Ebor Festival 2026 Tips - Race-by-Race Preview for Day 2

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 19 Aug 2026 16:51

Jon Vine 2 hours ago

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The Yorkshire Oaks headlines Day 2 at the 2026 Ebor Festival
Top tips: Ruby Moon, Weekend Roar, The Lost King, Legacy Link, Revels
Value bets and strong form expected from 3-year-olds throughout the card

Thursday’s Ebor Festival card at York is headlined by the Yorkshire Oaks, with strong support races throughout the afternoon. (Getty)

The Ebor Festival rolls into its second day on Thursday, with punters treated to another excellent card at York.

Ebor Festival 2026 - Day 2 Preview
Race 1 - Lowther Stakes Tips
Race 2 - Harry's Half Million Tips
Race 3 - Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap Tips
Race 4 - Yorkshire Oaks Tips
Race 5 - Galtres Stakes Tips
Race 6 - Nursery Handicap Tips
Race 7 - Fillies' Handicap Tips
Ebor Festival Day 2 Tips Summary

The Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks headlines proceedings, while the Lowther Stakes and the historic Clipper Handicap also feature prominently.

Our race-by-race preview for Day 2 of the 2026 Ebor Festival is included below, while Live Racing & Sports Updates has the latest previews, analysis and coverage across all sporting codes.

Ebor Festival 2026 - Day 2 Preview

Race 1 - Lowther Stakes Tips

It's great to see a healthy field of 19 declared for this Group 2, with title-chasing Billy Loughnane making his only trip to York this week to partner Royal Ascot winner Libertango, who dominates the betting.

15. Ruby Moon finished a couple of places behind Libertango when George Boughey's favourite was beaten by Senorita Bonita in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes.

Richard and Peter Fahey's filly went into that Group 2 on the back of a maiden victory at Carlisle, where she beat an 80-rated rival in Silesia as the pair pulled well clear of the rest.

Ryan Moore had to contend with a wide barrier at Newmarket and it took a little too long for the penny to drop, but once it did, Ruby Moon finished strongly to cross the line just two lengths behind Libertango.

The third from that contest, Alwaysanangel, has since claimed Listed honours, so the form looks solid, while much of the speed has been drawn towards the outside here, which should suit both Ruby Moon and Libertango from their double-figure barriers.

Race 2 - Harry's Half Million Tips

To borrow a phrase often used by Aidan O'Brien himself, it's incredible really that Sun Goddess lines up in this conditions race just 11 days after storming to victory in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Ryan Moore's mount has landed a potentially tricky wide barrier, but on all known form, Sun Goddess should take a world of beating.

The favourite's strength means much of the 22-runner field can be backed at big prices, including 18. Weekend Roar.

Hugo Palmer's colt won a strong maiden at Newmarket in June before finishing fourth in a similar race in Ireland two weeks ago.

Livenka, who lines up in the Lowther, made all to score impressively in the £96,000 Ballyhane Stakes, with Weekend Roar hitting the line five lengths behind under Billy Lee.

Following his maiden victory at Newmarket, Palmer nominated Harry's Half Million as the target for Weekend Roar, and James Doyle has been booked for the ride.

Race 3 - Sir Kevin Sinfield 7 In 7 Grand Finale Handicap Tips

The Clipper Handicap has been renamed this year to recognise Kevin Sinfield's extraordinary charity work in honour of Rob Burrow, who passed away two years ago following a battle with motor neurone disease.

5. The Lost King would be an appropriately named winner, and Andrew Balding's runner looks to have a huge chance.

The Lost King has been aimed at this race since scoring at York on John Smith's Cup day, travelling like the winner throughout before taking the lead around 400m from home and keeping Mr Swivell safely at bay to the line.

Having previously shown his best form on the all-weather, it was encouraging to see Balding's four-year-old finally produce his best on turf, and The Lost King appeared to relish racing at York.

Barrier 15 isn't ideal, but Oisin Murphy should have enough time to slot in before the bend and launch his challenge in the straight.

I wouldn't be quick to overlook 16. Spell Master either.

Oli Rix's runner travelled well for a long way when sixth in the John Smith's Cup here at York and was fancied to win the 1800m handicap on the penultimate day of Glorious Goodwood.

Ray Dawson endured a nightmare passage from barrier four that day, striking traffic repeatedly before crossing the line three lengths away in seventh.

Dropping back to 1600m shouldn't bother this progressive four-year-old, and Dawson will be keen for another chance aboard Spell Master after that luckless run in Sussex.

Race 4 - Yorkshire Oaks Tips

It's great to see Kalpana back in action following that superb victory in the King George.

I thought the fast ground might prove her undoing at Ascot, but Oisin Murphy's mount excelled on the surface and Kalpana will take plenty of beating on Thursday.

