The highly anticipated Ebor Festival at York will begin this week. Betfair ambassador and renowned jockey, Ryan Moore, has previewed the six rides on the card for day one of the festival.
The Ebor Festival is a four-day race meeting held at York Racecourse in York, England, each August. This year's festival will take place from Wednesday 23 - Saturday August 26.
The standout mount for Moore is aboard Paddington in the Juddmonte International, the highlight of the day one action. The Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old has won seven races in a row and secured four high-profile victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes, Coral-Eclipse, and Sussex Stakes on his last four runs.
Here's a full preview
York
2.25 - Edwardian
"He bumped into a useful horse on his debut back in Tipperary in April and I rode him for the first time when he won for me off a break at Naas last month. I was pretty taken with him there as he picked up extremely well to win over 5f. He jumps straight up to 7f here on quicker ground, but you have to think that will suit this No Nay Never colt on pedigree and run style," said Moore to Betfair
Of course, he steps up markedly in grade and that Naas run will need improving on a good deal - the form of Richmond Stakes second Ballymount Boy looks even better after the Prix Morny on Sunday - but he is a horse with serious potential. He's talented."
3.00 - Continuous
"Just the five runners but some very smart talent on show, not least the current St Leger favourite Gregory. He looks the one to beat here, even with his 3lb penalty, but we have always rated Continuous.
He ran well here in the Dante before taking his chance in the French Derby, and he then probably ran a career-best when second to King Of Steel in the King Edward VII Stakes last time. He has a solid chance as it stands, with hopefully more to come."
💬 "There is no where quite like York..."
The @skybet Ebor Festival - Wed to Sat this week!
🎟️ Buy admission for all days - https://t.co/iMLoVLGNN3
⏰ Gates open 11am, first race 1.50pm
💷 No race worth less than £100,000 @YorkClerk | @GBRacing | @chamberlinsport pic.twitter.com/M6HK2WecJ1— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) August 22, 2023
3.35 - Paddington
"Again, a small field but one packed with talent. Mostahdaf looked out of the top drawer when beating Luxembourg at Royal Ascot and he looks pretty deadly on quick ground when fresh - the handicapper thinks so anyway, as he currently rates him 3lb higher than Paddington - and we also have three-time Group 1 scorer Nashwa and the Dante winner The Foxes in here.
My colt has risen his game to meet any challenge ranged against him this season, and hopefully, it will be the same again here. He has everything you look for in a top-class horse, but the official ratings say this is his stiffest task to date, and Mostahdaf has to be greatly respected after what he did last time."
4.10 - Zanndabad
"She won here well last season, she handles fast ground and the handicapper looks to have played ball with her as she has come down pretty quickly in the weights for her recent runs. She looks to have as good a chance as any in a typically wide-open sprint handicap."
5.20 - Starlust
"He looks to have shaped very well when second to a stablemate at Goodwood and a 3lb rise for that is probably fair enough. Again, it's a competitive race but he should go well."
