Racing Review: Recapping York's Ebor Festival and Harry's latest eye-catcher

In his latest Racing Review column, Races Now’s Harry Fowler looks back on four fantastic days at York’s Ebor Festival, assessing the biggest performances, disappointments and talking points from across the Knavesmire.

From Item’s Juddmonte International triumph and Kalpana’s Yorkshire Oaks success to a dominant Nunthorpe display and a dramatic finish to the Ebor, Harry gives his verdict on the key races before revealing his latest eye-catcher to add to your notebooks.

2026 York Ebor Festival review

The York Ebor Festival once again delivered four days of top-class racing, with Group 1 glory, big performances and plenty of talking points to look back on.

From the opening day through to the Ebor itself, there was no shortage of drama on the Knavesmire.

Item upsets the big two in Juddmonte International

Starting on day one, we had a race which was poised to be a blockbuster clash between two heavyweights, Ombudsman and Constitution River, in the Juddmonte International.

What transpired was rather disappointing but, at the same time, I don't want to undermine the performances of Item and Almaqam.

The race got off to a rather strange start as Action missed the break, then seemingly being there merely to take in the Knavesmire track, while Devil's Advocate also didn't take it up.

Hawk Mountain was the one who went to the front, which I think is how he likes to be ridden, but it looked to me as though he went quicker to ensure that pace for his stablemate. He fell away quickly and I fear for him given the brutal operation under Aidan O'Brien.

Item ran out the winner, taking his record to three from three this season at York. Where he is set to go next is fascinating, with the Breeders' Cup most likely the big aim.

Almaqam, back in second, I think may have just been a victim of being too close to the frantic pace. I am backing him for the Champion Stakes and, if it comes up soft, I think he will take some beating.

Constitution River was said to be a bit lit up in the preliminaries and that continued in the race, always looking to try and go a bit quicker, which told towards the end.

Ombudsman finished back in fourth and I can't really see many excuses. Did he have the greatest path? No, but neither did the winner, and I'm not one of those who would in any way blame Buick for the ride.

John Gosden complained about the ground but, at this stage, he always has something to complain about.

Haffner and Maltese Cross impress

On day one, we also had the Group 3 Acomb and the Group 2 Great Voltigeur.

The Acomb first, and I loved the performance from Haffner. He was very simply the best.

First off the bridle but, over seven furlongs, he is clearly a horse that will be running over ten furlongs minimum next season. In typical Ryan Moore fashion, he was brilliant, winding him up and then, when he got going, it was easy for Haffner.

In the Great Voltigeur, there was quite an interesting dynamic, with Group 1 winners Christmas Day and Maltese Cross having to give Pierre Bonnard 5lb.

Maltese Cross ran out a ready winner and I must say it was impressive. So impressive that his next task is the Arc, and he's around 6/1 for that race.

For all that he was good, I can't have him for the Arc.

Pierre Bonnard finished second and Christmas Day back in third. The latter looks sure to bounce back and run a big race in the St Leger.

Kalpana survives Yorkshire Oaks scare

Onto day two, with the feature race the Yorkshire Oaks.

It was another race with a pacemaker, and I'm not really sure what Sugar Island achieved other than causing chaos. She went so far clear that it didn't really feel like any of the runners took much notice of her until they turned in, and she was still many lengths clear.

Kalpana was the first to go after her, and I think Colin Keane would have really hoped someone had gone before him but, with an Oaks third who likes soft ground lengths ahead, he had to do something.

Kalpana did manage to hold on and many came at the jockey for not giving her a good ride. However, I do think it's rather difficult to watch a horse like Sugar Island get that far clear and not begin to worry that she's got away, especially as it felt like everyone was waiting for the first horse to go before following through.

Kalpana looks to have really got better with age and now doesn't seem dependent on the ground, but I would be worried going forward about how hard a race she has had.

Sparan Nua was the one who nearly caused the shock by beating Kalpana, and she's a really likeable filly. She looks to have plenty more to come and could be a force in some big races in the autumn.

Minnie Hauk was back in third, and a lot was expected after her Arc second last season, but this season has been disappointing. It was better than her King George run, but I wouldn't fancy her in the big races going forward.

READ MORE: Two betting tips for Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

Libertango and Sun Goddess set up Cheveley Park showdown

The other races to note from day two included the Lowther, where Libertango and Billy Loughnane showed their class.

The next race on the card, the sales race, was a strange one, with Sun Goddess, a Group 1 winner, getting weight from the others.

To some degree, she won as she should, but it was the manner in which she did it.

It couldn't have gone much more wrong when making her effort, almost tripping over before destroying them.

Those two both look Cheveley Park-bound and, adding in the Morny winner Senorita Bonita, it could make for a brilliant race.

Bacio blitzes rivals in the Nunthorpe

Onto day three and the feature race, the Nunthorpe.

The sprinting division has clearly been lacking a superstar, but that wasn't the case as American sprinter Bacio won with ease.

For starters, how on earth did he get into a Royal Ascot handicap off 100?

He's a classic American sprinter. The shape of the race doesn't matter and they aren't bothered about what anyone else wants to do. They will ping out of the gates and go to the line. Catch me if you can.

Juan Hernandez looking around was brilliant. I loved it, seeing if anything was going to challenge him.

Time For Sandals was the unlucky horse in the race, but that's how these things go. If you ride a horse out the back, then you need luck to have an easy run through the pack, especially in sprints.

She will be overbet next time, but it will be interesting to see if she can build on this.

Al Nayyir finally gets his Lonsdale Cup

In the Lonsdale Cup, the absence of Trawlerman really blew the race wide open.

Caballo De Mar was the favourite and he ran a lot better than at Ascot, but I think that did leave a mark as he had no excuses back in fourth.

Al Nayyir just kept finding and he really deserved his victory, adding to his placings in the race in the last two years to finally get his day.

Scandinavia won't be too worried about anything from this race.

Arapaho Gold maintains perfect record in Gimcrack

The next race was the Gimcrack, with Marco Polo the huge market mover after a hugely eye-catching debut.

He was ultimately disappointing, but I wouldn't give up on him by any stretch.

It was a win for Yorkshire with Arapaho Gold making it four wins from four runs, and this gelding looks Mill Reef-bound.

It was a brilliant story and exciting to see where he can go from here.

Daiquiri Bay lands dramatic Ebor

Onto the final day of the meeting and the Ebor was, of course, the feature race.

A classic race, but the finish had its drama.

Daiquiri Bay was the winner, but Hopewell Rock can consider himself unlucky, with his jockey dropping the whip a furlong out and only going down by a neck.

Notable Speech silences doubters in City Of York

It wasn't the feature, but Saturday also had the Group 1 City Of York Stakes over seven furlongs, which looked a classic.

I was personally against Notable Speech on the ground, but he proved to be far too good, showing what we all know he can do away from Ascot.

The one from the race for me was Zavateri.

I did back him and, to me, he looked like he was coming there, got outpaced and then stayed on again, just losing fourth on the line.

I am backing him in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood this week.

Fowler’s eye-catcher of the week – God Given Talent

The eye-catcher of the week came on day one of the meeting.

In the nursery, I thought God Given Talent ran a huge race on his first start for William Haggas.

He was held up at the back and then came through, finding all sorts of trouble before finishing a good fourth.

He's been raised 2lb for that, but he will be winning off this mark.