(Image: Hannah Ali)
What has already been a magical week on the Knavesmire reaches its climax with the running of the most famous contest, the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor itself (3.35pm).
A maximum field of 22 should contest the mile-and-three-quarter race, first run in 1843.
Four of the last five winners have come from across the Irish Sea, and the bookies will be hoping for some respite, as the last two – Magical Zoe in 2024 and Ethical Diamond a year ago – were well-backed favourites.
The colours of last year’s winner are represented by Love Me Tender, who makes his debut for trainer Willie Mullins, who is looking for a fifth win in the race.
Ireland also has last year’s runner-up, Ascending, as well as Emit for trainer Joseph O’Brien, for whom jockey Ryan Moore is an eye-catching booking.
It is by no means certain who will go off as the shortest-priced British challenger, with Tarriance representing Team of the Week of owners, Juddmonte, trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Colin Keane.
Tom Marquand’s ride, Klassleader, pictured, is trained by Yorkshireman in exile William Haggas, who has never won an Ebor.
The horse won one of the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor, a qualifying race here in May.
At Thursday’s barrier draw, 22 local charities were given an extra incentive to be involved, as each was drawn a horse to run for them, with the winner scooping £20,000.
Whilst all the talk, understandably, is of the Sky Bet Ebor, let us not forget that the support card includes the £600,000 Sky Bet City of York Stakes, being run for just the second time as a Group 1 championship event over seven furlongs (3pm).
The race may take on a change in complexion after rain earlier in the week softened the ground somewhat.
York will be thrilled with a 14-strong field lining up – including one runner from Japan – but the easing conditions may not suit the class act in the race, Godolphin’s Notable Speech, who won the 2024 Classic, the 2,000 Guineas, and then followed up in the Breeders’ Cup.
Others with chances include Lake Forest, Flora of Bermuda, who loves York and won the Summer Stakes here two starts ago, and Zavateri, who met all sorts of trouble in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last time.
The easing ground could even bring the likes of Masterman into contention.
Four of the races will be part of the World Pool, offering bigger pools and possibly bigger dividends, and there will once again be a minimum guaranteed pool for the Placepot.
To win a share of that, you need to find a horse to be placed in each of the first six races.
Gates open at 11am, and the first race on a day when the total prize money is a record of just over £1.75 million is due off at 1.50pm.
First comes the chance to get involved in the Grantley Hall Ebor Fashion Lawn, which is free to enter and open to all on the stand side.
Food and drink will be available to suit all tastes and budgets, including outlets in the new Bustardthorpe enclosure, while the popular 360-degree selfie stand will be close to the winner’s enclosure all day.
The RAF Falcons display team, who have thrilled racegoers already this week, will drop in, hopefully in more clement conditions, before the first race, and the racegoers’ experience also includes the Punters Panel, where experts offer their ideas of the day’s winners.