Wednesday 19th August 2026
Welcome aboard to the first of my blogs for this year’s Ebor Festival at York, and I have four bets on the opening day of the meeting on Tuesday. The first of these comes in the opener at 1.50, and this is the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap, a Heritage Handicap over five and a half furlongs. As is the case throughout the week with these types of events, this is extremely competitive. That being said, I quite like the chances of TOCA MADERA for David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope. He’s run two huge races at Goodwood the last two times, notably last time out in the Stewards’ Cup, where he finished fifth of twenty-seven, and just a length and a quarter behind eventual winner Evening Saigon. He would’ve likely got a lot closer as well had he not met interference on several occasions, and when finally in the clear, he was hit on the nose by a rival’s whip. He remains on the same mark for this assignment, and if he gets more luck on this occasion, he has to be considered a big player. The in-form Corolla Point will be a warm order among punters here for Ed Bethell following his win at Hamilton last time out as well as his placed efforts elsewhere, including here. He has to make the shortlist under Callum Rodriguez.
Selection: Toca Madera – (13/2) (Each-Way)
Shortlist: Corolla Point – (6/1)
1.50 York
I move on to the 3.00 for my second selection of the afternoon, and this is the Group 2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes that’s contested over a mile and four furlongs. I’ve come down on what is seemingly Aidan O’Brien’s second-string here, and that’s PIERRE BONNARD, who’s the mount of Wayne Lordon. He was an exciting Group 1-winning two-year-old, and whilst he hasn’t perhaps quite lived up to the hype so far this season, he posted a much more encouraing effort when last seen in the Irish Derby in June, keeping on to finish third and two lengths behind Benvenuto Cellini. He’s also weighted to reverse the form with stablemate Christmas Day in this contest, and I think we could well finally see the best of him here. A bold showing would be no surprise. I’d perhaps side with Maltese Cross just over Christmas Day on this occasion; he showed a very likeable attitude once more last time out when winning the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, and he’ll likely go off the favourite here following that performance.
Selection: Pierre Bonnard – (3/1) (Win) (NB)
Shortlist: Maltese Cross – (2/1)
3.00 York
My third selection of the day comes within the 4.10, and this is the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap, another Heritage Handicap this time contested over two miles and half a furlong. I’m quite strong on the chances of SMALL FRY here for the team of Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle. He was a dual winner last season when trained by Gary & Josh Moore, and has since gone on to be consistent over both codes for his current outfit. Notably, he posted his best effort to date on the level last time out at Goodwood when finishing second of thirteen, and three-quarters of a length behind Hopewell Rock. He had to concede first run as well on that occasion, and despite a four-pound rise in the weights here, I think he can be bang there again at the business end of things, for a jockey and trainer partnership in great form. The progressive Kirchner is next on the list for James Owen; he won a small-field affair by four lengths at Ascot last time out, and there’s likely more to come from this four-year-old son of Pinatubo. Ryan Moore is also in the saddle on this occasion.
Selection: Small Fry – (5/2) (Win) (NAP)
Shortlist: Kirchner – (9/2)
4.10 York
The fourth and final bet of the day for me at York on Tuesday will come within the 4.45, where we have the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap, a Heritage Handicap over five furlongs. I’ve come down on MANATEE MEHMAS in this particular contest, who’s another one for the team of David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope. He was an impressive three and a quarter length winner on debut at Doncaster back in April, and whilst he found Listed company a bit too hot in his next two outings, he ran well in competitive handicaps on the last two occasions. He finished third here in June, before finishing fourth at Goodwood the time after, with the reopposing Naana’s Shadow winning both of those races. O’Meara’s charge is better at the weights with that rival here, and is still unexposed within handicap company. There should be more to come, and I think he can go well here. It’s hard to not include the rapidly improving Naana’s Shadow in the shortlist here; she’ll likely be on the premises again here for Katie Scott & Oisin Murphy, and it could also be worth keeping an eye on Miss Yechance for Karl Burke; she was only two lengths behind Naana’s Shadow at Goodwood last month, and can be involved again here off the same mark.
Selection: Manatee Mehmas – (7/1) (Each-Way)
Shortlist: Naana’s Shadow (4/1), Miss Yechance (8/1)
4.45 York