York Racing Tips: Ebor Festival Antepost Tips and Predictions

Last updated: 15 August 2025 by Ed Quigley

I’ve done the hard work for you and identified my strongest selections across the Ebor Festival at York. These four horses represent my favourite betting opportunities of the meeting, backed by thorough form analysis and insights. You’ll find my full research and reasoning for each pick detailed below, plus the best horse racing betting sites offering the current best odds for each selection.

Hankelow – Acomb Stakes – Wednesday 2.25

We have Group 3 action over 7f, and this is the chance for some exciting 2-year-olds to lock horns. Italy is bound to be popular if he runs for the Ballydoyle team, but I think the winner could come from Yorkshire handler Karl Burke, who continues to have his string operating in sensational form.

Hankelow won his only start to date, when getting the job done in taking fashion over the course and distance in a Novice event at the end of June. Considering that was his racecourse debut, there was a lot to like about that performance, and with natural progression and the benefit of that experience, there should be plenty more to come from this son of Night Of Thunder.

The Burke team continue to operate at a strike-rate north of 30% for August, and a big performance could easily be on the cards here. He should get 1m in time, but for now, this looks like the perfect opportunity to showcase his talents.

Carmers – Great Voltigeur Stakes – Wednesday 3.00

If Lambourn turns up and brings his A-game, then this is going to be hard work for whoever decides to take on the Aidan O’Brien star. However, Royal Ascot winner Carmers is a progressive sort who is laden with stamina, and can make this closer than the betting suggests, and looks the solid each-way play.

Colin Keane has been earmarked for the ride, and that is no surprise as this improving sort also has a touch of class and looks more than capable of getting involved at the business end of proceedings.

Going forward, he could easily be just the type who makes up into an Ascot Gold Cup performer next year. Quick underfoot conditions will be ideal for him, and I think this combination should go well in a race that could easily cut up into a small field.

See The Fire – Juddmonte International Stakes – Wednesday 3.35

I’m not convinced this is a two-horse race, and I think the Andrew Balding-trained See The Fire, who is a strong traveller, will love the ground and has winning form at the venue. You can forgive the below-par performance at Goodwood last time out on what was desperate ground, and with the weather forecast set fair, she should get the ground that she enjoys.

If you got back to the Knavesmire in May, she pulverised the opposition in the Middleton, where she enjoyed the rattling quick ground. This venue offers a greater test of speed compared to many other venues, and so she could easily get involved in the shake-up here, especially from an each-way point of view.

The Andrew Balding team continue to operate at around a 25% strike-rate, and I think this combination is a major factor in what should be a belter of a Group 1.

London City e/w – Ebor Handicap – Saturday 3.35

The shape of the Ebor is yet to really form, and it will be fascinating to see who makes the gig. As always, there is likely to be a strong challenge from Ireland, with some of the powerhouse yards represented and Willie Mullins holding a strong hand with Hipop De Loire proving very popular in the antepost market for the Closutton maestro.

We normally associate all the big prizes with Aidan O’Brien, and in a way, rather oddly, Europe’s richest Flat Handicap has evaded O’Brien for nearly 25 years since Mediterranean won it back in 2001. However, I think London City will be an each-way player if it gets the green light for this.

He was a winner on the track back in May over 1m4f, and this extra distance, nice ground and York’s home straight should play to the strengths of this lightly-raced 4-year-old who should have more to offer. With only 7 starts to his name, I get the feeling we are yet to get anywhere near the ceiling of his ability, and he looks like a serious player.

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