Welcome A very warm welcome to Coolmore Nunthorpe day from wherever you are following the action. In a difficult year for so many people, we hope the star sprinters and their riders, can bring some joy into our lives.
In this new digital world, if you want to keep up with the going and the Yorkshire weather, past, present and forecast; then visit our going page which connects direct to our weather station at the one furlong marker (under the windsock), click here https://www.yorkracecourse.co.uk/going-report.html For a wider sense of the atmosphere on course and behind the scenes content please do follow our social media channels #EborAtHome. The team at ITV Racing will bring you five races a day and if you want to follow all the action then Racing TV are covering all the contests. We are incredibly grateful that the connections of such high-quality horses have decided to bring them to the Knavesmire for us to enjoy and even try to pick out a winner. The longstanding support of our best race for the speedsters from the Coolmore team is hugely appreciated. The brilliant performances of Ghaiyyath and Love earlier in the week means that we now know two of the three Group One winners from this Festival, by 3.16pm, we can make it all three. This year’s renewal of the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes retains its usual focus, raw speed, an asset that defending champion, Battaash, has aplenty. Though the unseasonable weather may have challenged his chance of breaking his own course record of 55.90 seconds, do keep an eye on the giant clock specially installed at the finish. The HH Sheikh Hamdan-owned and Charlie Hills-trained “bat mobile” has astonished us before, so fingers crossed. Royal Ascot winner and improving three-year-old, Art Power, offers a strong local challenge hailing from Tim Easterby’s yard. The Simon & Ed Crisfordtrained A’Ali has won twice in Group company this year whilst Emaraaty Ana gave Kevin Ryan an Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack victory, so is to be respected. A little earlier in the day and it’ll be the turn of the leading juveniles to contest the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack of 2020, the winners receive a fabulous commission from leading equine artist David “Mouse” Cooper, see here for more details. Rhythm Master bids to give leading northern owner John Dance his first win in the race and his jockey Megan Nicholls would be the first female rider to win this historic race. On a day that hosts three pattern races, the Group Two Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup is also part of the British Champions Series, backed by QIPCO. Emerging from the long shadow cast by the mighty Stradivarius, this could herald a new staying champion. From the same stable comes Enbihaar, already at big-race winner at Goodwood. Mark Johnston is sending stalwart Nayef Road, an obvious beneficiary from the absence of the two-time champion, having finished just a place behind him at both Ascot and on the Sussex Downs. Eagles By Day will seek to cap a fine summer for leading owner and Leeds fan, Steve Parkin. As if that wasn’t enough, we have the richest maiden race in the land, one of many York contests to receive the generous backing of the European Breeders’ Fund, despite the challenging environment, so notepads and iPads the ready come 3.45pm, a star may well be revealed. The top class racing we are staging this week, with £2.3m in prize money, is only possible due to the steadfast backing of our sponsors, partners, loyal supporters and the many who contribute to making York a very special place. We are hugely grateful and appreciative of everyone’s support in these difficult times and look forward to the day when we can welcome everyone back to the Knavesmire. Thank you. I just hope you thoroughly enjoy the racing from the comfort of your armchair and can share the thrills of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival. Stay safe,
William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course: York Racecourse
55.90 Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook
@yorkracecourse #EborAtHome
