What I'm looking forward to: York's Ebor meeting

From Frankel and Sea The Stars to Enable and Cracksman, quite simply the best horses in the world congregate on the Knavesmire for one week in August to put on a rock show for the adoring and knowledgeable Yorkshire faithful.

Of course, that rock show is the Ebor meeting and, while the coronavirus has the world in a state of uncertainty, one thing we can be sure of is that when action returns at York, the best of the best will be there to compete.

I absolutely love York. It is my Flat equivalent of the Cheltenham Festival, with searching for clues a year-long process. The moment Dakota Gold crossed the line in the 5½f handicap, the opening race of last year's meeting, studying began for this year's opener.

From the moment you step off the train you know you are somewhere extraordinary – the buzz around the city is incredible. Even on a Wednesday afternoon the pubs are packed with racegoers, there are buskers playing music all along the 30-minute walk from the centre to the course. It is an atmosphere like no other.

The day that will forever stick in the memory was the day Frankel came to town. A huge crowd gathered, many having booked the day off (or maybe even bunked off) work to see a living legend strut his stuff.

And boy did he deliver the goods. As Frankel eased effortlessly past multiple Group 1 winners St Nicholas Abbey and Farhh, the crowd erupted into applause with a furlong left to go.

Of course, the coronavirus has yet to have its say as to whether this year's Ebor meeting will take place with such an atmosphere, or even any atmosphere at all. A lot can happen in four months but there is a strong possibility that this year's Ebor meeting could take place behind closed doors, which will obviously be a huge shame, but a York staged behind closed doors could prove to be the most important Ebor meeting of all time.

The inaugural £1 million Ebor could attract some of the best stayers from around the world.

The Juddmonte, won so brilliantly by Frankel, has developed into one of the best races on the planet as it often brings together the Guineas and Derby horses and pitches them against the older generation.

With uncertainty over when and where the Classics will be run and over Royal Ascot, opportunities for the three-year-olds to prove themselves against the older generation will be few and far between, so it could be that York is ideally positioned.

Another who will be looking forward to York is John Gosden as this topsy-turvy season presents a challenge in getting his stable star Enable ready for a fourth Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Gosden will be working back from Longchamp in October and the Yorkshire Oaks could be a vital stepping stone in priming the star mare for her historic bid.

So whether in front of an electric crowd, free of the coronavirus pandemic, or behind closed doors, the quality of racing at York this year promises to be as good as ever and I for one cannot wait.

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