Hello from a somewhat damp York racecourse on day two of the Ebor Festival 2026, when the Group One Yorkshire Oaks for fillies and mares will be the highlight of the Ladies’ Day card at 3.35.

As you would expect, the feature event has many of the great racemares of recent decades on its roll of honour, including Alpinista, who went on to land the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe a couple of months later, just four years ago, and the likes of Enable, Midday and Islington earlier on this century.

It has not, admittedly, always been the most competitive of races, with plenty of winners going in at very short odds. This year’s renewal, though, has real depth.

Kalpana, the King George winner at Ascot last month, heads the field and Minnie Hauk, last year’s winner, should provide stern opposition alongside the three-year-old Johanna Walsh, an impressive four-length winner of the Irish Oaks at the Curragh last time out.

Legacy Link, the Musidora winner here back in May, cannot be ruled out either, not least following the success of Item, another trial winner at the May meeting, in yesterday’s International Stakes provided a reminder of the importance of track form at this track.

Added attractions this afternoon include the Goffs Half Million sales race at 2.25 and the Group Two Lowther Stakes for juvenile fillies, which will kick off the proceedings at 1.50.

The going on the Knavesmire is now good-to-soft after a further 2.8mm of rain overnight, and you can, as ever, follow all the news, results, betting moves and more here on the blog as the afternoon’s action unfolds.