Minnie Hauk was ridden as though she was expected to make the running in the King George and faded tamely out of contention late.

Aidan O'Brien's mare is much better than she showed that day, and I'd be shocked if she didn't provide Kalpana with a stern challenge.

Johanna Walsh was hugely impressive in the Irish Oaks and looks a major player with the three-year-old weight allowance in her favour.

Another three-year-old to consider is 7. Legacy Link, who appears to have been completely overlooked in the market following her defeat at Royal Ascot.

John and Thady Gosden's filly went into the Epsom Oaks as one of the leading contenders after winning the Musidora Stakes here at York first-up.

Colin Keane's mount travelled powerfully through that Classic and hit the front around 400m from home, only for Thundering On to track her into contention before producing an excellent turn of foot to score by four lengths.

In hindsight, the Gosdens may regret running Legacy Link in the Ribblesdale just two weeks after such a demanding Classic performance.

Keane's mount travelled with little zest at Royal Ascot and weakened quickly as Earth Shot and Johanna Walsh moved on to fight out the finish.

Legacy Link has been freshened since that disappointing effort and has previously performed well on fast ground.

The form from the Epsom Oaks may be a little questionable, but this beautifully bred daughter of Dubawi looked highly progressive earlier in the season and is capable of running a huge race at York if she returns to her best.

Race 5 - Galtres Stakes Tips

The Galtres Stakes has gone the way of Irish raiders plenty of times over the years, and I like the look of 14. Vauntingly for the man of the season, Joseph O'Brien.

After showing a good attitude in defeat across her first three maiden starts, Vauntingly broke through with a comfortable victory at Killarney in July.

O'Brien's filly stepped into Listed company for the first time in the Marble City Stakes two weeks later, staying on strongly from off the pace to finish second behind front-running stablemate Nil Bua Gan Dua, with future Group 3 winner Believed back in third.

As a three-year-old, Vauntingly receives a valuable weight allowance from her older rivals on Thursday, while she has already proven herself over this 2400m journey.

O'Brien's raider looks a straightforward type and is bred to develop into a smart middle-distance filly.

Race 6 - Nursery Handicap Tips

I was part of the gamble on Mia Fantasia at Glorious Goodwood and was disappointed with the ride given to the favourite by Oisin Murphy.

Marco Ghiani takes over at York, and Hugo Palmer's filly remains well handicapped.

That said, I loved what 2. Revels produced when winning a 1200m handicap at Goodwood, and I fancy Karl Burke's youngster can complete a Festival handicap double.

Revels won over this 1400m trip on debut at Redcar in May before finding things tougher in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sam James' mount travelled beautifully behind the leaders at Goodwood and accelerated sharply once the gaps appeared, edging out Dubai Champion at the post.

A rise of around 2.5kg for that victory doesn't look harsh, and I have little doubt Revels will be even better stepping back up to 1400m.

It pains me to desert Mia Fantasia, but Revels looks to have an outstanding chance.

Race 7 - Fillies' Handicap Tips

Three-year-olds boast an excellent overall record in this fillies' handicap, and I'm backing two members of the younger generation in Thursday's finale.

18. Secret History won a competitive handicap at the July Festival on her penultimate start, beating two subsequent winners in Crimson Spirit and Nikova.

Ed Walker then dropped his filly back to 1200m at Glorious Goodwood, where Secret History took a little too long to hit top gear before finishing third behind impressive winner Sing The Blues.

Returning to 1400m looks a major positive for this likeable filly, who sneaks into a wide-open contest near the bottom of the weights.

8. Bella Lyra has returned to Richard Hughes' yard following a couple of disappointing efforts for Mark Glatt in America.

Glatt's recruit was slowest away when finishing eighth in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes before dropping back to last after being crowded along the rail on her most recent start over 1600m at Santa Anita.

Bella Lyra placed in several Pattern races as a juvenile last season and went close in the Listed Spring Cup at Lingfield on her final start before that brief US campaign.

Finley Marsh's mount was rated 99 before that Lingfield effort but makes her handicap debut off a mark of 92 on Thursday, while plenty of the speed appears to have been drawn towards the outside.

That combination makes Bella Lyra an intriguing roughie at a big price.

Ebor Festival Day 2 Tips Summary

Race	Track	Tip 1	Tip 2
1	York	15. Ruby Moon
2	York	18. Weekend Roar
3	York	5. The Lost King	16. Spell Master
4	York	7. Legacy Link
5	York	14. Vauntingly
6	York	2. Revels
7	York	18. Secret History	8. Bella Lyra

Verdict

Ebor Festival 2026 - Day 2 Preview

Our best & value bets for day two of the 2026 Ebor Festival are:

Revels

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Vauntingly

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Ruby Moon

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