Yorkshire Ebor
Asfoora feared most across four days at York
Asfoora successfully defending her crown in Friday’s Nunthorpe Stakes tops William Hill’s list of ante post liabilities heading into York’s four-day Ebor Festival.
Available at 25/1 before finishing a resurgent fourth in the King George Stakes at Goodwood, last year’s winner remains popular at 8/1 with Hills and currently stands as their worst result of the entire meeting.
Another looking to enjoy a stellar second half of the season that would cost William Hill dearly this week is Zavateri, who’s shortened into 7/1 from 16/1 for the City Of York Stakes. Eve Johnston-Houghton’s colt was last seen finishing sixth in the Sussex Stakes won by Bow Echo on only his second start of the season.
Rounding out Hills’ top three most expensive results at York this week is Ombudsman in Wednesday’s Juddmonte International. He remains the red-hot 11/10 favourite for the opening day’s feature.
William Hill are also beginning the see the multiples mount up, with the Haffner, Maltese Cross and Ombudsman treble proving popular on day one, while Ryan Moore’s trio of Haffner, Christmas Day and Constitution River would trigger some handsome payouts too.
In Saturday’s big betting handicap, the Ebor, Tarriance could send tremors through the William Hill trading floor. Andrew Balding’s stayer is just 8/1 but was being backed as a 33/1-shot prior to an eye-catching effort at Goodwood.
Emit is also proving popular for the red-hot Joseph O’Brien team as well, having been backed into 8/1 from 20/1.
York Ebor Festival
Worst Results:
- Asfoora – Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) – Friday 15:35
- Zavateri – City of York Stakes (Group 1) – Saturday 15:00
- Ombudsman – Juddmonte International Stakes – Wednesday 15:35
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “The York Ebor Festival is always one of the biggest turnover meetings for us every year, and 2026 is no different.
“We already have some serious liabilities building, none more so than Asfoora who will aim to defend her Nunthorpe crown on Friday. She had been as big as 25/1 for the race previously but has been backed down to 8/1 and is our worst result of the entire meeting.
“Another that we’re desperately hoping to get beat is Zavateri in the City Of York Stakes, with the former Group 1 winner backed from 16s into 7s for Saturday’s race following a promising run at Goodwood.
“It’s no surprise to see Ombudsman in our top three worst results of the meeting and he’s one of the shortest favourites of the week at 11/10 for Wednesday’s Juddmonte International.
“The liabilities don’t stop there, though, with Tarriance, Emit and Klassleader all losers in our book for the big betting race of the week, the Ebor.
“There are some scary multiples piling up as well, with punters’ pal Ryan Moore heavily backed to ride three winners on day one with Haffner, Christmas Day and Constitution River the treble a lot of people are siding with.
“Another of the trebles being punted sees warm favourites Haffner, Maltese Cross and Ombudsman combined for what would be a big blow to our books on the opening day.”
*Prices accurate at the time of writing – odds subject to change
