Saturday 22nd August 2026
We sign off for this year’s Ebor Festival at York on Saturday, and I’ve got the three selections to go to war with in what looks like a really tough day for punters. I’ll be kicking things off on Saturday with the opener at 1.50, and this is the Group 3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes over a mile and a furlong. I’m taking a chance on one at a decent price here, and that’s SABER STRIKE for William Haggas and Tom Marquand, who’s currently trading at a best price of 11/1. He looked like an exciting prospect when beating Cerro Blanco in a Listed contest at Newmarket at the start of the season, and whilst he hasn’t taken the world by storm since, he’s run with credit in Group 3 company since. Notably, he’s been running over seven furlongs and a mile, and has kept on in each of those races, giving the impression that this extra furlong is what he’s after. I don’t think that we’ve seen the best of him yet, and this longer trip could unlock improvement. The Earl Of Sefton winner Damysus holds obvious claims here back down in grade for John & Thady Gosden, and there should be more to come from three-year-old Hankelow for Karl Burke; he was third in the French 2000 Guineas on his penultimate start.
Selection: Saber Strike – (12/1) (Each-Way) (4 places)
Shortlist: Damysus (11/4), Hankelow (15/2)
1.50 York
My second selection of the afternoon comes in the feature race of the meeting at 3.35, and this is the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, a highly competitive Heritage Handicap which is contested over a mile and six furlongs. I like the Joseph O’Brien-trained EMIT here, who’s the mount of Ryan Moore. He looks to have been laid out for this particular assignment, and represents a yard in fine form this term at the big meetings. He was last seen when finishing fourth at Royal Ascot in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, keeping on in the closing stages, and he’ll contest this off the same mark. He’s back up in distance here, which is another plus, and I think he has to be considered a very live player. Willie Mullins won this race in 2025 and 2023 with Ethical Diamond and Absurde, and runs Love Me Tender in this year’s renewal in the same silks. He’s unexposed and has very obvious claims under William Buick. Another who has to be in the mix is Daiquiri Bay for Alan King and Rossa Ryan. He comes into the race in great form, having won competitive handicaps at Newmarket and Royal Ascot, and he’s highly likely to give his running again here.
Selection: Emit – (7/1) (Each-Way) (6 places) (NB)
Shortlist: Love Me Tender (15/2), Daiquiri Bay (14/1)
3.35 York
Signing me off for the meeting will be the 4.10, and this is the Sky Bet Constantine Handicap, a Heritage Handicap over six furlongs. I’m quite strong on one here, and that’s DANCE IN THE STORM for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy, a combination which has excelled on the Knavesmire this week. She’s already won two handicaps this term, both coming at Chester, including last time out earlier this month, with both of those victories coming from difficult stalls. Notably, she drops in distance here, and I have a suspicion that she could dominate this particular contest given that she isn’t short of speed herself. A bold showing, and another success for this prolific yard, would be no shock. Air Force One won here on Wednesday for Geoff Olroyd and is greatly respected under a penalty turned out quickly, and Stewards’ Cup winner Evening Saignon is another significant player up four pounds following that big success for the team of Hamad Al Jehani and James Doyle.
Selection: Dance In The Storm – (5/1) (Each-Way) (NAP)
Shortlist: Air Force One (15/2), Evening Saignon (10/1)
4.10 York
