Ebor Festival Day 1: Best bet, each-way selection and treble
Recommended bets include:
Constitution River to win the Juddmonte International Stakes
The Ebor Festival gets underway with a bang on Wednesday and there is a strong case to be made that Day One is the best card on offer this week, with some excellent Group action.
Our best race of the day is undoubtedly the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes and we get to enjoy a cross-generational clash between some of Europe's best 1m2f performers.
Here is everything you need to know for York's opening card, including some well-fancied tips to put on your shortlists.
Day 1 - Key Info
First race: 13:50 Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap
Feature race: 15:35 Juddmonte International Stakes
We are in for a real treat at York on Wednesday, with a thoroughly competitive seven-race card featuring a couple of intriguing group races.
Kicking off with a £135,000 sprint handicap (13:50), the Group 3 Acomb Stakes (14:25) is next up and there could be some juveniles to follow among the field there.
Derby winner Christmas Day takes on Epsom runner-up Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur Stakes (15:00) and that race looks like a cracker.
The Juddmonte International Stakes (15:35) follows and Ombudsman faces a stiff challenge in the shape of Eclipse winner Constitution River. Three handicaps then close out the card and the final race of the day is a competitive-looking nursery (17:20).
Best bet of the day
Constitution River to win the Juddmonte International Stakes (15:35) @ 13/8
Aidan O'Brien has won this race a record seven times, most recently with three-year-old City Of Troy in 2024, and his runner, CONSTITUTION RIVER, can make it eight this year.
The son of Wootton Bassett has improved with every start this year and can step forward again. He won the Dee Stakes by seven lengths on seasonal debut and that form is hard to argue with, as the second, third and fourth have all won since, including two Group races.
This colt launched a successful French raid after that and became a Classic winner when landing the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.
Very impressive when winning the Eclipse, the runner-up has won since, and Constitution River's profile suggests he can keep improving.
Best each-way bet of the day
In The Breeze in the Stayers Handicap (17:00) @ 22/1
Colin Keane has been booked to ride IN THE BREEZE for Henrietta Knight, an eight-year-old that has been in excellent form this season, winning two of his three starts thus far.
Knight's gelding began the year with an impressive performance over 1m4f at Thirsk in April, but he failed to fire off a 7lb higher mark in a better race at Ascot after that.
Returning to two miles did the trick at Goodwood on his most recent start and he absolutely bolted up on that occasion, winning by five lengths. He can go close here, despite a 6lb rise.
Day 1 Acca
You cannot go wrong with an accumulator at the big meetings, so we have selected three horses with big chances to combine into a treble on Day 1 at York.
Bet 1: Back Haffner to win the Acomb Stakes (14:30) @ 6/4
HAFFNER was a good second in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood when last seen and a similar effort should enable him to go one better this time around. It appears to be an easier race and O'Brien's colt is likely to take another step forward.
Bet 2: Back Christmas Day to win the Great Voltigeur Stakes (15:00) @ 9/4
It is difficult to look past Epsom's Derby hero CHRISTMAS DAY on this occasion, as he got the better of Maltese Cross that day and is expected to confirm the form. Second in the Irish Derby last time out, this looks like a good opportunity for a return to winning ways.
Bet 3: Back Constitution River to win the Juddmonte International Stakes (15:35) @ 13/8
Connections have been raving about CONSTITUTION RIVER for most of the season and it is clear that they hold him in high regard. Trainer Aidan O'Brien is confident that he is continuing to improve and he could become the king of the division by winning here.
