2026 York Ebor Festival Saturday Preview

Our wait for a winner goes on but Ernst Blofeld at least ensured we didn’t go home empty handed on day 3. Command The Stars was exceedingly unlucky not to place and Jm Jungle ran a cracker from a bad draw. Unfortunately, my fears about the ground for Heavenly Heather were well founded. Hopefully we can finish the week with a flourish, Dave’s 2026 York Ebor Festival Saturday preview and tips are below.

1.50 – Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

A cracking renewal. The top rated Damysus has form on easy ground and has an obvious chance after a solid effort in a G2 here last month behind Item. I also think Ridari is interesting back on easier ground after a stint in the US where he probably didn’t act on the rattling quick conditions.

He’s a nice price at 20s and I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him e/w but at an even bigger price, I’ll take my chances with the Julie Camacho trained gelding Naqeeb. This 6yo is rated 110 so he hasn’t got to improve massively to get close to the principals and while his previous runs here haven’t been his best, they were on good to firm ground.

Easy Ground

He’s never won anywhere on ground that quick but he has career form figures of 321 on ground with soft in the description, the win coming in a 1m2f listed heat on good to soft at Goodwood last September (when he was 33/1). He was only beaten a head in a listed race at Goodwood in May (1m2f, good) and even his latest run in the G2 summer mile at Ascot on fast ground was a cracking run (beaten just 2.75l).

Yes, his course form is an obvious concern but like I mentioned earlier, they have been on quick ground and he might do better on this more forgiving surface. At odds of 40/1, Naqeeb is the e/w selection.

2026 York Ebor Festival Saturday Tip: Naqeeb e/w @ 40/1 (4 places)

2.25 – Melrose Handicap (Heritage)

The most interesting one at a price here off a lovely low weight is Eniac. By Siyouni, this horse was formerly trained by Donnacha O’Brien. The son of Siyouni failed to win for O’Brien but he has shown plenty of ability and this step up in trip on easy ground could really suit him.

Rated 82, he is 2lb wrong here so runs off 84 but even so, I think he can be competitive off that sort of mark. Back in May he stayed on well to finish a 1.75l second off 78 at Leopardstown behind a 68 rated rival who is now rated 82. 1.25l in second that day was Bay Of Stars, who Eniac was conceding 3lb to, and he is 5lb better off with that rival now.

Eniac made a promising start when staying on late for a 1l third at Newcastle over 12.5f and this step up in trip is surely going to suit. He’s got placed maiden form on yielding ground, so underfoot conditions should be fine and with odds of 33/1 on offer, Eniac looks well worth backing e/w.

2026 York Ebor Festival Saturday Tip: Eniac e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)

3.00 – City Of York Stakes (Group 1)

This race was upgraded to a G1 last year and it will be hotly contested by no less than 14 horses. We backed Zavateri at monster odds at Goodwood last time and while he just missed out on a place, he ran a blinder in defeat. Unfortunately, he’s nowhere near as big a price here but he should run well again dropped back to 7f.

Notable Speech is a serious horse but easy ground wouldn’t be ideal for him. The same can be said for Lake Forest. One horse that will be thrilled to see all the recent rain is the Andrew Balding trained son of Invincible Spirit, Marvelman.

He was well held behind Lake Forest at Goodwood last time but he previously ran a good race in a Newcastle G3 which proved he still retains plenty of ability. The main angle for fancying this horse is his liking for easy ground. He absolutely bolted up in a Doncaster G2 on his last start on soft and overall, his form figures on softer than good read 221. The other angle is the red hot form of his trainer. At 18/1, Marvelman is the e/w selection. Hopefully there’s more rain overnight.

2026 York Ebor Festival Saturday Tip: Marvelman e/w @ 18/1 (4 places)

3.35 – Ebor Handicap (Heritage)

I’ve already tipped Paddy The Squire up for this and you can read why here. My original selection for the race was Real Dream, but I was afraid he might not get in. He has, and while the 66s have gone, I still think he’s worth backing at 33s.

This horse ran a massive race in this last year and if he had got a clear run, he’d have got even closer than the 4 odd lengths he was beaten by Ethical Diamond. That run came off 103 and my hope is that Ian Williams has trained him with a repeat bid in mind.

He pitches up this time off just 96 and after a string of poor efforts, he looked like he was coming back to form when meeting all sorts of traffic problems at Newmarket last month. He’s won on good to soft and he was a close second in the Mallard Handicap at Donny on soft so easy ground is fine, and he won’t be inconvenienced if it dries out a bit too. At 33/1, Real Dream is the e/w NAP of the day. Hopefully we can land the forecast with Paddy The Squire!

2026 York Ebor Festival Saturday Tip: Paddy The Squire already advised e/w @ 28/1; Real Dream e/w @ 33/1 (6 places) NAP

-DaveStevos