Jockey Ben Curtis on his two other rides on the opening day of the £6m Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York

Curtis, who rides underdog Sir Busker for William Knight in today’s main event - the £1m Juddmonte International Stakes, is in action in the opener (1.50).

Here he rides Zarzyni for Maunby trainers David and Nicola Barron in the Sky Bet and Symphony Group Handicap (Heritage Handicap) over five furlongs.

He said: “Zarzyni has held his form very well. I won at Musselburgh on him and fourth at Newmarket. I was drawn a bit funny and the winner stuck over on the rail and I was chasing the race, so I think he can be marked up for that.

“He ran fantastic at Ascot again after that. There looks to be a lot of pace in the race and for a horse that likes to have something to aim at, I wouldn’t swap him for anything else.”

Later in the afternoon he rides Hugo Palmer’s Zoffee, a horse he won the Northumberland Vase on earlier in the campaign, in the Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (Heritage Handicap) over two miles.

Curtis said: Zoffee is an absolute legend. I won on him at Carlisle and he dug deep and looked all out, but then he stepped up massively in the Vase and the way he travelled that day myself and Hugo (Palmer) thought maybe we have got something decent here to aim at the better handicaps.

“He didn’t seem to last it out in his last run at Goodwood but he’s back to a trip he likes, a mile and six and I’m looking forward to getting back on him. He’s only 8st 9lbs on his back.

He’s another I wouldn’t swap.”

Ireland’s Curtis is looking forward to the Ebor meeting, one of the highlights of the season for riders, trainers and racegoers.

“York’s one of those tracks, like Ascot, Goodwood and so on, they hold the big festivals and they are the ones you want to be having winners at. I have a decent book of rides and you can’t ask for more - hopefully we can knock one of them in and we all come home safe.”

*The Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse is part of over 400 racing fixtures taking place across Britain this summer with something for everyone to enjoy. To find your local raceday visit www.greatbritishracing.com/everyonesturf