ED CHAMBERLIN: Roll up for the golden hour at York!

ED CHAMBERLIN: Roll up for the golden hour! York has thrown the kitchen sink at two big races from 3pm on Saturday

• Sweet William is the well-fancied favourite in York’s flagship race on Saturday
• Kinross seeks to defend City of York crown after Longchamp and Ascot glory
• York has allowed us to put issues such as affordability checks on back burner

British horse racing has mastered the art of suspending reality.

Spectacular summer Festivals at Epsom, Royal Ascot and Goodwood have had global appeal and given us the perfect escape from the daily in-fighting at which this sport also excels.

York this week has been upbeat and enjoyable, the thrilling action delighting bumper crowds.

How could you not get carried away by the drama of Frankie Dettori playing catch-me-if-you-can in the Juddmonte, his masterful ride on Mostahdaf ending Paddington’s winning spree, or the head-bobbing finishes on Thursday that had the photo-finish judges working overtime?

This is what it is all about. This, as I explained on these pages on Friday, was why I don’t have a moment’s regret about leaving football to front this ultimate sport, one where you are constantly pitting your wits, working out puzzles and allowing yourself to dream.

Sweet William (left) is the well-fancied favourite in York’s flagship race on Saturday

York has allowed us to briefly put issues such as affordability checks, the whip, saunas and prize money on the back burner. These all remain serious topics and I cannot stress enough the peril that invasive affordability checks, recommended by the Gambling Commission, present.

To put it simply, it is potentially the biggest threat to the sport’s finances in my lifetime. Betting funds the sport yet gamblers are being put off in their droves by these draconian measures.

The measures are at odds with so many other recreational activities, while a large majority of our audience enjoy betting responsibly, so we must continue to engage with the Gambling Commission to ensure common sense prevails. Let’s get it sorted.

I feel strongly about this but, to emphasise the point I made at the top, the action we have been served on the Knavesmire provided a glorious reminder of what is so good about racing, with stories coming at us left, right and centre.

We had Paul Hanagan calling time on a stellar career that saw him win the jockeys’ title twice as well as a raft of Group One races. Then there was Frankie, treating us to flying dismounts and showmanship in the saddle.

My word we will miss him when the end comes. If, indeed, the end is coming…

Let’s hope we can end on a high with York’s biggest day of the year. Some Festival Saturday cards can be low key but we could have a golden hour on ITV from 3pm, with York and SkyBet having thrown the kitchen sink at the two big races.

The City Of York Stakes (3.00) has progressed from the Championship to the verge of the Champions League. It was a Listed race in 1987, became a Group Three in 2016 then a Group Two in 2019. It is now worth £500,000 and must be knocking on the door to becoming Britain’s only Group One over the specialist distance of seven furlongs.

Kinross winning last year en route to top-level glory at Longchamp and Ascot did those hopes no harm and he is hot favourite to repeat the trick. Frankie’s first ride at York in May 1990 was a winning one and he will want what is set to be his last to be a winning one, too. He could go off a mad price.

Sacred is a danger — but only if the ground stays quick — while Mutasaabeq is a fascinating contender after a 67-day absence. He’s deadly when fresh.

Frankie Dettori’s masterful ride on Mostahdaf to land the Juddmonte delighted the crowds

He has been running in elite company over a mile and now drops back to seven furlongs for the first time since April 2022. Mutasaabeq will run a big race.

The SkyBet Ebor (3.35), York’s flagship race, dates back to 1843, is Europe’s richest Flat handicap and the closest Flat racing gets to the Grand National: 22 runners over 1m 6f and some bookmakers offer eight each-way places because it is so fiercely competitive. Any of them could win.

Sweet William is the well- fancied favourite but I’ve studied harder for this than any exam I ever sat and Get Shirty looks a huge price at 33-1. He was fifth in the race last year and, with his handicap mark dropping, I’m convinced he has been targeted at the prize by his handicap wizard trainer David O’Meara.

Ed Chamberlin is an ambassador for SkyBet

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