Jane Mangan
Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: 5 Irish horses to follow at the 2026 York Ebor Festival
William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is here with five Irish horses to follow at this week’s York Ebor Festival
Trean – G3 Acomb Stakes, Wednesday, 2:25pm
My first Irish runner to follow goes in the second race on the opening day of the York Ebor Festival, the Group Three Acomb Stakes. Haffner heads the betting for the Ballydoyle, but I think Trean is a highly intriguing runner. He should have won on debut at Fairyhouse and, while he massively underperformed thereafter at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend, he made amends with an emphatic win at the Galway Festival. This has been the plan since then, and I think he’s a hugely exciting colt. Paddy Twomey targets this meeting with some good horses, and I believe that this is one of them.
Star Of State – G2 Lowther Stakes, Thursday, 1:50pm
Moving onto the opening race on Thursday where I like the chances of Joseph O’Brien’s Star Of State in the Lowther. She probably should have beaten Livenka on her debut at Fairyhouse, where she made up a lot of ground under hands and heels. She was turned out quickly following that and made no mistake when winning by the length of the straight at Leopardstown. She showed a potent turn of foot that day and is the leading player in the Lowther for me.
Sun Goddess – Harry’s Half Million By Goffs, Thursday, 2:25pm
The following race, the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs, has attracted a big field and is often one of the most competitive races of the week, however, Sun Goddess could turn it into something of a procession. She arrives here off the back of victory in the G1 Phoenix Stakes and to be honest, I can’t believe that she has been declared for this sales race, and I don’t think it should be allowed. However, the whopping prize money on offer has obviously tempted them into running here, and she is the clear form pick in the race. She’s a Group One winner in a sales race, and it makes this massive field look uncompetitive. The colts will have to give her weight, and she would have to underperform markedly to get beaten here.
Minnie Hauk – G1 Yorkshire Oaks, Thursday, 3:35pm
Minnie Hauk runs in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and is my selection in the race. I’m a big fan of this mare, and whilst she hasn’t looked the same this season as she did last, she may well be coming back to herself. It was a huge run behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s, and that was much more like it. I feel as if she is a little forgotten about considering how close she went in the Arc last year, and any rain that falls won’t blunt her chances.
Love Me Tender – Ebor Handicap, Saturday, 3:35pm
The week’s feature is the Ebor Handicap, which comes on Saturday. Ethical Diamond won the race last year for Willie Mullins, and I think the prize will head back to Closutton once again, courtesy of Love Me Tender. He makes his first start for the trainer, having had three runs in France, and runs off his French mark of 96. I feel as if he could be absolutely thrown in off that, and he’s booked last year’s winning jockey William Buick, which is an obvious plus. Any rain that falls won’t hinder his chance. He was given a good shout by the trainer in a preview for the race, and we know what Willie can do with these types. I fancy him to take home the biggest handicap pot of the week once again.
