York Races - Dante Festival 2026: Full Schedule, Must-Watch Races & Early Predictions

The Dante Festival at York returns in 2026, featuring three days of competitive racing between the 13th and 15th of May – all in the heart of God's Own Country. 

Wednesday 13th May (Tattersalls Musidora Stakes)

The Festival kicks off on Wednesday afternoon with the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (1:45), but things don’t really heat up until the late afternoon.

The Go Local Stores Minster Stakes (3:30) and the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (4:05) are the ones to watch. John & Thady Gosden’s Legacy Link is seeing the lion’s share of the early betting action in the latter of the two races. The full schedule is listed below:

• 1:45: British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes 

• 2:20: Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap 

• 2:55: Churchill Tyres Handicap 

• 3:30: Go Local Stores Minster Stakes 

• 4:05: Tattersalls Musidora Stakes 

• 4:40: Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap 

• 5:15: Stuey Weston & Friends Getting Out Handicap

With the exception of the first and last races, all racing on each day can be watched for free on ITV. 

Thursday 14th May (Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Dante Stakes)

The second day of the festival welcomes the first Premier Raceday – opening once more at 1:45 with the Sky Bet ebfstallions.com Novice Stakes.

Two more must-watch races are scheduled in the afternoon with the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes (3:30) and the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (4:05). The full schedule is listed below:

• 1:45: Sky Bet ebfstallions.com Novice Stakes 

• 2:20: Lindum York Handicap 

• 2:55: Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap 

• 3:30: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes 

• 4:05: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes 

• 4:40: British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes

• 5:15: Frank Whittle Partnership Handicap

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes (3:30)

The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes is the first of two back-to-back feature races on Thursday, with a prize pool of £165,000 awaiting the top performers.

Only eight entries will be competing with Andrew Balding’s See The Fire leading as the early favourite in the festival build-up. However, for me, it’s Fallen Angel that I’m liking the look of. With three wins in the last four races, over 1m, she’s looking like a well-priced pick under James Doyle.

Charlie Appleby’s Diamond Rain also looks good, but a recent third-place finish at Del Mar doesn’t fill me with confidence. 

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (4:05)

Immediately following the Fillies’ Stakes, we’ve got the Dante Stakes at 4:05 – another of the big three to watch at the Festival.

A P O'Brien’s Christmas Day is the early favourite – a three-year-old winning on its last three outings, twice at Leopardstown and once at Gowran Park. He is, however, far from a sure thing, and there’s plenty of strong competition from the likes of Morshdi, Saxon Street and Item.

There are a lot of unknowns in this race, making it a great place to pick an underpriced young horse with something to prove. An Each Way on Charlie Appleby’s Al Zanati could be a good choice – most recently placing second at Sandown over a similar distance.

All we really know is that it’s going to be a corker – best strap in for this one. 

Friday 15th May (Boodles Yorkshire Cup)

The final day of the 2026 Dante Festival brings seven more top-quality races – but there’s just one that’s on everyone’s mind – the Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes.

Racing gets underway at 1:45 with the Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap, with the Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes scheduled for the late afternoon, 4:05. The full schedule is listed below: 

• 1:45: Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap 

• 2:20: Sky Bet Fillies' Stakes 

• 2:55: Support Macmillan Charity Raceday On 13 June Handicap 

• 3:30: Design Tonic Out Of This World Spaces At The Races EBF Marygate Fillies' Stakes 

• 4:05: Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes

• 4:40: Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap 

• 5:15: Darley EBF "Confined" Novice Stakes

Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes (4:05)

Time for the big one – the Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes, covering 1 mile 6 furlongs and the chance to win a share of £180,000 in prize money.

There are just 9 runners currently entered, with Ralph Beckett’s Amiloc noted as the early favourite. He’s not managed to secure a win since June, and, most recently in November, placed fourth over 1m4f at Del Mar.

For me, it’s William Haggas’ Hamish that looks far more interesting. Priced as a long shot early on, he’s won four of his last five races – most recently in October over 1m4f at Newbury. The Yorkshire Cup will be his longest race in some time, but the 10-year-old still looks like he’s got more to give. 

What to Watch at Dante Festival at York 2026

There are 21 races over the three-day Dante Festival, with 15 shown live on ITV – but very few racing fans will watch them all. If you’re only planning on watching a handful of races during the festival, there are three you should prioritise.

Thursday’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (3:30) is the first on my list. It offers an opportunity for top-class fillies and mares to make a statement ahead of the summer and, more importantly, a chance for us to see how the top competitors are moving.

The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (4:05) is next up (Thursday) and remains one of the headline races of the week. It’s one of Britain’s premier Derby trials that regularly produces Epsom Derby contenders and future stars of the Flat season.

Finally, it’s the Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes (4:05) on Friday that rounds things off with a high-quality contest over 1m6f. This often features horses with ambitions for the Royal Ascot Gold Cup later in the year and always makes for enjoyable spectating.