ITV Racing tips Friday: York Ebor Festival – Day 3
ITV Racing tips Friday: York Ebor Festival – Day 3
Ron WoodFri, August 21, 2026 at 8:16 AM UTC
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The Nunthorpe is the third Group 1 of the week at the York Ebor Festival
The speedsters get their turn in the spotlight today in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (3.35pm), which is run over the minimum trip up the York straight. I like the look of an international runner in that one, while my nap goes in the preceding Gimcrack Stakes (3pm). You can read on for all the info.
York racing tips – further selections and analysis below
Here are my top three selections.
Any odds are provided by Sky Bet and correct at the time of publication
RON WOOD'S TIPS
1.50pm York
Zennor Storm ⭐⭐⭐ @ 3/1
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3.00pm York
Marco Polo (nap) ⭐⭐⭐ @ 11/4
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3.35pm York
Rayevka ⭐⭐⭐ @ 7/2
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1.50 York – Sky Bet Mile Heritage Handicap (1m)
This competitive race for three-year-olds features the one-two from a similar contest at Glorious Goodwood, respectively Exclusive Code and Zennor Storm, two promising horses.
There may be more to come from the winner, a big horse who is still maturing, but he got an easy lead from the inside stall at Goodwood, whereas Zennor Storm stormed home from an unpromising position. As such, I’ll take the runner-up, trained by William Haggas, to reverse form and prove best.
Selection: 1.50pm York – Zennor Storm ⭐⭐⭐
2.25 York – Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (2m ½f)
There are a few to consider in this prestigious staying contest. Caballo De Mar has won a couple of staying Group 1s in France, the latter coming in May, and he has to go well, even under a 3lb penalty. However, I marginally prefer the Irish-trained Carmers.
This one landed a staying Group 2 at Royal Ascot and finished fifth in the St Leger at Doncaster last season. This term, he has won a 2m Listed race in Ireland and most recently finished a respectable sixth in the Ascot Gold Cup, and it may be significant that he now gets a tongue-tie for the first time.
Selection: 2.25pm York – Carmers ⭐⭐
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3.00 York – Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes (6f)
In a wide-open looking running of what is a famous two-year-old contest, I like Aidan O’Brien’s Marco Polo (nap). This one made his debut only 12 days ago, finishing second of 19 in a 6f Curragh maiden, when he impressed with how well he travelled but was a little green under pressure.
Bought for 525,000 guineas as a yearling, this colt is by a leading sire in Night Of Thunder and from a terrific sprinting family on his dam’s side.
Selection: 3.00pm York – Marco Polo (nap) ⭐⭐⭐
🚨3.35 York – Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (5f)
Of the many runners contesting this top-level speed test, Rayevka holds decent claims. The four-year-old filly, trained in France by Francis-Henri Graffard, is as good as ever this season.
She won a 5f Group 3 in France two starts ago and was then a close second in a 5f Group 1 at Royal Ascot, just denied by Mission Central, who was suited by the stiff track, whereas York is flat.
The selection will be suited by some ease in the ground, which is a question mark for Mission Central and also for the US-trained Bacio, who ran away with a 5f handicap on quick ground at Ascot in June.
Selection: 3.35pm York – Rayevka ⭐⭐⭐
4.10 York – Listed Galtress Stakes (1m 4f)
The final ITV race of the day isn’t an easy one to solve, but Wave Rider makes some appeal. He’s still unexposed, this being his first try at 1m 4f, and he is bred to stay on the dam’s side of his pedigree.
This George Scott-trained four-year-old didn’t get a clear run when finishing down the field in a competitive 1m 2f handicap at Glorious Goodwood on his latest start. That was his first outing after a breathing operation and came after a 129-day break.
He retains the services of champion jockey Oisin Murphy and cheekpieces are fitted for the first time.
Selection: 4.10pm York – Wave Rider ⭐⭐
Friday York racing tips – in brief:
1.50pm – Zennor Storm2.25pm – Carmers3.00pm – Marco Polo (nap)3.35pm – Rayevka4.10pm – Wave Rider
Friday August 21 – UK and Irish racing fixturesFlat -
York (1.50-5.20, Racing TV)
Newmarket (2.00-4.51, Racing TV)
Ffos Las (2.10-5.02, Sky Sports Racing)
Hamilton (4.33-8.15, Racing TV)
Killarney (5.12-8.20, Racing TV)
Salisbury (5.27-7.57, Racing TV)
Jumps -
Kilbeggan (4.56-8.05, Racing TV)
Free-to-view coverage
ITV1 – 1.30-4.29pm: Live Racing from the Sky Bet Ebor Festival 2026 at York
Star ratings and alert explained
Stars denote strength of selection (maximum five). Odds provided by Sky Bet and correct at the time of writing. Take a look at where our experts ranked the bookie on a list of the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ Fair claims
⭐⭐ Tentative choice
⭐ Minimum confidence
🚨= G1 race
Source: “AOL Sports”
