The vagaries of the calendar once again come into play in 2017 with the York meeting being held towards the end of August – from Wednesday the 23^rd to Saturday the 26^th – rather than in the middle of the month. Many of the Thoroughbreds that embellished the proceedings at Royal Ascot or Newmarket July or Goodwood get another chance to display their wares, this time on the vast broad sweep of the Knavesmire, where the left-handed York track is located.

Punters generally concentrate their handicapping skills in trying to determine the winner of the competitive Betfred Ebor Handicap, set for Saturday. That race has 72 engaged at the time of writing – though no more than 20 will run! Talentwise, the principal events are Wednesday’s Gr.1 Juddmonte International (10 fur., 56 yds.) which has been upped in prize to £1,000,000, Thursday’s Gr.1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks (11 fur. 188 yds.) and Friday’s Gr.1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (5 fur.).

All the feature races are scheduled for 3:35 p.m. BST (8:05 p.m. IST) on their respective afternoons. The race of the week – the Juddmonte International – has drawn a high quality field of 7 runners; it is notable for the absence of last year’s runner-up, Highland Reel (by Galileo), who holds entries in the forthcoming Irish Champion Stakes, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, QIPCO Champion Stakes and even the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in Australia. However his stable is strongly represented here by others, as will be highlighted below.  

Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O'Brien jointly hold the record for number of previous winners of this race, with five apiece, and both have leading contenders in their attempts to add to the tally. Flying the flag for the former is the superbly-bred Ulysses (by Galileo), a four-year-old Niarchos homebred runner who’s been very much on the upgrade this season. The son of Epsom Oaks victress Light Shift will continue to enjoy his burgeoning partnership with rider Jim Crowley and is on offer at 10 to 3.

The Ballydoyle Stable complex in Co. Tipperary, Ireland, home also of the afore-mentioned Highland Reel, is double-handed here. The QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner Churchill (by Galileo), who somewhat dented his lofty reputation when finishing a tame fourth in the St. James’s Palace Stakes, but who is apparently back to top form, is the 9 to 4 favourite. The joint sixth highest runner in the world faces no rivals rated above him but is depending on Ryan Moore to help him stretch out in distance from the mile over which he has been campaigned so far.

One who will have no issue with the trip is Investec Epsom Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher (by Galileo), from the same yard, who is a 7 to 1 shot with Seamus Heffernan up. The attractive sort, like his stablemate, is a three-year-old and thus enjoys a seven pound weight advantage over his elders. Had O’Brien simply not run his sixth string, Wings of Eagles, at Epsom, we would have been hailing Cliffs Of Moher as a Derby winner and he would have been receiving a lot more respect at the betting windows!

Winner of the St. James’s Palace Stakes – in which Churchill was fourth – and a nose runner-up to Ulysses in the Coral Eclipse Stakes, Barney Roy (by Excelebration) ties together the different form lines. The utterly consistent Godolphin hope hasn’t been out of 1-2 in his five race career and could yet have some improvement to come, given that he has recorded a rating higher than his previous one at every start since his debut victory last year. James Doyle has an excellent chance on Richard Hannon’s ward.

Frankie Dettori’s partnership with trainer John Gosden continues to thrive and the duo have enjoyed several successes this term, none more notable than the smashing victories recorded by Prince Khaled Abdullah’s Enable (by Nathaniel), most recently seen trouncing Ulysses in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. She takes her chance in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday, for which she is an overwhelming 7 to 2 on favourite against the likes of Nezwaah (by Dubawi) and Queen’s Trust (by Dansili). It’s hard to see her get beat but stranger things have happened on the Turf!

The same owner/trainer/rider team associated with Enable also has a live prospect in the Juddmonte International with the highly-thought-of Shutter Speed (by Dansili), the only female in the line-up. Her handler felt that her last effort was compromised by the shoulder injury that Dettori was carrying at the time and that she would be seen in a better light here. That said, one doubts if she could do better than a minor placing given the lofty stature of her rivals. She is at 10 to 1.   

Almost all the leading European specialists at the minimum trip of five furlongs will be seen at the start of the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday but it seems they will collectively have to toil in vain, given the presence of the crack American sprinter, Lady Aurelia (by Scat Daddy). Trained by Wesley Ward, she has been seen only twice in her native land, recording sprint victories at Keeneland on both occasions. Remarkably she will be making her fifth European start, with Dettori resuming his association. From the Charlie Hills barn, Battaash (by Dark Angel) is unbeaten this season and will surely make her fight for the crown. Frequently seen occupying the placings in sprint Pattern Races, Marsha (by Acclamation) and Profitable (by Invincible Spirit) are also in the field.

Rank outsiders in Gr.1 events are not unknown but it will come as a shock if either Enable or Lady Aurelia is beaten. What’s more, the Juddmonte International winner must surely emerge from amongst the top three or four choices in the betting.