Yorkshire Ebor

York Ebor Festival Antepost Tips Following Scratchings On Tuesday 4th August 2026

45 minutes ago

| BY Steve Mullington

Tuesday 4th August saw some significant absentees emerge ahead of the upcoming Ebor Festival at York Racecourse, which runs from Wednesday, 19 August through Saturday, 22 August 2026.

High-profile horse scratchings for the major marquee meeting include global French star Calandagan from the Juddmonte International and Estrange from the Yorkshire Oaks.

Calandagan was withdrawn to target an autumn campaign that will ultimately end with a trip overseas to the Japan Cup, while Estrange will probably go to either the Prix Vermeille (September 9) or the Prix Jean Romanet (August 23), according to her trainer David O’Meara. After that, should conditions turn in her favour, it will be either the Prix de l’Opera or the Arc for the striking grey mare.

And now Steve Mullington looks ahead to the biggest antepost betting races of the week, starting with what many regard as the best race of the flat season.

Juddmonte International

So with Calandagan out of the picture in the Juddmonte International, who is likely to capitalise on what is now a wide open Group 1 contest?

The race is now shaping up as a spectacular “clash of the generations” with five-year-old Ombudsman up against the latest three-year-old protagonist in Constitution River.

Godolphin-owned Ombudsman is the joint-highest rated horse in the world and will be looking to build upon his dominant victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Knavesmire’s long straight should play perfectly to his ultimate strength, his devastating closing acceleration and it is easy to see why our traders make him the 10/11 favourite in our horse racing betting.

The primary threat to Ombudsman is likely to come from Constitution River, trained by Aidan O’Brien. He has been totally flawless this season, capturing both the Prix du Jockey Club and brushed his elders aside last time out in the Eclipse at Sandown.

He is currently a best-priced 7/4 shot with us if you fancy his chances of downing John and Thady Gosden’s hotpot.

So what chances do the others have if any? Well, Item has already scooped both the Dante Stakes and the York Stakes at this very track and over this distance this season, suggesting a bold show from him is on the cards.

Those of you in the market place for a potential outsider to make an impact may want to have an each-way flutter on Royal Champion.

The well-travelled eight-year-old boasts plenty of solid course form at York down the seasons, and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world should the Shamardal-gelding make the frame.

Yorkshire Oaks

Following the scratchings of former ante-post joint-favourite Estrange and French raider Sunly, Kalpana and Minnie Hauk head our sports betting market for the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks.

After securing a historic victory against the boys in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Kalpana has now been installed as the new favourite for this 1m4f Ladies Day feature.

Defending champion Minnie Hauk took this race last season over Estrange. She is an out and out stayer and can potentially provide Ballydoyle with their sixth win in seven years in this contest.

Exciting filly Sparan Nua may only be young, but she already has Group-level form in the bag and is an each-way option for punters looking away from the big two.