Year on year the Ebor Festival attracts some of the most talented horses in the world to the Knavesmire and this year is no different.
York is often mentioned as being one of, if not the, best racecourse in the UK; fans, owners, trainers and jockeys almost always effusive in their praise.
A wealth of world class horses set to take their chance over the four-day Ebor meeting and we've picked out a septet that you simply cannot miss...
Christmas Day
There seems to be quite a bit of confusion about how to rate the Derby form from this year, which is probably why Christmas Day arrives at York to fairly muted fanfare.
Regardless of how good you think the form from Epsom is, he was a brilliant winner on the day and has subsequently backed it up with a good second in the Irish Derby behind Benvenuto Cellini.
He proved that he can go on any ground that day and will bring a decent level of form; even with a 5lb penalty.
Ombudsman
Last year's Juddmonte International winner should need no introduction as he attempts to defend his crown.
He overhauled Delacroix in 2025 and has the might of Ballydoyle itching to get him beat this time around.
The four-time Group 1 winner is currently ranked -- according to the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings -- as the joint-highest rated horse on the planet alongside Ka Ying Rising.
Constitution River
Attempting to dethrone Ombudsman is Constitution River... the most exciting three-year-old still in training.
Aidan O'Brien's star colt is a French Derby and Eclipse winner and is yet to show his true hand in a race.
It's this potential that makes him a 7/4 chance to land the Juddmonte International and 8/1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe later down the line.
Kalpana
Ultra-consistent mare Kalpana put up a career best when winning the King George last time out and could add a fourth Group 1 to her CV in the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday.
Despite never running at the track, the 1m4f at York ought to be right up her street and victory will almost certainly book her place in the Arc.
Minnie Hauk
Taking on Kalpana -- definitely at York and maybe at Longchamp in October -- is defending Yorkshire Oaks champion, Minnie Hauk.
She's on somewhat of a retrieval mission after some disappointing efforts this year but she was so good in 2025 that any return to that form makes her extremely dangerous.
Johanna Walsh
Johanna Walsh really took her form to a whole new level when she won the Irish Oaks in facile style and she is pitched in against her elders for the very first time in Thursday's feature.
Trained by Joseph O'Brien, she was just touched off at Royal Ascot by Earth Shot but put that behind her when visiting the Curragh last time out.
She is in receipt of 9lbs from Kalpana and Minnie Hauk; dangerous weight to give away to a talented filly.
Notable Speech
At his absolute best, Notable Speech is simply a joy to watch.
His electric turn of foot has rendered many a high-class rival powerless to stop him when plundering major successes in the 2,000 Guineas, Breeders' Cup Mile and Lockinge Stakes.
He can, and has, thrown in the odd blunder down the years but he is a fascinating addition to Saturday's City Of York Stakes.
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
