All the essential information for York's Ebor Festival 2021

York's Ebor Festival is the biggest four days of Flat racing in the north of England and this year plays host to 28 races over a fantastic four days of top-class action on the Knavesmire.

The best jockeys, trainers and horses in Britain and Ireland will congregate from Wednesday to Saturday with nine Group contests and a number of valuable handicaps to battle over.

The meeting is headlined by three Group 1 contests – the Juddmonte International, the Yorkshire Oaks and the Nunthorpe Stakes – and culminates with the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, Europe’s richest Flat handicap.

When and where does the meeting take place?

The festival is staged at York racecourse – often referred to as the Knavesmire after the large expanse of ground on which it is built – in the south west of the city, a ten-minute drive from the city centre.

Seven races are held each day with the festival beginning on Wednesday, August 18 and concluding on Saturday, August 21 with a start time each day of 1.50pm.

All four days of racing will be broadcast on ITV's main channel, which is on air every day from 1.30pm to 4.00pm (1.25pm on Saturday).

The Opening Show will preview all Saturday's action from 9.30am-10.30am on ITV4, while there will be full uninterrupted coverage on Racing TV for every day of the festival.

Why is the meeting so important?

Perfectly placed between major summer festivals, the Ebor Festival provides a perfect stopping-off point for more high-profile clashes between some of the most talented members of the Flat’s superstar cast as well as acting as preparation for the autumn’s big prizes.

York hosts only three Group 1s each year, all at this meeting, which is one of the richest in the calendar with prize-money of £4.7 million in 2021 – more than double last year's total.

The racing is second to none with the Ebor worth double that of any other Flat handicap in Britain, while York proudly boasts hosting the world’s best race after Ghaiyyath’s defeat of Magical, Lord North and Kameko in last year’s Juddmonte International, voted the top contest of 2020 in the Longines World Racing Awards.

Ghaiyyath (all blue): proved too strong for the opposition in last year's Juddmonte InternationalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Frankel, Sea The Stars, Enable and Battaash are just some of the more recent names to have written themselves into the Ebor festival record books after scintillating performances.

What are the big races?

Wednesday

This Group 2 over 1m4f is often used as a springboard for the St Leger, the final Classic of the season, with Logician becoming the 14th horse to do the double in 2019.

Powerful owner-breeder operations Coolmore and Godolphin account for six of the nine entrants at this stage with one-time Derby favourite High Definition and Royal Ascot winner Kemari in contention.

The Juddmonte’s glittering roll of honour includes the likes of Sea The Stars, Frankel, Giant’s Causeway and Roaring Lion, and this year Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O’Brien attempts to etch his own name into the history books by landing a record-breaking eighth victory.

He relies chiefly on St Mark’s Basilica, winner of the French equivalents of the 2,000 Guineas and Derby earlier in the summer before returning to British soil to swat away his rivals in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Saudi Cup winner Mishriff attempts to turn the tables after being left toiling that day, while Sussex Stakes winner Alcohol Free is an intriguing contender for trainer Andrew Balding.

St Mark's Basilica (left) convincingly beat Mishriff (right) in the Coral-EclipseCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Thursday

This 6f race is exclusively for two-year-old fillies and gives us another look at one of the leading early contenders for next year’s 1,000 Guineas in the unbeaten Sandrine, already a winner at Royal Ascot and the Newmarket July festival this summer. The likes of Hello You, Desert Dreamer and Zain Claudette provide plenty of depth to day two's opener.

An Oaks treble is possible for Snowfall, who has already dominated the Epsom and Irish Oaks and is the undisputed star of her division.

She takes on older horses for the first time, but as long as she turns up few would bet against her repeating the feat of the great Enable, who also won all three Oaks in 2017 before crowning her magnificent season by claiming the most coveted prize of all, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France in October.

How Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners would love to be in the same position in the autumn.

Friday

After being taken out of the Goodwood Cup at the last minute because of soft ground, Stradivarius’s trainers John and Thady Gosden will hope ground conditions fall in their favour this time.

The renowned stayer is used to breaking records and a third victory here would see him become the most successful horse in Lonsdale Cup history. A clash with Goodwood Cup winner Trueshan, pretender to the throne, appears unlikely due to his preference for testing conditions.

Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori will bid for their third Lonsdale CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

After catching a glimpse of some of the year’s leading female juveniles in the Lowther, the Gimcrack is the chance for the boys to shine.

Trainer Richard Hannon won this for the first time with Threat in 2019 and holds a strong hand courtesy of Lusail and Armor as he bids to emulate his father by winning the Gimcrack on multiple occasions.

The Nunthorpe is one of the sprint highlights of the year and gives French filly Suesa the chance to establish herself as the new dominant force of the division after the abdication of the recently-retired Battaash.

Her main opposition could also come from the travelling party with American trainer Wesley Ward pinning his hopes on Golden Pal, whom he recently claimed to be the best horse he has trained.

Saturday

The final Group race of the week is run over seven furlongs and last year's local winner Safe Voyage, who struck for North Yorkshire trainer John Quinn, is in the mix to claim successive victories.

It is only right the festival finishes with its eponymous showpiece. A maximum field of 22 will race for the winner’s share of the £500,000 pot with almost all of the top yards in Britain and Ireland set to be represented.

The Ebor is a test of stamina run over 1m6f and look out for the presence of Ireland's leading jumps trainer Willie Mullins, who often targets the race.

Can I still buy tickets?

All four-day packages and advance tickets for Ebor day on Saturday have sold out, but Wednesday, Thursday and Friday tickets remain on sale and can be bought .

Anyone unable to buy in advance need not worry as tickets for the Clocktower Enclosure in the middle of the course are reserved solely for walk-ups on the day – but be sure to get there early so as not to miss out!

Who should I bet on at the Ebor Festival?

Have a look at the and check out our to start with, then stay up to date with the Racing Post website, mobile app and newspaper for our expert betting advice and all the latest news in the run-up to the big week.

Read more

Suesa and Golden Pal add international flavour to Nunthorpe confirmations

'She's thriving so why not' - Alcohol Free to run in Juddmonte International

Stradivarius in tune for bid to land Lonsdale Cup for a third time

Glass Slippers to miss Nunthorpe ahead of Flying Five defence

Yorkshire Oaks confirmations: Snowfall on course to repeat Enable heroics

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