York Ebor Festival 2025 Preview

Get expert York Ebor Festival 2025 tips, previews, and runner insights for all four days of top-class racing at one of the UK’s premier summer meetings.

20th August - Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)

This could turn out to be the race of the season with the Coral-Eclipse winner and runner-up doing battle once again, Delacroix and Ombudsman. Whilst the former came out on top last time, the Gosden camp will be confident that York’s straight could play to their advantage and there may be a reversal in form. However, the one they all may have to fear is the Japanese raider Danon Decile. It is a bold move to bring the horse over but given his form earlier on in the year when beating Calandagan, he must be respected and could pose as a huge threat. See The Fire, second to Calandagan last time out, returns to the scene of her bloodless success so must be taken seriously as well.

22nd August - Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)

One of the fastest five furlongs in the world will be centre stage at York, and this year’s renewal looks set to be a cracker. At the head of the market is the unbeaten filly Lady Iman, who has swept all before her in five career starts, including Group 3 victories at Naas and Goodwood, and now takes her first shot at Group 1 company. She’ll have to be at her very best to repel Arizona Blaze, a tough and consistent sprinter who arrives on the back of an impressive Group 2 win at the Curragh and a narrow second in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot. Adding further intrigue is the Australian raider Asfoora, already a Group 1 performer in her homeland. With raw speed, proven class, this year’s Nunthorpe promises to be an all-out burn-up where a lightning break from the stalls could make all the difference.

23rd August - Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

The Ebor is always one of the best viewing spectacles of the season, with runners spread across the Knavesmire to win one of the most prestigious handicaps on the calendar. This season, it looks just as competitive and Irish powerhouse Willie Mullins has Hipop De Loire, a horse who fairly bolted up in a Maiden Hurdle at the Galway Festival last month. Fifth in the race last year off only three pounds higher, you would expect the Mullins charge to be much closer. French Master, following a great season for Wathnan, gave James Doyle another winner at Royal Ascot before running with credit in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup. It would be silly to rule out the Ballydoyle contingent, who have London City as their seemingly first string. Backed heavily in the last few days, he might be the one that punters latch onto.