York Festival Day — Thursday 15 May 2026

York Festival Day — Thursday 15 May 2026

A cracking seven-race card at the Knavesmire today, with the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup the feature. Good ground throughout suits the majority of these fields and there are live chances at double-digit prices across the card. Full coverage below.

1:45 — Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap (7f, 22 runners)

Selection: Harry The Rogue Each-Way — 12/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

Twenty-two runners in a 7f handicap worth nearly £15k is exactly where you want to be finding prices. Harry The Rogue catches the eye here. Trainer Stephen Hanlon is running hot at 2/7 over the last fortnight, a strike rate that jumps off the page in a field where the majority of stables are cold. Apprentice Conor Whiteley takes a 7lb claim and that drop in the saddle weight matters in a competitive handicap off 135lbs. The form figures of 26-324 show consistent competitiveness without winning, but the handicapper may have given him a chance at this mark. Five places at 1/5 odds makes this a proper each-way proposition at 12/1 in a 22-runner field.

The Jennie Candlish yard is also clocking a 4/25 return lately and Spirit Genie at 28/1 is worth a small saver for the each-way punter who wants a longer shot covered.

2:20 — Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes (Listed, 1m, 7 runners)

Selection: Fashion People — 11/2 (Boyle Sports / LiveScore Bet)

The Gosden yard has been firing, clocking 9/35 in the last 14 days, and Fashion People arrives here unbeaten in two starts. The filly carries an RPR of 104 with a TS of 80, which compares favourably against most of this field. James Doyle in the saddle for the Gosdens at a Listed level is never an accident. The good ground at York suits a horse of her profile and she is effectively the unexposed runner in the race.

So Regal is the 3/1 market leader and has two wins from two, but sits in a field where both Gosden runners look strong. Pacific Mission at 9/2 is the most exposed at RPR 117, though her last two runs before her reappearance read 22, which needs explaining. Synchronicity at 11/4 is priced tight for a filly with one run. Fashion People at 11/2 is the value play in a small field.

2:55 — Macmillan Charity Raceday Handicap (1m2½f, 17 runners)

Selection: Have Secret Each-Way — 10/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

Warrant Holder at 3/1 with William Buick and the Gosden yard will attract the money, but the price is too short for a handicap off top weight. Have Secret is the more interesting runner at a much bigger price. Richard and Peter Fahey are returning 4/35 over the fortnight, a solid yard in form, and Have Secret’s recent figures of 214-51 show a horse that has placed consistently before winning last time out. An RPR of 108 with a TS of 102 means he has genuine ability on a going that suits. Four places at 1/5 in a 17-runner field makes the each-way case obvious at 10/1.

Tony Montana at 10/3 with Kevin Philippart De Foy is a yard clocking 5/25 recently and he carries an RPR of 110 with a TS of 101, so he will not be far away if producing his best. The value play sits with Have Secret though.

3:30 — EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed, 5f, 10 runners)

Selection: Lover Girl — 10/3 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

Two from two for Kevin Philippart De Foy’s Lover Girl and the trainer is in red-hot form at 5/25 over the last fortnight. An RPR of 98 and a TS of 86 puts her clear of most rivals on official figures in a field of largely unexposed juveniles. David Egan rides with confidence and knows the Knavesmire well. The good ground is fine for a sharp 2-year-old over five furlongs and her back-to-back wins suggest she is the real deal at this stage of her career.

Lady Blanche at 8/1 (Burke, 3/40) ran a 31 on debut before finishing third, which is form to respect, and Armor Supreme at 8/1 won on debut for the in-form Diego Dias yard (1/3). Both are credible each-way alternatives but Lover Girl is the one to beat at the prices.

4:05 — Boodles Yorkshire Cup (Group 2, 1m6f, 7 runners)

Selection: Rahiebb — 3/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

The feature race of the day and the most competitive Group 2 mile-and-six on the calendar outside of Royal Ascot. Amiloc goes off favourite at 5/6 after four wins from five starts but his last run in a Group race ended in fourth, and odds-on in a competitive seven-runner Group 2 is a weak position to bet from.

Rahiebb is the selection at 3/1. Roger Varian’s colt carries an RPR of 129 matching Amiloc at the top of the ratings, and his TS of 127 is the highest in the field. He has run consistently in defeat against strong company, finishing 22342 including several Group 1 appearances. Ray Dawson gets the ride for a Varian yard running at 3/16 recently, and the good ground at York suits a class act of this profile. The Yorkshire Cup regularly goes to a horse that has been knocking on the door, and Rahiebb fits that profile perfectly at a double-up on the jolly.

Furthur at 15/2 and Al Nayyir at 10/1 both have claims. Furthur’s form of 25160 shows a win last time out in a Group context for the flying Andrew Balding yard (16/78). Worth including each-way if playing multiples.

4:40 — Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap (5f, 19 runners)

Selection: Desert Treasure Each-Way — 4/1 (Boyle Sports / Betfred)

William Haggas runs out the winner of this too often to ignore when he saddles a horse in form. Desert Treasure is unbeaten in two starts, form figures of 11, and Tom Marquand takes the ride. The Haggas yard is scorching at 13/49 over the last fortnight. Yes, 4/1 is short-ish for a 19-runner handicap off bottom weight but the horse has ceiling left to find and five places at 1/5 odds means the each-way case works.

Old Is Gold at 15/2 for Balding and James Doyle is the main dangers. Balding’s 16/78 strike rate is excellent and Doyle rarely takes a spare in a big York sprint handicap without fancying his chances. Kinnalargy at 13/2 for Kevin Ryan is another live contender with a TS of 94 showing he handles quick conditions. But Desert Treasure is the one the market will find and the price still carries value given the unbeaten profile.

5:15 — Darley EBF Confined Novice Stakes (1m, 8 runners)

Selection: Weheedd — 11/8 (Boyle Sports / LiveScore Bet)

The Haggas yard continues to dominate and Weheedd at 11/8 is the value play in what looks a straightforward novice. An RPR of 92 from a single run places him well ahead of most rivals here and Tom Marquand rides again. Portcullis at 5/6 for the Gosdens is the one to beat on paper but Weheedd on a faster Racing Post Rating at a bigger price is the smarter play. Betfred go 13/8 and there is money to be made taking that against the Gosden favourite in a race where the Haggas form looks rock solid.

Today’s NAP