Danny Tudhope: Ebor Festival proves a glittering success

None more so than my winner in the opening race on Sky Bet Ebor day itself.

That was Lord Glitters who gave me my third win in five years in the Group 3 Sky Bet And Symphony Group Strensall Stakes.

I predicted here last week that he would win so I am delighted, as well as a little relieved, that I was proved correct! He should next be seen in Group One company at Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto a fortnight today, following in the hoof prints of Mondialiste, who did the very same double for the yard in 2015.

Lord Glitters will have too light a weight for me to ride him, so I’ll just look forward to being reunited with him in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day, next month.

My first Ebor Festival winner came on another of the nine Yorkshire-trained stars of the week – Karl Burke’s Commanding Officer – in the richest Maiden contest in the land, the Convivial, as backed by the European Breeders’ Fund.

Owned by Leeds businessman, Steve Parkin, the two-year-old travelled well then dug in even better when a challenge arrived; so definitely one to watch.

Possibly that could be as soon as the Group 2 Champagne Stakes on St Leger day.

Were he to go to Doncaster and I get offered the leg up, it would be nice compensation for missing out on that Canada trip.

The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival was a spectacular event, with so many headline-grabbing performances.

If I was to pick one, I’d nominate Stradivarius winning the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes and thereby capturing the inaugural £1 million stayers’ bonus put up by the York sponsor.

John Gosden’s Clarehaven Stables, had a fantastic week with four high profile winners.

Frankie Dettori went one better, so his five winners were enough to land the Ray Gilpin Award for the most successful rider of the week.

Of course, there was Mark Johnston sending out his record-breaking 4,194th British winner, a huge congratulations to all at Kingsley House and further proof of how big a role racing plays in this county and vice versa.

After the excitements of York, I head to France today, in search of my first victory at the picturesque Chantilly Racecourse, north of Paris, though I have high hopes for my Royal Ascot winner, Soldier’s Call. I think the Prix d’Arenberg – which goes off at 1.20pm British time – is the right race and Chantilly the right track for him, after he didn’t perform to his full potential at Glorious Goodwood where he was placed in a Group 3.

Owned by Leeds-based, Clipper Logistics, who sponsor at York, I rate his chances against seven rivals.

The next racing at York is tomorrow week – Newby and The Press Family Day.

Find out more at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk