Sky Bet York Stakes

Damysus is the name to watch at York Racecourse on Saturday 25 July, when the Sky Bet York Stakes returns to the Knavesmire. It's a Group 2 race run over a mile and a quarter, and this year it's billed as the richest ever, with a prize of £165,000. The race is part of the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival, a two-day meeting that runs from Friday 24 to Saturday 25 July.

Damysus, a four-year-old son of Frankel trained by John and Thady Gosden, is the one the race is built around. He's coming off a fifth-place finish in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, and this is a bit of a change in direction for him: he's been eased in grade and stepped up in distance. His owners, Wathan Racing, have also entered him in the £1.5 million Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday 19 August, so this is a stepping stone towards that.

He won't be alone on the Knavesmire. The field includes Item, trained by Andrew Balding, and Royal Champion, who won the race in 2025. Pride of Arras, Ghostwriter, Dancing Gemini, Tiffany, and Silawi are also in the mix, so there's a decent line-up to keep track of.

The festival isn't just about the racing, either. There's a social side to it, with singer-songwriter Tom Grennan playing on the big stage after the Saturday afternoon races. The Saturday card opens at 1.30pm, and the Sky Bet York Stakes is the main event of the day.