The ITV Racing cameras head to York for the Ebor Festival, and our Day 1 tip is Ombudsman to win the feature Juddmonte International — the NAP of our Wednesday card, which also includes a selection for all five televised races.
Charlie Appleby’s Ombudsman won this race twelve months ago and can defend his crown. Below are our tips for every ITV race on the opening day at the Knavesmire.
York Ebor Festival Day 1 Tips: Wednesday’s Selections
| Time | Race | Our Selection |
|---|---|---|
| 13:50 | Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap | Naanas Sparkle |
| 14:25 | Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3) | Trean |
| 15:00 | Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) | Pierre Bonnard |
| 15:35 | Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) | Ombudsman (NAP) |
| 16:10 | Stayers Handicap | Shrimp Shady |
Our NAP (strongest bet) is Ombudsman in the 15:35. Tips are the opinion of the author and not guaranteed. 18+. GambleAware.org.
13:50 York – Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap: Naanas Sparkle
Naanas Sparkle has been in good form since switching to Lemos De Souza, and it’s worth chancing the Twilight Son gelding to run a big race in the day’s opener over 5½f.
A three-time winner for previous handler Alice Haynes, the four-year-old has won twice from four starts for his current yard, most recently at Southwell. He almost made it a third when run down late at Goodwood last time, beaten only a head having led inside the final furlong. A subsequent 3lb rise may not be enough to stop another bold show here.
14:25 York – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3): Trean
Trean turned in an impressive performance at Galway to get off the mark at the third attempt, and while this is a marked step up in class, Paddy Twomey’s colt is worth siding with.
The Bayside Boy colt finished third on debut before a disappointing effort at the Curragh, where he may have been amiss. He returned a month later to win by five lengths over City Of Gold, and there could be plenty more to come. Notably, that Curragh race included Abraham Lincoln (runner-up in a Group Two next time) and Haffner, who reopposes here after winning at Newmarket and finishing a close second in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Trean looked well suited by seven furlongs at Galway, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see a big performance.
15:00 York – Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2): Pierre Bonnard
There’s little between Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard, and we’re taking the latter to come out on top having finished just behind him in the Irish Derby in June.
One of three in the race for Aidan O’Brien, the Camelot colt won three of his four starts last term including a French Group One, though he’s winless in four this campaign. Ill at ease on soft ground at Epsom (seventh), he bounced back to finish third to stablemate Benvenuto Cellini, only a neck behind Christmas Day who reopposes. He’s unexposed over this trip and may have more to offer — he has a little to find with his stablemate, but shouldn’t be far away.
15:35 York – Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1): Ombudsman (NAP)
Ombudsman won this twelve months ago and Charlie Appleby’s charge can double up — the NAP of our card.
The Godolphin runner also took the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes last term and was runner-up in the Eclipse before winning this a year ago, rounding off his campaign behind Calandagan in the Champion Stakes. The Night Of Thunder entire returned with a demolition job in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March, and has since beaten Gethin in the Brigadier Gerard and Minnie Hauk to successfully defend his Prince Of Wales’s crown. This is a tougher renewal than the one he won last year, but he looks well up to another title defence.
16:10 York – Stayers Handicap: Shrimp Shady
Chester Plate winner Shrimp Shady can get back on the winning trail in the TV finale, and Andrew Balding’s Mastercraftsman gelding arrives in good heart.
Kept busy this term, he’s won three times — most recently in a valuable Newbury handicap, having earlier scored at Chester and Wolverhampton. He then chased home Dancing In Paris in the Shergar Cup Stayers’ Handicap, beaten just a length, and a mere 1lb rise may not stop him being competitive. Well suited by this stamina test and with no issues about the ground, he looks set for another big run over 2m½f.
Our Day 1 NAP: Ombudsman
Our strongest bet of the opening day is Ombudsman in the Juddmonte International (15:35). A proven Group 1 performer defending a race he won last year, in the form of his life after successive top-level wins in Dubai and at Royal Ascot, he’s the highlight of our Wednesday card. As always, it’s a tip based on his form and profile, not a guarantee.
Where to Bet on the Ebor Festival
Most of the day’s races are covered by Best Odds Guaranteed, so you’ll be paid at the SP if your selection drifts. See our guide to Best Odds Guaranteed and our ITV Racing tips for more across the festival.
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18+. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NAP for Ebor Festival Day 1? Our NAP for Wednesday is Ombudsman in the 15:35 Juddmonte International Stakes — the strongest bet on our opening-day card.
What are the Ebor Festival Day 1 tips? Our selections are Naanas Sparkle (13:50), Trean (14:25), Pierre Bonnard (15:00), Ombudsman (15:35 NAP) and Shrimp Shady (16:10).
What time is the Juddmonte International? The Juddmonte International Stakes, the Group 1 feature of Day 1, is off at 15:35 at York on Wednesday, live on ITV.
Which races are on ITV on Ebor Festival Day 1? ITV shows five races from York on Wednesday, from the 13:50 through to the 16:10, including the Juddmonte International.
More racing tips: ITV Racing tips · Best Odds Guaranteed · Tom Segal Pricewise tips
Tips are the opinion of the author and are not guaranteed. Odds and selections were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. GambleAware.org · GamCare.org.uk.
Andy Clark is a British betting analyst and the founder and editor of Thatsagoal, a UK sports betting comparison site operated by Thatsagoal Media Limited. He has over 20 years of betting experience across football and horse racing, and personally tests every bookmaker account reviewed on the site.
