Daiquiri Bay wins 500,000 pound Ebor Handicap at York in three-way finish

Ebor Handicap finish

Daiquiri Bay won the Ebor Handicap at York on 22 August 2026, prevailing in a three-way sprint finish against Hopewell Rock and Opportunity. Ridden by jockey Rossa Ryan, the four-year-old gelding raced up the nearside rails to secure victory in Europe's richest flat handicap. Sent off at 10-1, Daiquiri Bay defeated a 22-runner field over the one-mile-six-furlong distance. Hopewell Rock, trained by George Boughey and priced at 13-2, was awarded second place in a photo finish. The William Haggas-trained Opportunity took third place at 14-1, completing the placings for owners Wathnan Racing. Pre-race favourite Love Me Tender, trained by Willie Mullins and backed at 7-2, finished 10th.

Planning and preparation

The victory marked Daiquiri Bay's third win of the 2026 racing season for trainer Alan King. The four-year-old had undergone an off-season procedure to be gelded before making a winning comeback at Newmarket. He followed that victory with a win in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2026, where he set a new track record. King chose to rest the horse after Ascot to build him up for York, where rainfall produced slower ground conditions suited to the gelding. Ryan praised King's scheduling following the race on ITV Sport.

Alan has had zero hiccups with him and the man's a genius. We plotted a course for this lad in April and he hasn't missed a beat.

King acknowledged the execution of the training program and the role of the mid-season break.

The preparation has gone great, the rain came, I always thought he would be better with a bit of slower ground but it's a very special day. It's what we do the job for.

Midfield tactics on the Knavesmire

During the race, Ryan positioned Daiquiri Bay in midfield for most of the one-mile-six-furlong journey before mounting a challenge shortly after turning into the home straight. With the assistance of the nearside rail, the gelding dug deep in the final strides to hold off both Wathnan Racing contenders. The victory delivered the primary share of the £500,000 total prize fund (listed at €585,000 for the festival feature). The triumph completed a campaign mapped out since the spring, keeping the horse unbeaten across his three handicap starts in 2026.

City of York Stakes win for Notable Speech

On the same afternoon at York, Notable Speech took victory in the Sky Bet City of York Stakes to claim his sixth career Group One title. Trained by Charlie Appleby and partnered by regular jockey William Buick, the chestnut colt ran as the 9-4 favourite. Dropping back to a distance of seven furlongs on the Knavesmire, he travelled strongly through the race before accelerating two and three-quarter lengths clear of the chasing runners. The performance followed a sixth-place finish as favourite in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Notable Speech has competed at the Group One level across three seasons under Appleby's care. His record includes victories in the 2000 Guineas and the Sussex Stakes in 2024, followed by international wins in the Woodbine Mile and the Breeders' Cup Mile in 2025. Earlier in 2026, he secured the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury before arriving at York.