What's on this week: Baaeed and Stradivarius among the Ebor festival stars

Monday

A week of top-level Flat racing begins with a quiet start on Monday with fixtures at Dundalk, Catterick and Lingfield.

Evening racing comes from Windsor and Roscommon, with Bangor the sole jumps meeting of the day.

The pick of the racing, however, comes further afield with Deauville hosting another day of Group action.

George Boughey claimed his first Group win at the track 12 months ago with Oscula and she returns for the Group 3 Prix de Lieurey (3.25). Success could cap off a lucrative double for the Newmarket trainer, who also runs Royal Ascot winner Missed The Cut in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (2.50).

Tuesday

There's just four meetings on offer on Tuesday as racing braces for the opening of York's Ebor meeting.

Kempton hosts an afternoon fixture, while Keith Dalgleish bids for back-to-back successes in the feature on Hamilton's Scottish Trophy day with Gioia Cieca (4.45).

Two all-weather meetings conclude the day's action at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford.

Wednesday

This season's racing stars descend on York for the next four days as the Ebor festival gets underway.

Wednesday's line-up opens with a competitive handicap before the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (2.25), which could feature the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Nostrum, who was an eyecatching winner at Sandown on his debut and holds a Dewhurst entry in October.

Nostrum: impressive debut winner at Sandown and heads to YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (3.00) is a key trial for the St Leger and Aidan O'Brien could be well represented with Bluegrass, Aikhal and Point Lonsdale all featuring among the entries.

Wednesday's feature is the Juddmonte International Stakes (3.35) and William Haggas is primed to land his first success in the Group 1 contest.

While Alenquer and Dubai Honour could run for the Newmarket trainer his biggest asset is Baaeed, who bids to extend his unbeaten run to ten against old rival Mishriff and recent York winner Sir Busker, while Native Trail leads the charge for Godolphin.

More Flat racing comes at Kempton, Musselburgh and Wolverhampton while there are jumps meetings at Worcester and Sligo.

Jump racing enthusiasts should also keep an eye out at Saratoga, which hosts a Grade 1 handicap hurdle (6.05) featuring International Hurdle winner Song For Someone and Aintree Grade 1 scorer Belfast Banter.

Thursday

It's Yorkshire Oaks day at the Knavesmire and Alpinista seeks her seventh win on the bounce under Luke Morris (3.35). She makes her first British start in over a year and faces a strong Irish challenge from Group 1 winners Magical Lagoon, Tuesday and La Petite Coco.

The Group 2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (1.50) opens the day's action with a bang, as Mediate and Dramatised could put their unbeaten records on the line against recent Ascot Group winner Lezoo.

Also featuring on Thursday's card at York is the Clipper Logistics Handicap (3.00), which will be a popular betting prospect as Cruyff Turn could attempt to land the contest for the second year running for local trainer Tim Easterby.

Cruyff Turn: could bid for a repeat success at the Ebor festivalCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Chepstow and Leicester hold Flat meetings, while Killarney's evening card includes the Listed Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes (6.05) ahead of a valuable 1m6f handicap (7.05).

Jump racing at Fontwell and Stratford round off the day.

Friday

Stradivarius is yet to be beaten in six starts at York and bids to continue his sterling record at the track in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes (2.25).

The three-time winner of the Group 2 contest could take on old foe Trueshan if the ground eases ahead of Friday but will benefit from the absence of Goodwood Cup winner Kyprios, who could head for the Irish St Leger.

The staying contest precedes the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (3.35), where The Platinum Queen seeks to become the first two-year-old winner in 15 years.

She could take on Royal Aclaim, who seeks to land trainer James Tate a breakthrough Group 1 success with the unbeaten filly.

Royal Aclaim: unbeaten Nunthorpe favourite for trainer James TateCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (3.00) rounds off the day's Group action at York, while Newbury and Carlisle also hold afternoon Flat cards.

With no Irish racing on Friday, evening meetings come from Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Salisbury.

Saturday

£500,000 is on offer for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (3.35), the highlight on the final day of the York festival. Sonnyboyliston claimed the prize last year and Earl Of Tyrone could land another win for Ireland for trainer Paddy Twomey.

Fillies lead the charge in the Group 2 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (3.00), with Alcohol Free, Sacred and Sandrine all big-name players with entries in the Group 2 contest.

There's Group racing also at Sandown, which opens their seven-race card with the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes (2.05), won last year by Saffron Beach.

Chester's card features a Listed contest while the two-year-olds take to the Curragh, which hosts two Group 2 contests for juveniles and may include ante-post 1,000 Guineas favourite Statuette.

Lingfield and Chelmsford hold all-weather evening meetings and jump racing takes place at Newton Abbot.

Sunday

The Sky Bet Sunday Series concludes at Sandown as one of three British Flat meetings to end the week.

Yarmouth and Brighton are the other two offerings, while Naas holds the Group 3 Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes (4.00) over six furlongs.

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