This week’s events
Monday
Tom Marquand, fresh off his impressive victory in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes aboard Tiber Flow, is set to feature in an exclusive interview in Monday's edition of the Racing Post. This comes ahead of a highly anticipated week of Flat racing action.
Marquand will be riding Maljoom in Wednesday's Juddmonte International Stakes, with final declarations for this race and the six others scheduled for York's Ebor meeting's opening day expected soon.
As the week progresses, Catterick will host an amateur riders' contest, where Brodie Hampson, a two-time winner since 2019, aims to further her record aboard the Fergal O'Brien-trained She's A Novelty. Meanwhile, at Worcester, Flying Fortune will return to novice company after a strong performance behind Gale Mahler, a subsequent Listed winner at the Galway festival. In Yarmouth, Stuart Williams has decided to run Kracking again, following last Wednesday's victory at Salisbury, with Tyrese Cameron retaining the ride for the 7f apprentice handicap. Additionally, Niloufar is poised to complete a hat-trick in Windsor's opener, marking a win at her fifth different track this year.
Tuesday
Tuesday's Racing Post will feature an instalment of the 'Horses Who Made Me' series, focusing on former champion jockey Kevin Darley, a two-time Nunthorpe Stakes winner.
On this day, declarations for Thursday's Group 1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks will be made, along with forfeits for the Group races scheduled for the weekend at the Curragh and Naas. Billy Loughnane, fresh from securing his 100th domestic win of 2024 at Kempton with Brasil Power, will attempt to replicate that success at the same track in the 7f handicap, albeit without his champion apprentice title from last season. Meanwhile, Loughnane is set for six rides at Brighton, including a 7f handicap with Harry Redknapp's horse, Wake Up Harry.
Trainer Roger Varian, who has seen great success with Charyn this season, will hope for a similar performance from Sanat at Nottingham, where Silvestre de Sousa, a three-time champion jockey, will take the reins in the 6f handicap. Roscommon will kick off the Irish racing week with a seven-race Flat card, while Wolverhampton will host an evening fixture.
Wednesday
Wednesday marks the start of York's four-day Ebor meeting, headlined by the £1.25 million Juddmonte International Stakes. Derby and Eclipse winner City Of Troy is expected to further demonstrate his prowess against older horses, with Classic generation hopeful Ambiente Friendly dropping back in distance after strong performances at Epsom and in the Irish Derby.
Runaway Royal Ascot winner Calandagan may make his Group 1 debut, while Alflaila could seek to maintain his strong York record following a recent course-and-distance victory in the Group 2 York Stakes. Docklands, stepping up in distance after chasing Jacques le Marois winner Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes, and Japanese raider Durezza add further excitement to what promises to be a thrilling Group 1 race. Aidan O'Brien's Irish Derby winner, Los Angeles, could start the day on a high note if victorious in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes, a Group 2 race for which he was supplemented at a significant cost.
Carlisle and Kempton will also hold Flat meetings, while Sligo and Worcester will feature jump racing.
Thursday
Thursday's action at York will see declarations for Saturday's Sky Bet Ebor Handicap and the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes. The focus will shift to fillies and mares in the Yorkshire Oaks, where Bluestocking, runner-up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, could be a strong contender after dominating the Group 2 Middleton Fillies' Stakes earlier this season. Irish Oaks runner-up Content and the in-form Queen Of The Pride are among the other key participants.
In the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, Karl Burke-trained Leovanni may extend her unbeaten record with another Group 2 win. Nearly £250,000 in prize money is up for grabs in the 6f juvenile sales race, while the Listed Galtres Stakes adds further intrigue to the day's card.
Elsewhere, Leopardstown will feature Listed action in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vinnie Roe Stakes. The Racing League heads to Newcastle for its penultimate week, while Lingfield and Chelmsford will host all-weather fixtures. Nico de Boinville, standing in for the injured Harry Cobden, will ride Matterhorn in Newton Abbot's feature 2m½f handicap chase. Meanwhile, Drumgill could secure a four-timer if he takes up his entry in Killarney's 2m7f novice hurdle.
Friday
Live In The Dream, though winless in six starts since last year’s Nunthorpe success, will face stiff competition in the £500,000 Group 1 sprint, with Big Evs and Asfoora emerging as the leading contenders. Big Evs, who finished third in the King Charles III Stakes, reversed that result against Asfoora in the King George Qatar Stakes, though the Australian mare could seek revenge.
In the preceding Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes, Big Mojo, a Molecomb winner, might represent trainer Mick Appleby. Goodwood Cup third Gregory, Melbourne Cup-bound Vauban, and 2022 winner Quickthorn are entered in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes, another Group 2 event on York’s card.
Postileo, last year's Phoenix Utilities Ltd Lanark Silver Bell Handicap winner, will now run under the guidance of Emmet Mullins and Paul Byrne in Hamilton’s £100,000 contest. Additional meetings at Newmarket, Goodwood, and Ffos Las, along with the Listed Ruby Stakes at Killarney, complete the day. Saratoga will feature Grade 1 dirt action in the Personal Ensign Stakes.
Saturday
Epic Poet, who finished second to Crystal Black at Royal Ascot, leads the market for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap. This £500,000 heritage handicap is one of two major races at York, with the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes potentially featuring Group 1 Lockinge Stakes winner Audience, who excelled over 7f at Glorious Goodwood.
Other Group 2 races will take place at Goodwood and the Curragh, including the William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes, the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes, and the Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes. Newmarket will host a £100,000 juvenile sales race alongside the Listed Jenningsbet Hopeful Stakes. Flat meetings at Windsor and Redcar, as well as jump races at Cartmel and Killarney, round out the day's events.
Sunday
British and Irish trainers dominate the entries for the Group 2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville, which also includes two Group 3 races. Matilda Picotte may drop to Group 3 company in the Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes at Naas, after finishing seventh in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
Goodwood’s seven-race card, featuring a £75,000 7f handicap, will be the highlight of the day. Yarmouth and Beverley will complete the week’s racing action.
Premier Meetings
- Wednesday: York
- Thursday: York, Newcastle (Racing League)
- Friday: York, Hamilton
- Saturday: York, Goodwood
- Sunday: Goodwood