away from Enable, who looks near unbeatable. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Magical can chase her home (Joe Tuffin).

• Enable
• Magical
• Lah Ti Dah